Safety is one of the fleet industry’s most critical issues as it seeks to reduce crashes and improve safety standards. The benefits of creating a robust fleet safety culture go far beyond reducing crashes, it can also improve the entire organization while mitigating risk.

Organizations have an ever-increasing flow of data that they can use to make their fleets safer.

Acquiring the fleet data is only the first step — if the business does not act on what the data is showing, safety improvements are left on the table and the organization opens itself to liability risks.

Before a fleet can use data to improve safety, they must make the data actionable.

Download the free eBook today!

READ MORE

By Dave Bean, Editor, FMW

As we enter the holiday season, complete with its saturation of automotive advertising, it’s worth reviewing some of the most salient IIHS vehicle shopping observations, especially if you are in the market for a car or truck, new or used. Whether purchasing a new ride for yourself or a loved one, it’s always worth remembering to think of safety first.

While we all tend to get sidetracked by the look and feel of a vehicle, there’s more to its design than just sleek lines and a smooth ride. In this era, it’s important to keep in mind those safety features that can mitigate damage to drivers and passengers in the event of a crash.

A key factor to consider is the weight of a vehicle. Quite simply, smaller, lighter cars offer far less protection to its occupants than bigger, heavier ones. Further, now readily available in this era of vehicle technology development, are crash avoidance features that were once only available on high-end luxury cars. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are now quite commonplace on vehicles in all segments and price points.

READ MORE

By Ryan Ziegler, Mobile Technician Lead, Cox Automotive

As winter descends with its icy grip, those of us in fleet management must brace for the impact. To give you a front-line view, I’ve turned to my colleague, Ben Deisig, a Senior Mobile Diesel Technician, who brings his Michigan-honed wisdom to the table.

“Be prepared for anything,” Ben says. “Have some form of ice melt on hand at all times. Drivers should be prepared for the worst before leaving each time. Better to be over-prepared than not prepared.”

“A lot of what a fleet can do is pay attention to their local guidelines as well as the guidelines of the routes they use,” he reminds us.

Winter isn’t just a season—it’s a call to action for those of us in fleet management.

By preparing thoroughly, planning for emergencies, and educating our teams, we can confidently steer through the coldest months and keep our operations running smoothly.

READ MORE

image:CarBuzz

Ford has continually developed new ideas for truck beds, and its latest shows a 3D printer becoming part of the many accessories fitted to the F-150 of the future.

This device would work in conjunction with another idea that Ford patented recently, namely a robotic arm, and could be used on construction sites to create necessary components on-site.

Many of the Blue Oval’s recent innovations have been centered around this multi-function bed and its robotic arm, suggesting that it has a real shot at production.

via CarBuzz

First we had hand cranks. Then real keys, followed by key fobs. And now we have “digital keys,” which enables you to lock, unlock, and start your car from your phone.

Before digital key technology can reach ubiquity, there are still a lot of issues that need to be worked out. What kinds of technology should be used: Near-field communication (NFC)? Ultra wideband (UWB)? Bluetooth? How do we ensure it’s safe from hackers? And what happens when your phone runs out of batteries?

The need for global standards and solutions for smartphone and in-vehicle connectivity is what’s spurring the industry to come together to formulate a plan for the future.

via The Verge

According to GlobalData, there are 10+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of intelligent in-vehicle displays.

Magna International is one of the leading patent filers in intelligent in-vehicle displays. The company has developed curved OLED displays that provide a wider field of view and a more immersive viewing experience for drivers.

In terms of application diversity, Hyundai Motor leads the pack, while Kia and THG stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Magna International held the top position, followed by Continental and Ford Motor.

via JustAuto

When it comes to improving EV charging stations, how well they work gets most of the attention. 

A competition was held for architects to design creative and desirable EV charging stations. Creative amenities, including workout rooms and other nice things, are now being considered. Outdoor recreation can even be integrated into the experience to make it healthier and happier.

When people can choose whether to go to the nice charging station and the ugly and bad one, the better stations are probably going to win out. Even more importantly, whole towns might get skipped over if they don’t have a nice charging station.

via CleanTechnica

In an era of rising costs, fleets are using technology to get more out of their resources, and find new ways to control costs and generate revenue.

Inflation affects nearly every budget line item, from vehicles and equipment to labor and insurance, so fleets are forced to get creative. Fleet management technology can be an effective cost-control tool—helping fleet managers get more out of existing resources, find new ways to cut costs and become more competitive.

Adopting fleet technology is a standard practice, according to respondents of the most recent Verizon Fleet Technology Trends Survey.

To download the complete 2024 Fleet Technology Trends Report from Verizon Connect, click here.

By David Lewis, Founder and CEO, MoveEV

The current energy grid was not designed for vehicles that require electricity for fuel. However, the expected surge in EV demand is proceeding in tandem with the evolution of the energy grid.

McKinsey recently estimated more than 48 million EVs will be on the road by 2030, creating an annual charging demand of up to 230 billion kilowatt hours ― a vast leap from the estimated 11 billion kWh today.

Thankfully, a nationwide effort is underway to allow EV drivers to maximize the capacity of the existing grid ― and, in some cases, even add to its capacity.

READ MORE

Fleet Advantage, a leading innovator in specialty financing, fleet data analytics, fleet management services, and life cycle cost management announced results from its latest industry benchmark survey.

The company took the pulse of industry leaders on topics ranging from equipment utilization and operational trends; preferred financing methods; alternate fuel trucks; and barriers to adoption of alternate fuel trucks.

“It continues to be clear that business agility, financial flexibility, and a strategic eye toward future fuel options remain front and center for companies with transportation fleets and for-hire fleets,” said Brian Antonellis, CTP, Senior Vice President of Fleet Operations, for Fleet Advantage.

READ MORE