By Sarah Bechtold, eDriving

In the fast-paced world of fleet management, safety isn’t just a checkbox – it’s the very foundation upon which successful operations thrive.

Each journey embarked upon by fleet employees is not just a trip from A to B; it’s a responsibility, a commitment to safety, both for themselves and others on the road.

In today’s digital age, technology can be a powerful ally in promoting safety. Telematics, smartphones, and driver monitoring systems provide valuable insights into driver behavior, allowing fleet managers to identify areas for improvement.

Amidst the plethora of strategies available for cultivating a culture of safety, one driver risk management solution stands out: Mentor by eDriving.

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By Ed Pierce, Fleet Management Weekly’s Brand Acceleration

Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) face many unique challenges when marketing fleet products and services. Here, we explore some of the key issues reported by CMOs while offering insights into strategies to help them adapt and thrive.

Marketing fleet products and services is an ever-evolving field that necessitates constant adjustment based on industry, company size, and market conditions.

Chief Marketing Officers are essential in overseeing this dynamic environment and meeting any challenges head-on.

Successful CMOs adapt to these difficulties by staying informed on industry trends and using innovative solutions.

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By David Lewis, Founder and CEO, MoveEV

While at-home charging offers many benefits, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Fleet managers must consider various factors like employee residence, vehicle usage patterns, cost dynamics, and current reimbursement practices.

As a general rule of thumb, home charging is a win for fleet managers and drivers alike. However, a number of scenarios make a home-first approach to charging a poor fit.

By carefully evaluating your operations and employees’ situations, an organization can develop a tailored EV charging strategy that aligns with its operational needs and goals.

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The 2024 Rivian R1T is the only pickup truck to earn a Top Safety Pick+, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced Tuesday. The IIHS conducts the most rigorous crash-testing assessments in the automotive industry, and a TSP+ designation is considered the highest safety recognition.

The electric pickup truck earned top “Good” ratings in all crash tests performed by the insurance-industry funded safety agency, including its updated moderate front overlap test. It’s the only pickup proven by the IIHS to adequately protect rear occupants.

via The Car Connection

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) board voted to approve the toll rates for Manhattan’s congestion pricing program, the first of its kind in the United States. New York says more than 900,000 vehicles enter the Manhattan Central Business District daily, reducing travel speeds to around 7 miles an hour (11 kph) on average.

Under the plan, New York City will charge a daily toll of $15 during the day for passenger vehicles driving in Manhattan south of 60th Street starting in mid-June. It will charge up to $36 for larger trucks and buses. The plan still faces a number of legal challenges including from the state of New Jersey.

via Reuters

Japanese telecommunications and tech giant NTT is developing a new system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect the cognitive ability of elderly drivers. They will analyze the driving behavior of Kokusai Motorcars’ taxi drivers in order to develop the AI solution.

The AI system will analyze driving speed, acceleration and deceleration, and other driving data to assess whether drivers are seeing a decline in cognitive brain activity, such as the ability to make snap judgments and pay attention. The taxi company will collect a large amount of driving data from dozens of taxis whose drivers are 65 years old or older, which will be fed to NTT DATA so it can develop AI algorithms and verify the accuracy of driver judgments.

via Just Auto

A comprehensive EV primer, “Electric Vehicle Statistics 2024,” from the folks at MarketWatch, examines EV sales, market share, environmental effects, mileage figures and more. A key finding: The U.S. saw an increase of 60% year over year in EV sales, from 1 million in 2022 to 1.6 million in 2023.

Prospective buyers may find some value in the MarketWatch list of affordable vehicles, most of them ranging is price from between $30,000 and $50,000. But customers should be aware that the prices in the piece will be influenced by options, insurance costs, sales taxes, document fees and other expenditures that may be hidden. There’s an explainer as well about current and future tax incentive eligibility rules for EV purchases.

via Autoblog

By Ed Pierce, Fleet Management Weekly’s Brand Acceleration

Negotiation is an efficient and collaborative way of resolving disputes and challenges in B2B settings. It allows parties to explore solutions that meet everyone’s interests while producing mutually beneficial results.

Anxiety over negotiation skills may contribute to discomfort, thus making teaching negotiation skills essential in helping new managers resolve disagreements.

Businesses looking to maximize negotiation in business-to-business settings can use various techniques, including training and education to provide negotiation techniques to equip managers with the skills needed for effective negotiations.

Negotiation may be the best form of dispute resolution for building or sustaining a valuable business relationship that offers long-term benefits.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) startup Prophecta has introduced a vehicle tracking algorithm to complement and extend the value of Geotab, Samsara, and any other telematics solution.

The Prophecta tool’s exclusive causality-aware modeling, real-time simulation, and forecasting help drivers maximize potential fuel cost savings and emissions reductions while increasing truck driver safety through real-time coaching and incentives.

“We focus squarely on cost reduction, with fuel savings of up to 40% just through driver behavior modification,” says Anatoly Volkhover, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer.

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By Ed Pierce, Fleet Management Weekly’s Brand Acceleration

Fluid Truck is an on-demand commercial vehicle rental platform where both individuals and businesses can access a variety of trucks and vans for short- and long-term use.

Through their mobile app, users can book vehicles online and pick them up from a nearby location any time of day or night.

While some small businesses may rely entirely on Fluid Truck for vehicle rental, the company also serves businesses that already have existing fleets.

“Fluid Truck gives individuals and businesses access to a commercial vehicle when they need it, whether it be a cargo van, pickup truck, or box truck,” says Stephen Joos, Vice President of Corporate Development at Fluid Truck.

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