By FMW Staff

FMW recently had the privilege of sitting down with seasoned expert Jim Perkins, the Head of Fleet Solutions for Shell Oil Products, US.

While electrification is one of the most popular sustainability initiatives among fleets, there are many other ways that fleets can achieve immediate sustainability gains.

One way is with fuel card data. The data can help a customer identify unnecessary purchases and reduce fuel consumption. Sometimes a customer will even identify inefficient purchasing of fuel. This, too, can reduce consumption.

“Electric vehicles are the future, but fleet owners are looking for how to be more sustainable today. Again, it goes back to having a partner, somebody that can guide you through a plan or at least point you in the direction of the best opportunities,” said Perkins.

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By Tanner Lee, Kingbee

Much has been written about the last six weeks of the historic strike against Ford, GM, and Stellantis. But in the final days of October, the United Auto Workers and the Big 3 reached an agreement.

Included in the agreement are a 25% increase in pay over four years, as well a restoration of cost-of-living increases that were suspended in 2009, totaling to increases over 30%.

Ford forecasts an increase in labor costs by roughly $850 to $900 per vehicle produced. It’s unclear whether or not those price increases will apply to large orders of commercial fleet vehicles, but fleets should brace themselves anyway.

Kingbee helps fleets adapt their inventory based on real-time demand signals, instead of relying on long-term forecasts.

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By Tod Trousdell, Fleet Marketing Consultant and Partner/RobertsTrousdell Communications

The Work Fleet Forum, a live event unlike any other in our field, just concluded its tenth annual program, its first Forum in Las Vegas, with a record number of fleet leaders and suppliers.

Besides education and networking, the Work Fleet Forum is unique in how it allows fleet managers to source their product and service needs in one visit. Instead of an expo, buyers can do deep-dives with suppliers in private, mutually-arranged meetings, without distractions.

Bill Bishop, SVP of Sales and Marketing at FLD, said the Forum gives them the best opportunity anywhere for guaranteed interactions with qualified buyers, and it has brought them some of their best accounts in the years they’ve been coming.

My own thoughts? Perhaps more than anything, I was impressed with the interactive nature of Work Fleet Forum and the camaraderie that blossomed between fleet leaders and service providers.

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Cameras showing the driver and another facing forward can be the keys to avoiding nuclear verdicts after auto and truck crashes.

By placing cameras in all company vehicles, connected software can alert the company office when a driver appears distracted, sleepy or is texting on his or her cell phone. Distracted driving continues to be a major factor behind crashes, nationwide.

The camera video will let the business and its insurer see if the company driver is actually at fault, which can lead to early settlement efforts before a case goes to trial. The cameras may show what really happened and that the employee was not at fault.

via Insurance Journal

Existing federal, state, and local policies play a key role in accelerating electric truck adoption.

An analysis of 15 states that have adopted or are in the process of adopting the Advanced Clean Trucks regulation shows that 60 percent of medium-duty trucks and 43 of heavy-duty trucks are electrifiable today.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed in 2022, has greatly reduced the price of electric trucks through its Qualified Commercial Vehicle Tax Credit, which provides up to $40,000 in tax credits for the purchase of electric trucks. This significant tax credit shows the power of policy to advance truck electrification.

via CleanTechnica

Some local drivers are caught in the middle of the battle between automakers and the Massachusetts Right to Repair law. And as a result, they don’t have access to safety features in their vehicles.

“Some of the automakers, in order to escape the requirements of the law, have turned off their internet connectivity features altogether,” said Nathan Proctor, senior director of U.S. Public Interest Research Group Campaign for the Right to Repair.

Subaru is not the only car maker disabling in-car wireless technology systems from new models sold in Massachusetts, and the move does come at a cost to the automakers. Consumers pay around $100 or more a year for these subscription services.

via NBC Boston

The enormous lithium-ion batteries used to power electric cars pose some significant fire risks. But there are some key differences that make these fires harder to combat.

If your electric car is flooded or drives through deep water, be sure to get it towed and checked by a mechanic before turning it back on. Even after your car appears to have dried out, water stuck in the battery can still cause a short-circuit and start a fire.

Aside from water damage, damage sustained in a collision can also cause an EV to short-circuit and start a fire. It’s best to have your battery looked at by a professional after any kind of accident, no matter how minor.

via Autoblog

By Dave Bean, Editor, FMW

With new vehicle prices down and dealer inventory up, it seems that a lessening of the most dire ramifications of the pandemic have translated into improved customer purchase process scores, at least according to the recently released J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study.

“The improved level of vehicle inventory and the easing of upward pressure on prices are the driving factors in sending sales satisfaction back in a positive direction,” said Chris Sutton, vice president of automotive retail at J.D. Power.

The study also revealed, however, that despite the high profile and improving sales of electric vehicles, they trail conventional fossil-fuel powered vehicles in overall purchase process satisfaction, whether in Mass Market or Premium segments.

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By Jim Noble, Global Director of Insurance and Head of The Americas, Greater Than

For many companies, sustainability has, until now, fallen into the ‘nice to have’ category. Today, it has become an integral part of doing business.

Companies that do not prioritize sustainability and are not transparent and open about their climate impact, will likely eventually suffer negative consequences and could even find themselves pushed out of the market.

ESG legislation makes businesses accountable for their activities and to reduce climate impact. It also provides stakeholders with information to help them evaluate investment risks from a sustainability perspective.

To discuss your sustainability strategy or find out about Greater Than’s ESG reporting solutions visit www.greaterthan.eu.

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By Steve Saltzgiver, Fleet Success Sr. Advisor, RTA – The Fleet Success Company

The goal was clear: “Transform the fleet’s overall performance, increase customer service, boost preventive maintenance compliance, reduce downtime, and increase asset availability.”

Our RTA Interim Fleet Director assessed the primary challenges by meeting with department stakeholders served by the fleet maintenance operation, to gain their insights and feedback.

By embracing change and innovation, RTA and the client not only boosted its bottom line using a seasoned fleet professional as Interim Fleet Director, but also set a new standard for fleet excellence within the fleet management community.

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