By Bill Bishop, SVP of Sales and Marketing, FLD Remarketing

When I say that the white metal market found “familiar” patterns in 2024, that was a good thing. And something I frankly think we’ll see more of in 2025.

As we pointed out in our 2024 year-end review, many of the talking heads that cover asset remarketing believe 2025 could be the breakout year we’ve all been waiting for since the pandemic cut short what was at the time a stable – and for the most part profitable – market.

Fleets have normalized in size, have the assets they need, and vehicle availability has improved, so I’m not expecting any huge expansion in 2025.

READ MORE

By Jay Horak, CTO, Opus IVS

The fleet industry is experiencing significant changes, particularly with the increasing prevalence of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) in modern vehicles. While electric vehicles (EV) have captured headlines, it’s ADAS that is presenting the most immediate challenges for fleet operators.

The intricate technologies behind ADAS—such as lane-keeping assistance, collision avoidance, and automated braking—are pushing fleets to invest heavily in advanced diagnostic solutions and technician training to stay ahead.

Fleet operators must adopt a forward-thinking approach, leveraging partnerships with solution providers and accessing the latest repair protocols to stay ahead.

READ MORE

Merchants Fleet, a leader in innovative fleet solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Dyer as Chief Executive Officer.

Dyer brings decades of industry leadership and expertise to the role, including four years as CEO of LeasePlan USA.

“Matt is an exceptional leader with deep fleet expertise and a proven track record of driving transformative change,” said Brad Burgess, interim co-CEO of Merchants Fleet. “His bold vision, collaborative spirit, and commitment to excellence make him the ideal person to guide Merchants into its next chapter. We’re excited to work together to shape a dynamic future for our company and clients.”

Dyer’s appointment succeeds interim co-CEOs Brad Burgess and Kirk Hoffman who will return to their roles as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer respectively.

READ MORE

AFLA is excited to announce two finalists for the 2025 Canadian Fleet Professional of the Year Award. The inaugural winner of this new award will be announced on February 19, at the 2025 AFLA Canada Summit in Mississauga, ON.

Our 2025 finalists are:

–Anne Contala, Manager of Safety, Health Environment and Fleet, AstraZeneca Canada and

–Sabrina Marion-Masse, Corporate Fleet Manager, UAP

Register for the Canada Summit today and join us in celebrating the accomplishments of these two finalists and congratulating this year’s winner.

READ MORE

Verizon Connect announced the launch of two advanced solutions designed to enhance fleet safety, driver performance, and operational efficiency.

The new Extended View Cameras deliver near-360-degree visibility with rear, side, and cargo cameras; while the customizable Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) simplifies compliance and maintenance through Verizon Connect’s Reveal platform.

The solutions are now available to new and existing Verizon Connect Reveal customers. The Extended View Cameras are available in the U.S., while the DVIR is available in the U.S. and Canada.

READ MORE

Certified pre-owned (CPO) and off-lease vehicles both have benefits and drawbacks. As prices for new cars remain high, these used car buying options are often more affordable without sacrificing quality. However, there are other pros and cons to consider.

Do you want a newer vehicle? An off-lease car may be a better choice since most leases are for new vehicles and only last two to three years. Some CPO vehicles can be several years old.

The average CPO car is under five years old, but some manufacturers certify vehicles up to 10 years old. Older CPOs will generally be more affordable than newer, off-lease vehicles, so this might be the better option if your budget is tight.

via Autotrader

A U.S. appeals court on Monday threw out consumer protection rules adopted by the Biden administration to ban bait-and-switch tactics and prohibit auto dealers charging for add-on costs that do not benefit new car buyers.

The rule required up-front pricing in dealers’ advertising and sales discussions and informed consent from consumers before charging for any item.

The FTC had said the new rules would bar junk fees like a service contract for an oil change for an electric vehicle or a duplicative warranty and estimated it would save consumers more than $3.4 billion and 72 million hours annually shopping for vehicles.

via Reuters

By S & P Global Mobility

US President Donald Trump is assessing a 25% tariff on all goods from Canada and Mexico. While this would impact all industries, S&P Global Mobility looks at the specific impact on vehicle assembly.

Regardless of timing, these blanket tariffs would have a massive impact on the auto industry. It is also likely that Canada and Mexico will reciprocate through an equal or ‘representative’ tariff.

Vehicles at significant exposure risk are those built in Canada or Mexico, particularly high-volume products where automakers have little opportunity for re-sourcing. Among the vehicles in that category are full-size pick-up trucks from GM and Stellantis, as well as the Toyota RAV4.

READ MORE

By Kevin Anderson, Marketing Communications Specialist, Safe Fleet

Though initially met with wariness from workers regarding automation, safety is where AI has its highest calling of all. At this very moment, there are solutions that focus on improving the well-being of work truck operators from the insides of warehouses, to loading docks, and on the road.

Forklift drivers who previously lacked spatial awareness and blind spot visibility will now have sharp insight into the environment around them, as these systems detect pedestrian and vehicle movements in the area surrounding the vehicle.

The new AI backup camera systems will allow for more precision when maneuvering, fully expose the blind spots, and even go as far as identifying an object and its distance away from the vehicle with audio and visual alerts.

READ MORE

(Photo: Jon Stafford, SVP at ZETI)

By Fleet Management Weekly Staff

ZETI is accelerating the transition to cleaner transportation by creating a transparent marketplace where lenders can better assess risk and offer fleets affordable rates of investment.

To better understand ZETI’s role as a conduit between fleets and lenders, we spoke with Jon Stafford, Senior Vice President of North American Sales at ZETI.

“At ZETI, our goal is to digitally transform automotive finance while accelerating the adoption of cleaner transportation. We aggregate data and leverage innovative technology to help fleets secure flexible and competitive financing while unlocking new or existing pools of capital.”

READ MORE