By Fleet Management Weekly Staff

While there are a host of fleet maintenance companies on the market, FleetNet America by Cox Automotive wields a network of over 65,000 carefully vetted service providers throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

It has been a strong provider in the trucking space for decades, and today it offers services that include emergency roadside assistance, preventative maintenance, and towing and recovery.

Its data-driven cost calculator lets clients see how much they can save with the company’s maintenance solution.

“FleetNet America is a digital-first fleet solutions marketplace,” says Arnie Braun, Senior Director of Vehicle Operations. “A little over a year ago, FleetNet America joined Cox Automotive, and that means we can bring together service providers to address a specific client’s needs…”

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By Ed Pierce, Fleet Management Weekly’s Brand Acceleration

Generative AI leverages advanced algorithms and machine learning to create personalized content, automate repetitive tasks, and provide deep insights into consumer behavior. Unlike traditional AI, which relies on pre-programmed rules, generative AI learns from data to create outputs that mimic human creativity and decision-making.

For example, generative AI can analyze a customer’s past interactions with a brand to predict future behavior and preferences. This allows marketers to send personalized offers and recommendations that are more likely to convert.

Generative AI is revolutionizing the marketing landscape by delivering more effective results and enhancing efficiency. From automating content creation to providing profound insights and real-time adaptability, generative AI offers a powerful toolset for modern marketers.

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By Sarah Bechtold, eDriving

Summer is a time for adventure, relaxation, and exploration. With the sun shining and the roads calling, it’s also a season when driving risks can increase.

A Summer Safety Pledge is more than a promise; it’s a commitment to prioritize the well-being of drivers, passengers, and other road users. By taking this pledge, fleets can foster a culture of safety, reduce collision and incident rates, and enhance overall operational efficiency.

As we embrace the Summer of Safety pledge, tools like Mentor by eDriving become indispensable allies. Mentor is a comprehensive digital driver risk management program that utilizes telematics data to monitor and improve driving behavior.

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If you want your dash cam to keep recording even when your car’s engine is shut off, purchasing one with a parking mode function is a must. Dash cams with this feature will keep recording what’s happening around your vehicle, even after you’ve turned off the ignition.

These devices have motion or impact detection sensors that activate the camera if they detect movement or something hitting your car. If someone vandalizes, burglarizes, or hits your car while it’s parked, the dash cam will record the event, giving you a video record of what happened.

via SlashGear

Americans still prefer to buy a standard gas vehicle over a hybrid or an electric vehicle even with the same price and features, a KPMG study, said on Thursday. Only one-fifth of people surveyed said they would purchase an EV over a gas-powered vehicle or hybrid vehicle.

The study shows a gap in expectations between U.S. consumers and auto industry executives for EV charging times during road trips. Sixty percent of U.S. consumers want charging in 20 minutes or less compared with 41% who are willing to wait longer according to auto executives, the study said. The study also found fewer consumers are likely to pay for self-driving features and entertainment as compared to safety, Wi-Fi and charging locator.

via Reuters

People concerned with getting better fuel economy should monitor their driving. Reports say that vehicles use 15 percent more fuel at 62 miles per hour and 25 percent more at 68 MPH due to wind resistance. However, driving too slow can also cause you to use more fuel due to being in a lower gear.

One way people can improve their car’s fuel economy is to clear out any unnecessary clutter. Naturally, carrying more cargo in a vehicle means it will burn more gallons of fuel each mile the person drives. This is especially true for the rear of the car. By some estimates, vehicles use about 2% more fuel for every extra 110 pounds of cargo.

via Motor Biscuit

Ford CEO Jim Farley wants the industry to stop viewing hybrid vehicles as only an interim solution to be used until drivers are comfortable going fully electric.

“We should stop talking about it as transitional technology,” Farley said of hybrids at a Bernstein analyst conference on Thursday.

Plug-in hybrids, which include a small battery that can be used for shorter distances, may not be relevant in a few years, Farley said. However, extended-range hybrids are an important technology for the industry’s future, he said. Presumably, he was referring to vehicles similar to the Ram 1500 Ramcharger, which has a rather large battery pack, but also a gas engine generator to provide electricity when the battery has drained.

via Autoblog

By Tod Trousdell, Marketing Consultant

At Fleet Management Weekly, we’re obviously great admirers of fleet professionals – especially hard-working, dedicated leaders like Matt Craig, Fleet Director at Helios Fleet Solutions.

Matt shares his thoughts with us about the current state of the fleet industry and also tells us a little bit about his family and home life.

Looking at the industry today, what excites you most about fleet?
I’m excited about AI capabilities that allow fleets to make quicker adjustments to drivers’ safety. AI can detect early signs of fatigue and unsafe driving practices and avoid potential collisions by taking corrective action, such as steering or applying the brakes.

A new report from NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), Cleaner Cars, Fatter Wallets, demonstrates the broad benefits of federal incentives and tailpipe emission standards which will slash carbon pollution from vehicles by nearly 8 billion metric tons over the next three decades.

Cleaner Cars, Fatter Wallets compiles a wide range of data to show these benefits from the current policies:

• $6,000 lifetime savings for those buying a new vehicle in 2032;
• a surge in battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales, reaching 10 million by 2032 – 2.5 times what they would be without these policies;
• the reduction of nearly 8 billion tons of carbon emissions, more than the entire U.S. economy emits in a year

To download the entire report, click here.

By David Lewis, Founder and CEO, MoveEV

By taking a thoughtful approach to employees’ individual situations, fleet managers can design a take-home EV program that fits their drivers’ needs and benefits the company’s bottom line in the long run.

For many fleet drivers, especially those covering less than 10,000 miles annually, the standard Level 1 charger that plugs into a 120v (standard) wall outlet and comes with their EV is perfectly adequate. For higher mileage drivers with faster charging needs, a non-networked Level 2 charger represents a compelling option.

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