By Kam Thandi

Delaying collision repairs prolongs downtime, leading to cascading effects on operational efficiency and customer service.

Fleet managers should develop a proactive vehicle incident plan to handle collisions and minimize their impact on operations effectively.

This plan should include protocols for reporting accidents, assessing damage, and initiating repairs with shops promptly. Ensure that you have a vast network of repair shops for various needs and vehicle types, including EV-certified repair shops.

With ServiceUp, fleet managers can streamline the repair process, improve efficiency, and focus on core business operations with confidence, knowing that their vehicles are in capable hands.

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By Bob Gonke, Vice President, Client Management, Wheels

As a long-standing participant of the NAFA Institute & Expo (I&E), Wheels is poised to lead the charge for our fellow fleet professionals to profit from the invaluable knowledge to be gained at this year’s events in San Antonio.

Wheels is not merely a participant; we’re woven into the fabric of NAFA I&E with a unique blend of educational sessions and hospitality.

As attendees navigate the wealth of information available, they’ll also enjoy the casual gathering at our coffee bars within our expo floor booth #1757.

Wheels’ education sessions and networking opportunities are specifically developed to provide fleet professionals with the proper fleet management tools, meaningful knowledge, and valuable connections.

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Most fleet decision-makers have little unaided recall of telematics brands, according to new data from Escalent, a top data analytics and advisory firm.

Although the “big four” telematics providers, OnStar Business Solutions, Verizon Connect, AT&T Fleet Complete and Ford Pro, dominate upper funnel awareness, fewer than one-fifth of fleet leaders could spontaneously name these brands when asked.

This underscores the opportunity for telematics brands to distinguish themselves in a competitive environment of commoditized solutions. “The telematics industry, despite being in existence for over a decade, remains firmly in the ‘early market’ phase and needs to expand beyond early adopters,” said Lucas Lowden, insights consultant and program lead of the Fleet Advisory Hub at Escalent.

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Site plans for a new Tesla Supercharger station – now open to Rivian and Ford EV owners – have revealed that the automaker is planning to build its biggest yet, and it will be located in Florida.

The Supercharger site will have over 200 stalls. The preliminary plan shows 160 supercharging stalls and 40 standalone stalls, with eight pull-through stalls for trailers.  With 200 stalls planned, the supposed Florida location will certainly become the world’s largest Supercharger station. However, it’s currently not the largest – that distinction belongs to the Shell Recharge Shenzhen Airport EV Station, which has 258 stalls.

via CarBuzz

A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday upheld the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to grant California a waiver to set its own tailpipe emissions limits and electric-vehicle requirements.

The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia rejected a legal challenge from 17 Republican-led states and entities that sell or produce liquid fuels. The EPA in March 2022 under President Joe Biden restored California’s ability to set its own zero-emission vehicle sales mandate and tailpipe emissions limits through 2025, reversing a 2019 decision by then-President Donald Trump. Republicans argued the rules gave California an unconstitutional regulatory power denied to other states.

via Reuters

Do you ever use your cell phone while driving? Don’t feel too guilty about saying yes—nearly 60% of drivers admit to using their phone in hands-free mode while driving.

Fatal crashes caused by driver distraction have not gone down significantly over time: Distraction caused 14% of fatal crashes in 2017 and 13% of fatal crashes in 2021. Given that these numbers are calculated based on police-reported crashes, many experts believe the actual number of crashes caused by driver distraction is much higher. For example, real-world crash data from teens indicates that 58% of their crashes are due to driver distraction.

via TechXplore

Electric vehicles are becoming more common by the day, and the old concerns of range anxiety seem to be fading as many new EVs offer more miles per charge than many people drive in a week. That said, charging speeds are becoming more of a concern, especially as more people consider EVs for longer trips, because nobody wants to sit for an hour to get enough juice to keep going. That leads us to an obvious question: How long does it take to charge an electric car?

The answer, frustrating as it might be, is that it depends. Charging speeds depend on the charger — whether that’s an electric car charger at your home or one of the many electric car charging stations — the vehicle, and even the weather. Even so, there are a few basics that can make charging speeds much less of a mystery.

via Autoblog

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 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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Coast announced today that Visa Inc. has authored a white paper that highlights how the fleet card company has used innovation to improve the check-in process and integrate policies, data and other expense management tools to their card system.

“It’s a great honor for Coast’s fleet payment system to be featured in a white paper by payments leader like Visa,” said Coast CEO and founder Daniel Simon.

“Coast has worked with Visa for many years and their trust in our services has led to the development of this white paper. In it, Visa spells out exactly how Coast’s innovative technology can help businesses manage fleet and expense payments and solve the challenges many companies have in monitoring and securing their fleet accounts,” Simon said.

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