Curated by Ed Pierce, Fleet Management Weekly

This is the first in a continuing report on the impact of U.S. Tariffs on the fleet industry. People often repeatedly ask how fleet managers are reshuffling their plans to deal with these tariff bumps.

Nearly half of fleet managers are hitting pause on their replacement schedules. About 30% are even working to extend the life of their vehicles to dodge those immediate tariff-driven costs.

Fleet executives are now playing out different cost and supply scenarios. In most cases, they update their budgets to cover current expenses, unexpected price swings, and supply delays.

A little over 40% of fleets see U.S.-made electric vehicles or alternative fuel options as a solid way to dodge tariff impacts, though a few are slowing their EV plans because the costs keep creeping higher.

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By Erin Gilchrist, VP of Fleet Evangelism at IntelliShift

Every day, about 3.6 million professional drivers hit the road to keep our businesses and economy moving. The danger they face is amplified by distracted driving, a factor contributing to more than 3,000 reported fatalities annually.

By combining smart telematics tools with meaningful coaching and feedback programs, fleets can create a ripple effect of safer driving behaviors that extend beyond work hours into everyday life.

Drivers trained to recognize and correct unsafe behaviors often carry those habits into their personal lives — on school runs, family road trips, and neighborhood errands.

Technology can’t eliminate every risk, but when fleets combine it with strong safety leadership, consistent driver engagement, and clear expectations, the results speak for themselves.

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(Photo: Elizabeth Wills, Senior Vice President of Client Services at Wheels)

By Fleet Management Weekly Staff

We recently sat down with Elizabeth Wills, Senior Vice President of Client Services at Wheels, who has been in that position for almost two years.

While many fleet management companies offer a generic, one-size-fits-all solution, Wheels takes a more tailored approach, considering the specific needs of each client to help them achieve their objectives.

Wheels manages over 4 million vehicles in 61 countries worldwide, with over 900,000 vehicles in North America alone. They work with fleets of all sizes, managing a wide variety of clients from industries ranging from agriculture to construction to government.

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Four models from three different brands earn 2025 Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ awards in the latest batch of vehicle ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Audi Q6 e-tron, Buick Enclave and Nissan Armada qualify for the higher-tier Top Safety Pick+ award, while the GMC Acadia earns the lower-tier Top Safety Pick.

To qualify for either award in 2025, vehicles need good ratings in the small overlap front and updated side tests, an acceptable or good rating in the pedestrian front crash prevention evaluation and acceptable- or good-rated headlights across all trim levels.

via IIHS

The used car market just did something that rarely happens (outside of the pandemic). Prices actually went up year-over-year.

“Used car prices had been falling… but over the past 6 months, used car prices stabilized,” said Karl Brauer, iSeeCars Executive Analyst. “Now used car prices are going up, and this is before tariffs have impacted new car pricing, which will add further upward pressure.”

According to iSeeCars, the average price for a 1-to-5-year-old used car ticked up 1 percent, or $317, in March compared to last year. That might not sound huge, but it marks the first annual increase since October 2022.

via CarBuzz

AAA has reported the national average price for a gallon of gas as $3.155 for regular fuel, down a noticeable $0.524 from last year’s figure. Average costs for mid-grade, premium, diesel, and E85 fuel have also declined from a year ago, so what’s driving this trend?

Experts attribute lower gas costs to softer demand as spring break travel declines and crude oil being at its lowest price in a few years, which may cause the pattern to continue into summer.

If the US experiences a recession due to escalating international trade wars, fuel costs could further decrease due to lower demand.

via Autoblog

Hertz has teamed up with Israeli tech startup UVeye to install high-tech vehicle scanners at major US airport locations, beginning with Atlanta.

These tunnel-like scanners, featuring integrated lights, cameras, and sensors, will now replace the tedious, manual inspections Hertz typically uses during drop-offs.

Known as the “MRI for vehicles,” the system is touted as providing unparalleled speed and accuracy in detecting mechanical and cosmetic issues. In just seconds, the scanners examine the bodywork, glass, underbody, and tires. The digital data collected is then compared to the vehicle’s original condition report, identifying any changes that might have occurred.

via Carscoops

By Andrew Bartholomew, Market Insights Analyst at Fleetio

Fleet Managers know that their decisions impact the fleet’s bottom line, customer satisfaction, and driver safety. The legacy approach to fleet management often involves a patchwork of solutions—spreadsheets, manual reminders, and disjointed systems.

Fleet management software offers a comprehensive solution to these challenges, providing fleet managers with data-driven insights and tools to automate daily tasks and mitigate potential issues.

Fleet management software equips fleet managers with tools that reduce their workload and provide clear, actionable insights, improving the state of the fleet and the well-being of the people behind the wheel and the desk. 

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By Tod Trousdell, Fleet Marketing Consultant and Partner at RobertsTrousdell Communications

For this edition of Fleet Pro Focus we chat with one of fleet’s best known – and immensely popular – technology experts, Heidi DiAngelo, Director of Strategic Business Development at Ridecell, and a 20-year veteran of the industry.

What do you think the most important themes are for fleet as we head into the teeth of 2025?
For fleets, it’s all about simplification and cost-cutting—doing more with less. For providers, we need to focus on digitizing operations and improving the customer experience, with AI solutions playing a big role.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the industry?
We’re in the midst of a significant transformation in the Fleet & Mobility Industry, with growing pressure to digitize and simplify operations. Historically, many organizations have developed their technology in-house, but moving forward, we’ll need to shift…

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(Photo credit: ACT Expo)

Fleet Advantage, a leading innovator in specialty financing, fleet data analytics, fleet management services, and life cycle cost management, announced it is exhibiting at the ACT Expo from April 28 – May 1 at the Anaheim Convention Center in booth #5908.

Company executives will be on hand to offer complimentary fleet audits, discuss tariff-driven equipment cost increases and their newly launched Tariff-Readiness Plan.

They will also explain how AI and data-driven solutions are helping to solve the transportation industry’s biggest challenges in logistics, mandates, equipment procurement, asset management, and flexible financing.

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