By RoadFlex

The way fleets run has changed dramatically since the 1990s. Back then, fuel cards were a simple tool: drivers swiped at the pump, agencies paid the bill, and reporting arrived weeks later. For gas-only fleets with limited technology needs, that was enough.

Fast forward to today, and public agencies operate in a completely different environment. A city or county fleet may include gas, diesel, and electric vehicles—alongside in-yard tanks fueling everything from police cruisers to utility trucks.

In this world, the fuel cards of the 1990s fall short. They weren’t designed for the complexity of modern fleets or the accountability standards public agencies must uphold.

Across the country, agencies are recognizing that payment tools must do more than process transactions. They need a platform that helps them manage strategically—and that platform is RoadFlex.

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By Ed Pierce, Editor, Fleet Management Weekly

Battery technology is evolving rapidly, reshaping the future of commercial fleets. For executives weighing fleet investment decisions, the landscape is a mix of rapid technical progress and shifting U.S. policy.

Globally, EV adoption is accelerating, especially in China and Europe. The U.S. will continue to grow, albeit at a slower pace, if policy support wanes.

Still, battery innovations—such as higher range, faster charging, and lower costs—will continue to improve the business case for electrification.

For fleet executives, the message is clear: monitor the technology, act strategically, and utilize incentives when available. EV adoption is about staying competitive, reducing costs, and fulfilling sustainability commitments.

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Photo: Tim Mundahl, Merchants Fleet

By Fleet Management Weekly Staff

One of the fleet industry’s mainstays, Merchants Fleet has been around since 1962. The fact that they maintain an impressive industry profile to this day is testimony to their ability to remain flexible and adapt to an ever changing business landscape.

To get a better idea about how fleets can benefit from being flexible on vehicles and specifications, we had a most enlightening Q&A session with industry pro Tim Mundahl, Director, Fleet Consulting with Merchants Fleet.

“Fleets that once prided themselves on consistency now realize that adaptability is the true gold standard. Building flexibility into every aspect of vehicle acquisition is how top-performing fleets are winning today.”

“Today’s most resilient fleets aren’t the ones with the most rigid specifications. They are the ones who build adaptability into their acquisition strategy.”

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There’s a disturbing shift in road rage trends. Multiple aggressive and potentially deadly driving behaviors are skyrocketing. But incidents of yelling at another driver are plummeting. So how are drivers communicating their anger? It may be with deadly threats instead of words.

An AAA study on road rage found major shifts since 2016. Honking in anger has increased 47%. Purposeful cutoffs are up 67%. Of everyone surveyed, 92% had witnessed risky behavior such as speeding, tailgating, zigzagging, or even street racing.

“In total, 20% of drivers reported that they personally know someone who has been threatened by a weapon in a road rage incident, while 12% of drivers reported personally knowing someone who has been injured or killed in a road rage incident.”

via MotorBiscuit

The federal $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit officially ended this month, which means EVs are now more expensive than ever. Ford quietly rolled out a price revision for the 2026 F-150 Lightning lineup, with notable reductions for several key trims.

According to order guides, the Flash trim will receive the most significant adjustment, dropping $4,000 to $65,995, while the Lariat now starts at $74,995, down $2,000 from last year. The top-spec Platinum remains unchanged at $84,995.

The good news is that Ford has confirmed the equipment stays intact across all versions despite the price cuts, with all-wheel drive remaining standard across the range.

via CarBuzz

Two identical Trump tariffs landed this spring: 25% on imported new cars and the same 25% on imported parts. Automakers chose to swallow billions in losses to keep new-car sticker prices steady and shoppers walking into showrooms.

Independent repair shops had no cushion, so they passed those same tariffs straight to you. That’s the scam. Working- and middle-class drivers keeping older cars alive are funding the volume game for Detroit and its rivals every time a service advisor prints an estimate.

Owners who fix instead of finance get hammered at the counter. The policy didn’t change between the front door and the service bay. The power did.

via Autoblog

The average US new car price crossed the $50,000 mark for the first time in September, according to new estimates from Kelley Blue Book (KBB). Prices have been climbing steadily for over a year, and the pace picked up this summer – but that hasn’t stopped Americans from buying.

KBB says September’s record average transaction price (ATP) was partly driven by luxury models and EVs, which pushed the market into record territory. The average EV sold for $58,124 – up 3.5% from August’s adjusted figure.

“It is important to remember that the new-vehicle market is inflationary. Prices go up over time, and today’s market is certainly reminding us of that,” said Erin Keating, executive analyst at Cox Automotive.

via Electrek

By Fleet Management Weekly Staff

Intellishift is a unified platform built for fleet people, by fleet people. With their customized solution, IntelliShift brings together disparate data from multiple systems to empower fleet managers with actionable insights.

One major client of IntelliShift is Paraco Gas, a propane delivery company that operates a fleet of trucks to deliver propane directly to homes and businesses across the Northeast.

Providing us with a firsthand view of the companies’ partnership, we spoke with both Scott Tucker, Senior Operations Process Manager at Paraco Gas and Ryan Wilkinson, Chief Operating Officer with IntelliShift.

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By Steve Bender, President. Fleet Street Remarketing

As I sit here writing this, basking in the afterglow of the recent AFLA conference in beautiful Marco Island, I have to admit it’s kind of hard to believe that we’re already nearing the end of the year.

For those of you who remember, my family was turned upside down a little more than a year ago when my son Sean was struck and nearly killed by a boat as we looked for lobsters in the Florida Keys.

From the moment Sean’s life was tragically changed, the fleet community banded together and stood by our side. From the bottom of our hearts – to everyone in Fleet’s big, beautiful family – Thank You. A million times, Thank You.

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By John Haliburton

How can fleet managers ensure their assets are being protected? How can they be notified quickly and instantly about vehicle ‘occurrences’, including those that are stolen, impounded, sold or in repair?

Notifications by regular or even certified mail can often take a very long time to arrive – if they arrive at all. Because fleet staff need to be made aware of a vehicle occurrence as soon as possible, a vehicle monitoring service is necessary.

A service that does this for instance, Locator Technologies, is being used by fleets such as Hertz, J.B. Hunt, FlexiVan, Knight-Swift Transportation, AVR Van Rental, and others, including 85% of the lenders with vehicles on the road.

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