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FleetManagementWeekly
June 12, 2024

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Editor’s Analysis & Top Industry News

Managing Risk and Mourning the Loss of a Fleet Pioneer

Encouraging safer driving and managing risk is paramount in our industry. Lytx has some powerful solutions in their video safety and video telematics applications. Download Lytx’s free guide How to Protect Drivers & Technicians from Heat Stress & Fatigue, and their comprehensive 2024 “State of the Data” report on vehicle fleets and the increased risks that drivers face on roadways.

We mourn the loss of Philip Procida who passed away on June 7, 2024. A 2016 inductee to the Fleet Hall of Fame, Phil retired from ARI in 2005 after serving 44 years with the company. Ed Pierce, FMW’s Brand Acceleration, said, “Phil Procida and I worked together at ARI for several years, along with many others, developing the company’s pioneering global fleet management program.  He was a helpful mentor to me. He brought a combination of patience and persistence as ARI addressed the growing need of large ARI customers for global fleet management support. His efforts to build ARI’s presence in Canada, secure a European partner, and launch ARIZA in Mexico in collaboration with the Zapata organization are true milestones in the history of the Holman organization.”

Janice Sutton
Editor in Chief


VIDEO: Ranger Design: Your Ultimate Cargo Van Solution

Ranger Design pays tribute to the hard work and dedication of tradespeople. This video highlights how their innovative solutions support unique needs, helping create personalized workspaces where tradespeople can truly thrive. Be inspired by their commitment and the exceptional spaces they build!

VIDEO: Driver Safety


  Powerful Safety Insights for Dangerous Times
 

Powered by 40 billion miles of new driving data from 2023, Lytx’s 2024 “State of the Data” report identifies heightened levels of risk on the roads and a greater urgency for fleets to decrease unsafe driving behaviors.

Click here to see the report.


Zoom Video Interview with You Here?

  Request for Zoom Video Interviews
 

We now conduct the majority of our interviews via Zoom, and are looking to speak with a variety industry experts (and we know that many of you are reading!).

Please feel free to suggest yourself, or someone you know. Any and all timely industry topics will be considered, and we look forward to speaking with you!

Email Ted Roberts to learn more: [email protected].


Spotlight

Wheels Launches 'Pool Checkout': A New State-of-the-Art Solution to Manage Shared Vehicles Wheels Launches ‘Pool Checkout’: A New State-of-the-Art Solution to Manage Shared Vehicles

Wheels announced the launch of Pool CheckOut™, its new end-to-end solution for managing shared vehicles.

The new cloud-enabled fleet management solution incorporates a number of powerful features such as instant access to booking data, automated scheduling, checklist inspections, optimizing vehicle distribution to meet demand, and key management solutions like connected and keyless access to vehicles.

READ MORE

New This Year: Professional Development Seminars Available Before NETS Conference New This Year: Professional Development Seminars Available Before NETS Conference

This year NETS is offering PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS (PDS) in conjunction with their annual conference provided by National Safety Council, American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), and many more!

Topics include ASSP’s Incident Investigation, ASSP’s Safety Through Accountability and Recognition, CEPA’s Comprehensive Driver Safety Program, Driver Direct™ with The Smith5Keys® and many more.

READ MORE

Ranger Design: Innovative Solutions for Your Fleet's Toughest Jobs Ranger Design: Innovative Solutions for Your Fleet’s Toughest Jobs

Make Your Fleet More Efficient with Best-in-Class Products from Ranger Design

Build and price your cargo van, box truck or enclosed trailer. Upfit with our FREE easy to use 3D Configurator. Choose one of our popular trade packages or custom design your upfit from scratch.

  • Most popular North American models available
  • Hundreds of configurations possible
  • Now optimized for mobile devices

To get a quote on your upfit configuration, click here.

Lytx’s 2024 ‘State of the Data’ Report Highlights Increased Road Risks and Key Safety Trends

Lytx® Inc., a global leader in video safety and video telematics, has released its annual “State of the Data” report on vehicle fleets and the increased risks that drivers face on roadways.

Powered by 40 billion miles of new driving data from 2023, Lytx’s 2024 “State of the Data” report identifies heightened levels of risk on the roads and a greater urgency for fleets to decrease unsafe driving behaviors.

“Road travel surged to record highs in 2023, and with more vehicles come more risks, as well as increased logistical complexity,” said Brandon Nixon, Chairman and CEO of Lytx.

READ MORE

Beating the Heat


Summer is here! In this new comprehensive report from Lytx, fleet managers and operators will find the best methods to help your drivers prevent heat stress and avoid down time.

When temperatures rise, driver fatigue caused by heat stress becomes a significant concern for companies with drivers and service technicians in the field. We have crucial information for you about the latest available technology designed to detect and mitigate heat-related driver fatigue.

Ensuring the well-being and safety of your employees is vital; this informative guide will help address this issue and provide you with actions to take to help protect your workforce.

To download the free Lytx guide, ‘Ways to Beat Heat Stress’, click here.

 

Fleet Pro Focus


By Tod Trousdell, Marketing Consultant

At Fleet Management Weekly we’re big fans of fleet managers, who are the very backbone of our industry and some of the smartest, most talented people we know.

