[[trackingImage]]
FleetManagementWeekly
December 21, 2021

Follow us

Editor’s Analysis & Top Industry News

Happy Holidays!

We wish you, your family and friends a healthy and happy holiday season

May Your Christmas be Merry
May your New Year be Happy

Janice Sutton, Ted Roberts,

And the FMW Editorial Team

 


VIDEO: Interim Steps on the Way to 100% Electrification

It’s an ongoing process for fleets to move toward more complete electrification, but there are plenty of interim steps that they can take to become more sustainable along the way.

VIDEO: Smart Upfitting


  Masterack Delivers Highly Customized Upfit Package
 

Masterack has over 50 years as industry leader designing, engineering and manufacturing highly customizable cargo management solutions for all sorts of fleets.


VIDEO: The Hidden Flaw

  The Hidden Flaw is Now Playing
 

There’s a critical flaw that’s hiding in virtually every fleet’s supply chain. Sometimes in plain sight.

WATCH “The Hidden Flaw.”


Spotlight

November Sets Record for Used Trucks

J.D. Power Valuation Services

November was the strongest month on record for all segments of the used medium and heavy truck market.

Buyers continue to pay retail pricing at auctions, to the point where trucks regularly bring higher pricing at auction than retail.

“With current and impending changes to Fed activity, interest rates, COVID stimulus payments and other variables, which our forecasting models incorporate, we are keeping a cautious eye on what will happen to consumer purchasing once these become a reality,” said Chris Visser, commercial truck senior analyst at J.D. Power Valuation Services.

Read the release from J. D. Power Valuation Services

NSC: Holiday Driving Death Toll Expected to Rise

Detroit Bureau

Drugs and alcohol are a big problem

In a fit of holiday cheer, The National Safety Council estimates that 798 people will be killed on American roads during the upcoming holidays; 371 during Christmas, and an additional 427 during New Year.

The NSC says more lives would be lost if not for seat belts, which the organization estimates will save more than 310 lives. If everyone buckled up, an additional 180 lives could be saved during the holidays.

With driving becoming more dangerous, there are steps you can take to ensure your safety.

What’s The Worst Winter Driving Advice You’ve Heard?

Jalopnik

Have you been told that you don’t really need four-wheel-drive for best performance in wintery conditions? Or, you might believe that it’s best to put your windscreen wipers up when you park in the snow.

There’s all kinds of urban myths like these that supposedly hold the key to safe winter driving. But what pointers aren’t just wrong opinions, but are instead outright dangerous tips?

We’ve all met that one person who’s full of hot air and a little of idiocy when it comes to the safest practices to follow when driving in the winteriest of conditions.

Read the article at Jalopnik.

Masterack Names Furlando Zachery Director, Human Resources

Jon Toups, President of Masterack, LLC, a JB Poindexter & Co business, is pleased to appoint Furlando Zachery to the position of Director, Human Resources. Zachery will be tasked with aligning our organization, creating the right culture and enhancing our business functions.

Prior to joining Masterack, Furlando served as the Director of Human Resources for Flower Foods for five years and then most recently for the Woodbridge Group in Human Resources Management.

Speaking about Furlando’s appointment, Toups stated, “This is very exciting for Masterack. Furlando has a passion for Human Resources and a vision that aligns with our objectives. His knowledge and expertise on company culture and improving policies and procedures will undoubtedly guide Masterack to future success.”

READ MORE

2021 > 2022


ARI Marketing

It probably goes without saying, but this year has been a rollercoaster ride for many fleet operators. Fortunately, it’s just about time to close the book on 2021.

As we get ready to ring in 2022, there’s certainly reason for optimism – a fresh start, exciting new opportunities, etc. – and now’s the perfect time to wrap-up the last few items on this year’s to-do list and get a jump on next year’s strategic initiatives.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few key trends throughout each stage of the vehicle’s lifecycle that you need to consider as you close out the year and look to set your fleet up for success in 2022 and beyond.

READ MORE

 

Staying Smart


Just one liability lawsuit can bankrupt a company

By Adam Danielson, Sales and Business Development Director, SuperVision

We get it, businesses are always trying to save money while increasing profit. At first glance, continuous license monitoring may appear to be an additional unnecessary expense, but this proactive approach yields substantial cost savings for fleet management in the long run.

