By Gary Mott, President, FLD Remarketing

By all accounts, 2023 was a disruptive year for fleet. From continued challenges brought on by the pandemic, to supply chain issues and lingering shortages, it seemed at times that fleet just couldn’t get a break.

While it appears vehicle availability picked up towards the end of 2023, the UAW strike, and the need to retrofit plants to produce electric vehicles, has thrown a return to pre-pandemic production levels into question.

And further, given that fuel costs are a full 40% of most fleet budgets, even the slightest increase can have a crippling effect on the industry.

While 2023 was undoubtedly a challenge, the team here at FLD certainly sees better days on the horizon. That doesn’t mean there’s not still a mountain of disruption for us all to face, but rather that we are confident in the industry’s ability to meet these challenges head-on.

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By Ed Pierce, Fleet Management Weekly’s Brand Acceleration Marketing Consultant

Innovative marketing is no longer limited to B2C (business-to-consumer) industries. B2B businesses seek, find, and implement new marketing ideas and technology to gain an edge in today’s competitive business landscape.

One of the critical factors in B2B marketing success is supporting the customer-centric business strategy. More and more fleet product and service providers recognize the need to cater to each customer’s individual needs and preferences.

In B2B sales, marketing is a cornerstone in establishing and reinforcing a customer-centric business strategy. It begins with a deep dive into understanding customer needs, where marketing teams conduct extensive research to uncover the specific needs, preferences, and challenges customers face.

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By Ed Dubens, Founder/CEO, eDriving

Navigating the intricacies of required ESG reporting, particularly in the context of driving, requires a tailored approach that addresses the unique challenges faced by organizations.

EcoReport by eDriving and Greater Than emerges as a transformative solution for organizations.

Leveraging Mentor telematics data with EcoDrive powered by Greater Than, it automatically generates detailed reports on the fleet’s CO2 driving emissions.

It offers not only a solution for compliance, but a robust tool for empowering organizations to proactively contribute to a sustainable and responsible future.

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The Michigan Department of Transportation recently unveiled what is being called the nation’s first wireless-charging public roadway for EVs, a street just west of downtown Detroit.

Consumers have named the high initial cost of EVs as their biggest concern, followed by a limited number of charging stations, which gives rise to range anxiety.

“Developing electrified roadways may be the catalyst to accelerate interest and acceptance of EVs for all consumers,” the transport agency’s director, Bradley Wieferich, said in a statement. “Making it easier for EV users to find a reliable charging source without disrupting their commute supports both fleet operations and passenger travel.”

via The Street

Speeding is the most common and most downplayed risky driving behavior, a new survey shows.

The six driver profiles identified by the latest AAA Traffic Safety Culture Index (TSCI) are: Safe Drivers (41.2%); Speeding Drivers (22.7%); Distracted and Aggressive Drivers (17.3%); Distracted Drivers (15.0%); Most Dangerous Drivers (2.4%) and Impaired Drivers (1.3%).

The majority of drivers perceived unsafe driving behaviors as very or extremely dangerous, and yet, as in past years, many admitted to doing these behaviors at least once in the previous 30 days.

via wjla

Subscriptions are shifting into overdrive in the auto industry. 

Ford offers its hands-free driving “BlueCruise” assisted cruise control option for some of its vehicles, including the all-electric F-150 Lightning, are drivers willing to pay $75 per month for it?

Alistair Weaver, editor-in-chief at Edmunds, says automakers are counting on the new revenue stream to pay for the expensive transition to electric cars. “Subscribe to the system, 75 bucks,” Weaver said. “Do your road trip, unsubscribe, and then you’re no longer paying for something that you’re not really going to use.”

via CBS News

Ford’s F-150 Lightning sales more than doubled in November, with 4,393 units sold. With the growth, Ford’s Lightning is the bestselling electric pickup through November, edging out the Rivian R1T.

Ford sold more Lightning models last month than it did in the entire third quarter (3,503 units sold). Lightning output was limited in Q3 as Ford retooled its EV plant in Michigan.

In September, a Ford spokesperson told Electrek that Lightning production “is starting to ramp after a six-week shutdown to expand the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center.”

via Electrek

By Jillian Grenier, Assistant Director, Fleet Products at Merchants Fleet

You can’t regulate fuel prices, but there are some factors you can control to maintain operations and optimize fleet fuel efficiency, which is where the importance of a fleet fuel card comes in.

A fuel card, also known as a fleet card, is an authorized form of payment that allows drivers to buy fuel within a network of pre-approved gas stations. One of the major benefits of a fuel card is the cost savings. With a network of fuel providers, you have the ability to see who is offering the best price on fuel in-network.

There are a lot of options when it comes to fleet fuel cards. If you’re having difficulty trying to decide on a card, or you aren’t sure where to start, consult a fleet management company or an unbiased third party.

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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!

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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.

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