This week’s featured fleet manager is Sharon Etherington of Roche Diagnostics, a real ‘rock star’ in the industry.

What are the biggest challenges facing your fleet at Roche?
Ensuring a sufficient supply of vehicles in a timely manner to support our industry growth was a significant issue. This challenge has been largely addressed through strategic measures…

What about the fleet industry keeps you up at night?
The technology around fleet management is changing rapidly with AI, Telematics, Connected Data, IOT, to name a few.

READ MORE

 

Reducing Emissions


By Nada Jiddou, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer, Clarience Technologies

Fleets have never been under more pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions than they are today.

With governments worldwide setting increasingly ambitious carbon reduction targets and investors prioritizing environmental sustainability, companies are being pushed to focus on decarbonizing their transportation and logistics operations.

Fleets must find ways to reconcile the many reporting requirements and collect and collate data from assets and systems. This includes leveraging digital technologies that streamline the data collection process to allow for better carbon accounting.

This approach will enable them to not only ensure compliance but also identify opportunities to reduce emissions and operating costs.

READ MORE


Trending

More EVs, Fewer Plugs: How Permit Delays Slow Down Charger Growth

If you drive an electric car, the chances of encountering a traffic jam at charging stations before finding a spot to plug in are higher today than ever. That’s especially true in large, congested cities like New York or Chicago. This is because the pace of EV sales has far outpaced the installation of public chargers.

Many charging companies are now saying that one reason for this skewed ratio is the lengthy process involved in acquiring permits and getting utility companies on board. Collaboration with utility companies is required to route electricity to the site. This is followed by the design and construction of the charging station. The main roadblock arises during the permit acquisition process from local jurisdictions, which can take anywhere from a few weeks to over a year.

via InsideEVs

Auto Parts Giant Reinvents the Steering Wheel for a Next-Gen Drivers

image credit: ZF LIFETEC

German auto parts supplier ZF Group, whose parts are found in a wide variety of cars on the road, has devised a way to reinvent the wheel for today’s tech-dependent drivers.

In a typical steering wheel installed on modern cars, the airbag is mounted front and center of the wheel, as the airbag is designed to inflate on top of the wheel in the event of a crash. With this design, ZF mounts the airbag in a different place, freeing up room for whatever manufacturers would like to incorporate with their new design. The wheel can also be used with what they call “hands-on” detection, which uses a capacitive sensor under the steering wheel leather that senses when the wheel is being held.

via Street

SEMA Supports Virginia’s Emancipation From California’s Gasoline Vehicle Ban

Virginia has opted out of a coalition of 17 states that have adopted California’s vehicle emission standards. This means that internal combustion vehicles will not be required to be phased out by the year 2035 as they will be in California.

“It defies common sense that in 2021 lawmakers decided that instead of writing our own electric vehicle laws, Virginia would simply do whatever California decided to do,” said Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin. “Because lawmakers outsourced their responsibilities and surrendered our values to California, Virginians face a mandate starting in 2024 that limits and eventually bans the buying of gas-powered cars or trucks. Unless we act, Virginia is hostage to the extreme policies of California.”

via MotorTrend

Wholesale Used-Vehicle Prices Declined in May

Wholesale used-vehicle prices were down in May compared to April. The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index fell to 197.3, a decline of 12.1% from a year ago.

“While declines in used-vehicle values overall were a bit muted in the first half of May, they picked up in the latter half of the month,” said Jeremy Robb, senior director of Economic and Industry Insights at Cox Automotive. “It’s seasonally normal to get some weakening in the market over the Memorial Day weekend; but this month, we experienced a little more softening in the final week. As we move into summer, used retail days’ supply remains lower than last year, which could bring in more buyers at Manheim in the coming weeks.”

via Cox Automotive

Crash-Free Culture


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.

READ MORE

 

Fleet Marketing


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.

READ MORE

 

FleetNet America


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…”

READ MORE





Fleet Management Resources

 

AFLA
The Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association works with member companies to address key issues facing the entire industry and deliver leading-edge programs that advance their skills and enhance the environment in which they sell products and services.

Kingbee
Reimagining commercial van and fleet rentals. We upfit in-house, add your signage and ship your fleet vans to 48 states.

Ranger Design
Work van equipment tailored for your every need. Committed to developing products and solutions that help customers save time and money, do more with less, and meet – and exceed – their biggest goals.

eDriving
eDriving partners with its clients to engage with drivers and their managers to create a culture that supports lasting behavioral change to reduce collisions, injuries, license violations as well as a fleet’s total cost of ownership.

NAFA Fleet Management Association
NAFA is the association for the diverse vehicle fleet management profession regardless of organizational type, geographic location, or fleet composition.

SuperVision
SuperVision is a fleet driver management solution for MVR & license monitoring, fleet management, fleet safety oversight and driver performance and retention.

FLD
The fast, easy way to remarket without risk. Get an offer in hours, paid in a few days. Improve TCO. Save time, money and resources.

PARS
PARS’ mission is to provide you with high-quality service at competitive prices for all of your transportation needs.

Wheels
Helping vehicle fleets exceed their business goals since 1939, Wheels is committed to truly understanding your unique needs and providing solutions to help you succeed.




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