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Independence Day is about fireworks, parades and picnics, sure, but there’s another reality — and it’s a sad counterpoint to what’s supposed to be a celebration of freedom. The Fourth of July is the deadliest summer holiday on the roads.
This is partly because the holiday is pegged to a specific date. Though it can come on a weekend or be weekend adjacent, some years it falls midweek, on Thursday in 2024 for example. You don’t always get a long weekend like Labor Day or Memorial Day, so driving travel can be more concentrated, sometimes even down to the one day. A lot of drinking and other bad decisions can be concentrated on that day too. And more than those other holidays, Fourth of July events coast-to-coast bring out huge crowds.
via Autoblog
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Road rage is a serious problem in the United States. Emotionally ill-equipped drivers hit the road, can’t handle the slightest provocation, and become a threat to safety.
There are a handful of mistakes you can avoid to better your chances of staying safe in a road rage situation.
Remain calm and don’t engage an angry, potentially dangerous driver
Any time you’re dealing with a potentially dangerous driver, notify the authorities
Don’t become so distracted by a road rager that you neglect other obstacles and motorists
Avoid driving home while being followed
If cornered or blocked, don’t get out of your car
via MotorBiscuit
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As we know, there’s been a commercial truck driver shortage for the last few years. But this is not just a U.S. problem; it’s an everywhere problem. In Japan, the proposed fix is a 310-mile-long conveyor belt.
Referred to as the “Autoflow-Road,” this network of automated logistics roads would transport goods using both above-ground tracks and tunnels. At ground level, tracks could be placed in a variety of places, most likely medians and alongside shoulders. So, the basic infrastructure is already in place, and the use of tunnels would minimize the impact on above-ground congestion.
The ministry says the system “will not only address the logistics crisis but also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
via The Drive
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One of the most popular talking points from EV evangelists is that they require less maintenance and are cheaper to operate than gas vehicles. The 2024 Initial Quality Study from J.D. Power suggests that might not be the case, however, as EV owners report many more problems than their gas-owning counterparts.
The organization rates vehicles based on the number of problems there are per 100 units (PP100). This year, the 38th year of the study, gas and diesel vehicles averaged 180 PP100, compared to 266 PP100 for EVs and PHEVs. J.D. Power noted that even Tesla, the EV juggernaut, failed to perform well in this year’s study, as its customers report issues with funky turn signals and wiper controls.
Ram was the top brand overall for initial quality, and Porsche was the top luxury brand.
via Autoblog
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Every year, there are hundreds of thousands of crashes involving large trucks. Driving in a semi-truck’s blind spot can lead to serious collisions. The fact that so few people are aware of these blind spots may help explain why 4 out of 5 car-truck crashes are caused by car drivers.
Avoiding these blind spots not only protects you—it also helps keep truck drivers safe, reducing the likelihood of a collision if they need to change lanes suddenly. With so few people able to correctly identify truck blind spots, it’s clear that learning about road safety shouldn’t end in our teenage years.
Findit Parts surveyed over 1,000 adult drivers to find out what they know (and how they feel) about driving around semis. To read the full article including results of the survey, click here.
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By Tod Trousdell, Marketing Consultant
This week we highlight Karyna Zarate of Inframark, a water solutions company with over 3,000 employees and a fleet of 1500 light duty trucks. An industry veteran who’s worn many hats, Karyna’s opinion is most valuable.
What about the fleet industry keeps you up at night?
Protecting our employees is our top priority. There are just so many factors that contribute to the degree of risk when our employees drive, and while I am proud of our safety solution, I am constantly asking if we are doing enough.
Looking at the industry today, what excites you most about fleet?
What excites me the most about fleet is that it fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. No matter what challenges we face, fleet embraces the opportunities to develop the necessary skills to overcome them.
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By Fleet Management Weekly Staff
Fuel cards have long been accepted by fleets to manage fuel costs across an array of drivers and vehicles. However, fuel cards have changed dramatically over the years. Traditional fuel cards came with certain limitations that stymied control.
According to Rush Akin, RoadFlex Chief Revenue Officer, modern fuel cards like RoadFlex address many of those problems, ensuring the utmost control over expenses.
With modern fuel management platforms like RoadFlex, fleets can manage fleet costs in one platform while preventing fuel card misuse and fuel theft.
“Our proactive Fuel Risk Management Platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) to extract valuable insights from a fleet’s fuel expense data,” explains Akin. “By spotting anomalies in fuel expenditures, our platform allows fleets to catch fuel card misuse as it happens.”
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