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

Welcome to our Q3 installment of FLD’s White Metal Market Report. This our 9th year of sharing news, views, and predictions on the used white metal wholesale market.

The wholesale used work truck market didn’t make any drastic moves south. Instead, it experienced far more moderate depreciation than in the past few years, a (pleasantly) surprising – development. There are a lot of factors keeping used work trucks in high demand, none bigger than the scarcity of high-quality assets, a problem that’s persisted since late 2023.

Tariffs – the economic boogieman of the first half of 2025 – have certainly remained an unknown but gone are the hand wringing and fear that had been so prevalent when last we weighed in. Instead, fleets seem content to let the tariff game play out before reacting.

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By Tod Trousdell, Fleet Marketing Consultant

Gone are the days when a fleet could simply employ a few savvy maintenance experts or turn to reliable local providers to service and maintain their assets.

According to a recent study by the TechForce Foundation, a nonprofit organization that focuses on solving the shortage of skilled technicians in emerging industries, the US will need over 110,000 new vehicle technicians between 2022 and 2026.

Enter The Hourglass Foundation, which works to not only draw attention to the shortage of vehicle technicians, but to empower young people to achieve their dreams in the face of financial adversity by providing scholarships to pursue careers in automotive technology. Technician shortages are such a significant problem for fleets that The Hourglass Foundation has been tabbed as the Automotive and Fleet Leasing Association’s (AFLA) official Charity of the Year for the second year in a row.

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Photo: LAI Fleet’s Anna Goodman

By Fleet Management Weekly Staff

While small- and medium-sized fleets are often overlooked by larger providers, FMCs like LAI Fleet have built a reputation for delivering full-service fleet leasing and management solutions to fleets of all sizes.

Formerly known as Leasing Associates, LAI Fleet has a legacy spanning over 65 years. The company operates nationwide, working with fleets to manage the entire lifecycle of their vehicles.

We spoke with Anna Goodman, a Fleet Account Executive at LAI Fleet, to learn more about how the company operates, what it offers fleets, and the biggest challenges facing the industry today.

“We offer high-touch customer service and one point of contact – people really value that. We are nimble and really will do everything we can to help our clients. We don’t charge many of the fees that the bigger FMCs typically do, such as delivery or acquisition fees.”

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Advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) are tech-based features to help drivers stay safer on the road, and they’ve been around for a surprisingly long time. The rearview camera, for instance, first appeared on the Buick Centurion concept car, a bubble-top beauty that debuted at GM’s 1956 Autorama.

Fast forward to 2014, and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) made rearview camera systems mandatory on nearly all light-duty vehicles sold in the U.S. beginning with the 2018 model year.

NHTSA raised the bar again in 2024 when it promulgated a new rule that covered automatic emergency braking (AEB). While rearview cameras and AEB are the only ADAS literally required by the government, those requirements are not the only reason for the growth of safety technology.

via Jalopnik

On a federal level, there are no laws that prohibit a driver from using just the fog lights, but various states have specific rules in place that do. What’s common with most states is that fog lights are viewed as an optional safety feature.

In most states, including California, Florida, Texas, and Minnesota, fog lights can only be used with the headlights. Illinois regulations goes a step further by requiring drivers to also dim all auxiliary lighting within 500 feet of other vehicles.

As far as color is concerned, most states require fog lights to be white. Some, like Maryland, also permit yellow lights; Washington allows amber lights but not yellow, and New Jersey allows yellow and amber lights.

via SlashGear

The latest test comes from DEKRA in Germany. It sees a second-generation Volkswagen Golf and then a Mk VIII Golf both run through an NCAP offset frontal crash test.

“In the Golf II, occupants would have had little chance of surviving this head-on collision,” said DEKRA crash test researcher Markus Egelhaaf.

The front tire is pushed back into the footwell, the door and roof have collapsed, and the steering wheel has been pushed up against the driver. It’s bad enough when the driver hits the steering wheel, but it’s even worse when the steering wheel hits you back.

via CarBuzz

Most owners of Subaru models equipped with the company’s DriverFocus system keep it switched on and believe it makes them safer drivers, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows.

Nearly 9 out of 10 drivers who have the feature told researchers they use it most or all of the time, and a majority said they would want the next vehicle they purchase to have it too.

“Such a high level of acceptance for a system designed to keep drivers’ attention on the road is a bit surprising and very encouraging,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “Distraction and drowsiness are factors in thousands of crash deaths every year.”

via IIHS

NAFA proudly announces the winners of its 2025 Green Fleet Awards. This prestigious recognition celebrates fleets that have significant operational initiatives that promote environmental sustainability.

This year’s top honor, the #1 Green Fleet of 2025, was awarded to the Denver International Airport, reflecting its outstanding efforts in reducing environmental impacts and promoting sustainability within its fleet operations.

“We are immensely proud of the strides our winners have made in enhancing fleet sustainability through innovative programs and professional dedication,” says Bill Schankel, CAE, CEO of NAFA.

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By Ed Pierce, Editor, Fleet Management Weekly

In its most recent 2025 EV market report, the International Energy Agency (IEA) expressed confidence that the electric car revolution remains “on track.”

In its Global EV Outlook 2025, the agency projects worldwide EV sales surpassing 20 million this year, accounting for roughly one-quarter of all new car sales. Much of that momentum is coming from China and Europe.

American sales are expanding at a slower pace than global leaders. The following 12 months will likely bring volatility. In July, Congress ended the Section 30D new-EV consumer credit and Section 45W commercial credit effective September 30, 2025.

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By Chapin Griffith, Director, SHiFT Vehicle Retirement Initiative 

End-of-Life Vehicles – or ELVs – are time- and resource-hungry and preparing them for sale can limit their potential ROI with a soft sale price undermined by hours of prep time.

Fleet managers already operating on tight margins and limited time need to consider whether the payoff is worth the investment of marketing and reselling a vehicle near the end of its useful life.

A program that accepts donated ELVs with no reconditioning work required and guarantees full engine retirement, coupled with resale of good, used parts, provides fleet operators with a streamlined path to clearing the decks of unwanted vehicles.

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