By FMW – FleetWiki

Commercial fleet managers and consultants are at the forefront of a transportation revolution as the global transition to electric vehicles (EVs) accelerates, driven by regulatory actions, increasing fuel economy, and improving technological efficiencies.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore these advancements and forecast the growth potential for each technology, providing fleet industry professionals with the insights needed to navigate the evolving EV charging landscape.

As the EV charging landscape evolves, staying informed about technological advancements and market trends will be crucial. In the future, we will likely see a mix of these technologies deployed strategically to meet diverse fleet needs, with DC Fast Charging and Level 2 charging forming the backbone of most fleet charging infrastructures.

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By Kevin Fitzpatrick, Vice President of North America Operations, Opus IVS™

The automotive repair industry is experiencing a remarkable transformation as Millennials and Gen Z increasingly embrace blue-collar careers, breathing new life into the sector that has long grappled with technician shortages.

This shift in career aspirations is not only addressing critical workforce gaps but also bringing fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to the world of auto repair.

With the rising costs of higher education and the burden of student debt, many young people are seeking alternative paths to successful careers. The auto repair industry offers a compelling proposition: the ability to earn a respectable income without the need for a four-year college degree.

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Techsbook, a leader in scheduling specialized technicians, is redefining the telematics industry by integrating advanced technology and streamlined processes.

This transformation is crucial for telematics service providers (TSPs) and direct B2B consumers, addressing long-standing challenges and significantly improving efficiency, communication, and quality control.

At the core of this transformation is Techsbook’s Direct Booking Platform, which fundamentally changes how telematics services are managed.

“Techsbook is not just improving how telematics services are scheduled; we’re transforming the entire process to be more efficient, transparent, and reliable,” said David J. Pollack, CEO of Techsbook.

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The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda announced $50 million for six states with significant automotive workforces to help small- and medium-sized suppliers adapt manufacturing facilities for the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said,. “By helping states and manufacturers navigate the emerging EV manufacturing industry, today’s announcements will help ensure the workforces that defined America’s auto sector for the last 100 years will have the opportunity to shape the next 100 years.”

via Energy.gov

Consumers have more used car options and are typically paying less for them than they were in the same period of 2023. If you were looking to buy a used car, especially a used electric vehicle, now might be your time. Prices are down, inventory (and thus choice) is up, and used car dealers are looking to get some transactions processed.

“The used car market prices are trending downward in a very predictable manner,” Ivan Drury, director of insights at Edmunds.com, said in a discussion with the Detroit Free Press. “These vehicles aren’t sitting on the lot for dramatic periods of time. Every time the vehicles go down in price, there are consumers there ready to buy.”

via Jalopnik

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the Saving Lives with Connectivity: A Plan to Accelerate V2X Deployment. This plan will guide the implementation of vehicle-to-everything technologies across the nation and support USDOT’s commitment to pursue a comprehensive approach to reduce the number of roadway fatalities to zero.

“The Department has reached a key milestone today in laying out a national plan for the transportation industry that has the power to save lives and transform the way we travel,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “The Department recognizes the potential safety benefits of V2X, and this plan will move us closer to nationwide adoption of this technology.”

via USDOT

A new study from iSeeCars found that the 10 longest-lasting vehicles come mostly from one global automaker. Toyota and Lexus dominated the list of projected longest-lasting vehicles, taking seven of the top 10 spots.

iSeeCars executive analyst Karl Brauer said, “Modern vehicles are getting more durable, with 30 models offering between a 12 and 26 percent chance of reaching a quarter-million miles. Many consumers still consider a car’s usable lifespan to end at 100,000 miles. But our latest longest-lasting study confirms that even 200,000 miles isn’t the end of the line for many cars. The top nine cars on the list have a better than 20 percent chance of hitting 250,000 miles.”

via Autoblog

By Tod Trousdell, Fleet Marketing Consultant and Owner, RobertsTrousdell Communications

This week’s fleet professional profile features transportation industry veteran Mike Hooten from Gaylor Electric, where he’s well into his second decade as a busy Fleet Manager.

Mike shares his thoughts and concerns about the current state of the industry, as well as what’s on the horizon. We also get a glimpse into what’s meaningful to him outside of work.

What keeps you up at night – both good and bad?
I am currently installing cameras in our fleet which I believe will help us tremendously with determining who the good drivers are and then being able to coach the bad drivers and help make us a safer company.

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By RoadFlex

The RoadFlex platform enables an intelligent connected-vehicle ecosystem for fleet operators, granting them real-time 360 degree-view of their fuel spend per vehicle and driver.

The solution allows fleet operators to modernize their fleets and allow them to be data-connected through seamless integrations with fleet management software, accounting tools, TMS solutions and telematics data.

RoadFlex’s AI-powered Proactive Fuel Risk Management Platform delivers comprehensive fuel risk management and fuel tracking capabilities, saving fleet operators an average of 11% in fuel spend annually.

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By April Durrett, Global Head of Experience, Verizon Connect

AI is everywhere. It’s in the media. It’s pop culture. And now, executives are clamoring for it. Sales wants it, as does the C-suite.

I’m going to let you in on a little secret, though: AI is not a silver bullet.

The combination of dashboard cameras, vehicular sensors, computer vision, and AI can generate a driver profile that identifies areas for improvement. Having this context allows fleet managers not only to develop profiles for drivers but also to identify coaching opportunities based on specific events.

Video coaching is an excellent example of how disparate tools can come together to achieve synergy. Even with all of these tools working in tandem, a human must still engage with the data and the driver for everything to work.

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