Myth: Continuous License Monitoring is Too Expensive

Fact: Save money with risky driver alerts.

Across the industry, it is reported that 20% of each fleet is involved in a crash annually. Just one “bent metal” crash cost employers $5,800 on average. For a fleet of 1,000 drivers, that’s 200 crashes and $1.16 million in employer cost per year, if there are no injuries or fatalities. Forty years of continuous license monitoring for a 1,000-driver fleet, on average, costs less for a company than just one fatal accident.

READ MORE

 

The Night Before Christmas


Editor’s note: We suspect that fleet managers everywhere can relate to and enjoy Fleet Street’s Steve Bender’s delightful poem:

“A Fleet Manager’s Night Before Christmas”

‘Twas the night before quarter’s end and your review’s finally come.

It’s the time of year that makes a fleet manager numb.

And while you’re hoping the boss can see that you thrive,

The truth is there are no cars for your fleet to actually drive.

Your vehicle orders are hung by the assembly lines with care,

In hopes that the microchips will soon arrive there.

Your drivers are nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of accident- free miles drive through their heads.

With the supply chain in a kerfuffle, and delivery estimates a joke,

You’ve told the CFO your crystal ball is officially broke.

AND THEN…


Trending

Ford Pro Charging Launches in North America

Electrive.com

Ford’s commercial vehicle arm, Ford Pro, announced the launch of Ford Pro Charging, a solution for managing commercial EV fleets and charging needs. Fleet owners will receive software and commercial hardware infrastructure to support charging and energy management.

Ford Pro Charging says it aims to be part of every fleet customer’s electrification journey by consulting on the design and construction of charging sites that can scale with operations while collaborating with local utility partners on the company’s energy and infrastructure needs.

The new business unit further expects the depot charging industry to grow to nearly 900,000 full-size trucks and vans in the US by 2030. With 125,000 US fleet customers of all sizes, Ford added it was “uniquely positioned to build on these relationships as a trusted partner that can enable their transition to electric vehicles.”

Read the article at Electrive.com.

More Than 2 Million Sign Petition to Change Sentence of I-70 Truck Driver Who Caused Deadly Crash

The Denver Channel

More than 2 million people have signed an online petition calling for a change to the sentence given to the truck driver who caused a deadly, fiery crash on I-70 in April 2019.

Rogel Aguilera-Mederos was sentenced to 110 years in prison on Dec. 13 after a jury found him guilty on 42 counts, including vehicular homicide, first-degree assault, attempted first-degree assault, vehicular assault, reckless driving and careless driving. Judge A. Bruce Jones said his hands were tied when it came to sentencing because of mandatory minimum laws in the state.

“This case is so egregious,” Domingo Garcia, the national president of LULAC said. “It boggles the mind that here we are in 2021 and that somebody who was not intoxicated, not on drugs… It’s an accident, the brakes went out. But here’s the Latino driver, he gets charged, convicted and given 110 years of prison on his first offense.”

Read the article at The Denver Channel.

Most New Cars Have Safety Technology That Prevents Crashes, Report Shows

Consumer Reports

More than 12 major automakers equipped nearly all their 2021 vehicles with automatic emergency braking (AEB), a technology that has been proven to reduce crashes and injuries by stopping or slowing a vehicle if a collision is imminent.

That number has increased by two automakers since last year and shows that more manufacturers are on their way to meeting a voluntary commitment to equip nearly all vehicles with AEB by the production year beginning Sept. 1, 2022.

The report comes from Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Overall, the IIHS estimates that if all manufacturers meet the agreement, it could prevent 42,000 crashes and 20,000 injuries by 2025.

Read the article at Consumer Reports.

Drivers Need to Feel Safe When They Charge Electric Vehicles: How to Make That Happen

Detroit Free Press

It’s not uncommon for smartphone apps to send drivers to “public” electric vehicle chargers in the back lot of a closed car dealership, an empty corner of a big-box store parking lot, or otherwise tucked out of sight.

Early in the current wave of EV adoption, one charger was in such a daunting spot that some women involved in the project called it “the rape charger” because the location felt so unsafe. The charger was eventually moved, but that spotlights problems that continue today.

“Visibility and safety are the table stakes,” EV advocate Chelsea Sexton said. “Nobody’s going to use a charger that doesn’t feel safe. Lighting, amenities, restrooms, things to do while you wait are important.”

