By Fleet Management Weekly Staff

Smith System is a global leader in driver risk management and safety training, best known for its Five Keys® to Space Cushion Driving methodology driving methodology. The system has been adopted by fleets, government agencies, and commercial organizations worldwide.

Smith’s solutions span classroom training, e-learning, microlearning, and technology-enabled driver risk management tools that build lasting safety cultures.

We spoke with Derek Dunaway, CEO of Smith System, about the company’s newly launched Trainer Center platform and how it modernizes trainer-led safety programs while strengthening the role of behavior-based training in today’s increasingly technology-driven fleet environment.

“Our focus is on helping fleets build sustainable safety cultures supported by modern tools. Trainer Center reflects that commitment.”

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By A.J. Bruning, Bruning Law Firm

As an attorney who has litigated hundreds of commercial vehicle accident cases, I have seen firsthand how compliance failures lead to preventable crashes—and significant liability exposure.

The gaps I see most often are not obscure regulatory technicalities. They are fundamental breakdowns in driver qualification, maintenance documentation, hours-of-service monitoring, and training that create the conditions for accidents.

Understanding these compliance gaps from a litigation perspective can help fleet managers focus their safety efforts where they matter most.

The goal is not just to pass an audit—it is to build a documented safety culture that prevents accidents and protects your operation when things go wrong.

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The EPA officially revoked the endangerment finding for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and eliminated clean vehicle standards in a blow to both our economy and our environment.

Repealing limits to GHG emissions from automobiles alone is expected cost Americans an additional $1.6 trillion in fuel costs.

Reinsurance firm Swiss RE estimates that GHG emissions could reduce the U.S. Gross Domestic Product by 10 percent annually by 2050.

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Since the very earliest generational commentary around millennials, they’ve been blamed for ruining everything from movie theaters to dinner dates to breakfast cereal. They were also the first age cohort to be accused of not giving a damn about cars.

A study by Insurify details the top vehicle choices by each generation, from Gen Z to boomers. Millennial preferences skew toward reliability, value, fuel economy, and MSRPs that won’t compete with their lingering student loan balances.

Their No. 1 vehicle choice isn’t radical or ironic or algorithmically optimized for vibes. It’s a thoroughly mainstream, time-tested sedan. The Accord has long occupied that sweet spot between sensible and aspirational.

via Jalopnik

Launched in 2021, the Rivian Electric Delivery Van (EDV) currently only comes in front-wheel drive form, with a 320 HP motor driving the front wheels. The 100kWh battery pack allows for a quoted range of 161 miles in the smaller 500 variant, and 160 in the larger 700.

Those numbers are fine for the sort of urban, high-density mileage the EDV has been used for so far but limit its usefulness in less built-up areas. Being front-wheel drive only means that winter weather and unpaved roads can cause a problem for it too.

Those two major limitations are what the new variants of the van are being specifically developed to overcome. Rivian says it’s working on a larger battery that’ll bring a 30% increase in range, potentially bumping it up to 209 miles.

via Autoblog

If you’ve driven at night lately, you’ve probably encountered oncoming vehicle lights that look like portable stadium floodlights.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) safety experts have been crunching real-world crash data, and they say glare from headlights is linked to only a tiny fraction of nighttime crashes. It appears more often on undivided two-lane roads, in wet conditions, and among older drivers, particularly those over 70, who are naturally more sensitive to bright light.

That doesn’t mean the industry gets a free pass to blind everyone. The same rating program that rewards better illumination also penalizes excessive glare, and automakers have responded.

via CarScoops

China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) made the decision to bar all vehicle manufacturers from selling cars at less than manufacturing cost. This puts an end to the brutal homegrown competition that’s projected to have cost the automotive industry $68 billion.

This action will likely provide stability to the auto industry in China. However, this could also impact the way that global EV prices are decided. US buyers face higher EV prices, while global markets may see more affordable options.

Companies like BYD built complete supply chains, allowing rapid innovation, with Chinese firms developing new models in roughly half the timeframe compared to legacy automakers.

via Autoblog

By Whitney Reynolds, Vice President, FleetShare, Merchants Fleet

In conversations with fleet leaders, I hear a consistent theme: the expectation to deliver certainty in an environment that no longer offers it. That tension is forcing many organizations to rethink long-standing assumptions about Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

Increasingly, I believe the next era of fleet TCO won’t be defined by what fleets acquire next, but by how effectively they use the vehicles they already own or lease.

Today, fleet teams have access to real-time vehicle data through telematics and integrated platforms. That visibility enables a more proactive approach to daily management and cost control.

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By Ed Pierce, Fleet Brand Acceleration

Fleet buyers today are more digitally sophisticated, more risk-conscious, and better informed than ever. They expect suppliers to understand the operational realities of fleet management.

B2B marketing across the automotive fleet supplier community is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Marketing is becoming a true driver of strategic growth, shaping how companies position themselves, go to market, and generate revenue.

Data sits at the center of this evolution, amplified by AI, advanced analytics, and increasingly integrated technology stacks.

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By Fleet Management Weekly Staff

Netradyne is an AI-powered driver safety and fleet management solution that uses smart in-vehicle cameras and edge intelligence to analyze driver behavior in real time.

Unlike a traditional dashcam, which records events on the road for later review, Netradyne’s system interprets events in real time to provide drivers with immediate feedback.

To learn more about Netradyne’s technology and how its helping fleets become safer and more efficient, we spoke with Adam Kahn, Chief Marketing Officer at Netradyne.

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