Read the article at Detroit Free Press.

The Mustang Mach-E


InsideEVs

The Ford Mustang Mach-E has been chosen as Kelly Blue Book’s “EV Best Buy Of 2022”. The automotive research company praised the Mach-E both for its day-to-day usability and performance. KBB even dubbed it the “Sports Car Of SUVs” thanks to its ability to combine practicality and driver enjoyment.

KBB outlined the Mach-E’s easygoing suspension and lack of road noise as two key positives. They also praised its interior layout and legroom. Another positive was all the equipment that comes as standard. Even the entry-level $43,895 Mach-E Select still gets synthetic leather, dual-zone climate control and Ford Co-Pilot360 at no extra cost.

Other positives KBB mentioned were the Mach-E’s high safety score and tech. Equally, its range of up to 306 miles per charge (RWD with the Extended-Range Battery) is among the best in class. They also felt, when you factor in the tax credit, the Mach-E represents good value for money:

Read the article at InsideEVs.

 

Wheels + Donlen


By Shlomo Crandus, CEO Wheels-Donlen

There are typically many good reasons for mergers: to increase client base and market share; create diversification in product offerings; and build economies of scale. And, there are many reasons that mergers and acquisitions can hit bumps in the integration road; we’ve all read the business media accounts of some challenging ones.

While many ingredients combine to create both successes and failures, according to the experts, one key risk factor can be the clash of two very different corporate cultures. As an integration risk, culture clashes can impact both operations and growth decisions and prevent the two organizations from fully coming together as one.

With that said, the Wheels Donlen merger has the culture hurdle covered and then some.

READ MORE

 

Rivian and Amazon


Roadshow

Rivian’s electric delivery van (EDV) is produced alongside the R1T pickup and R1S SUV at Rivian’s factory in Normal, Illinois, which the company announced is expanding production capacity from 150,000 units a year to over 200,000 annually.

The EDV was designed and engineered specifically for Amazon as part of a 100,000-van order, and it uses a proprietary FleetOS fleet management system also designed by Rivian. While testing has been going on for months, Rivian says the first “saleable” vans will be delivered to Amazon later this month, right on schedule.

The version of the van that we’ve already seen is called the EDV 700, referring to its 700 cubic feet of cargo space. Under the EPA’s official testing procedure the EDV 700 has a range of 201 miles, more than enough for the average delivery route. Rivian also announced that a narrower, shorter EDV 500 van will debut in early 2022 on the same RCV commercial vehicle platform as the larger van.

Read the article at Roadshow.





Fleet Management Resources

 

AFLA
The Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association. Advancing corporate fleet worldwide.

FLD
The fast, easy way to remarket without risk. Get an offer in hours, paid in a few days. Improve TCO. Save time, money and resources.

PARS
PARS’ mission is to provide you with high-quality service at competitive prices for all of your transportation needs.

Driving Dynamics
Driving Dynamics was established to help corporate fleet drivers develop expert, safe driving skills using proven, advanced driving techniques.

Fleet Street
Fleet Street has 30+ years of experience and knowledge using a spectrum of wholesale and retail channels to simplify your involvement in the remarketing process.

SuperVision
SuperVision is a fleet driver management solution for MVR & license monitoring, fleet management, fleet safety oversight and driver performance and retention.

eDriving
eDriving partners with its clients to engage with drivers and their managers to create a culture that supports lasting behavioral change to reduce collisions, injuries, license violations as well as a fleet’s total cost of ownership.

NAFA Fleet Management Association
NAFA is the association for the diverse vehicle fleet management profession regardless of organizational type, geographic location, or fleet composition.

Wheels, Inc.
First in fleet for 80 years. Wheels helps you build tomorrow’s fleet today.




Index to FleetManagementWeekly.com  

Fleet Management Weekly Newsletter Archive
Access to back issues of the FMW newsletter.

FMW Mobility
How mobility is rapidly changing the fleet management landscape.

Subscribe

FMW Fleet Videos
Video clips of industry leaders speaking on a variety of engaging hot topics in fleet.

FMW Autonomous Vehicles
The constantly evolving landscape of autonomous vehicles.

Contact Us

FMW Fleet Trends & Issues
A wide scope of topical news for today’s fleet professionals.

FMW Fleet Safety
News and practices to help you bring your drivers home safely, every day.

Media Kit