(image credit: Self Inspection)

By Ed Pierce, Contributing Editor, Fleet Management Weekly

One area drawing growing attention is AI-driven vehicle condition monitoring to document exterior damage, verify inspection quality, and evaluate tire condition.

Among the companies discussing this trend at NAFA I&E was Self Inspection, which presented a platform to standardize vehicle inspections.

The goal is not simply faster inspections but more consistent documentation and earlier detection of issues.

For fleet managers, the discussion highlights a broader industry challenge: how to maintain accurate, auditable vehicle condition data across increasingly decentralized operations.

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

I attended the annual National Private Trucking Council (NPTC) conference in Orlando, focused on private trucking.

This was three days of education, recognition, and the opportunity to experience products, services, and solutions from more than 150 exhibitors.

Every industry facet was on-hand, from big truck OEMs and traditional fleet service folks to new era providers of services like AI, software and quite frankly, everything between.

“We’ve worked really hard to build a space where top fleet leaders feel safe to exchange ideas and build a community…” – Gary Petty, President and CEO of National Private Truck Council

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By Charles Daniel – Head of Automotive Retail Solutions at FPT Americas

Successful fleet managers and dealers buy high-value inventory from across the country as a standard practice.

However, a new challenge has emerged that separates the leaders from the laggards: information latency.

To stay competitive, the industry is shifting from AI copilots to a world of agentic orchestration, where autonomous agents reason, bid, and execute.

By removing information latency, operators are cutting their total buy-to-ready cycle by a quarter.

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is warning Americans of scammers claiming to be from NHTSA and demanding payment for traffic violations.

These messages often refer to fake judges, case numbers, and serious consequences to appear more official and scare recipients into clicking a link and paying.

NHTSA does not issue traffic tickets and will never text, call, or email any member of the public regarding any traffic violation. Traffic violations are issued by state and local governments and law enforcement agencies. NHTSA is the federal vehicle safety regulator and does not issue any traffic fines to drivers.

via NHTSA

We have some good news if you’re shopping for a new EV: There are plenty of good EVs available for a lot less than the average listing price on Cars.com of $57,932, starting for less than $30,000.

With a starting price of $28,995 (including destination), the Chevrolet Bolt has returned and taken the crown from the Nissan Leaf as the cheapest new electric vehicle you can buy. While EPA testing for the Bolt’s range has yet to be released, Chevy says it will have an estimated 255 miles of range.

SUVs and crossovers dominate the list, with nine of the 11 offerings being an SUV or crossover.

via Cars.com

Truck drivers can get angry at some of the antics pulled by people in passenger vehicles. Among the worst are when car drivers put trucks into positions where their size is a key disadvantage, making the road more dangerous for both you and them.

One of the most common complaints from truck drivers is that people in cars ride in trucks’ huge blind spots — which are indeed pretty big.

If you’re traveling in the same lane as a semi, you should stay at least 30 feet behind the trailer. Otherwise, it makes tailgating a big truck even more risky than when you do it to a car, since the truck won’t even know you’re there.

via Jalopnik

For years, sedans looked like a dying breed in America. But according to a recent report, the humble sedan may be heading for a comeback. One of the biggest reasons behind it is that SUVs have become almost too common.

Karl Brauer from iSeeCars described it as “SUV fatigue,” with buyers increasingly wanting vehicles that stand out rather than blend in.

That trend appears especially strong among younger drivers. Research from Escalent found that 51% of teenagers surveyed picture themselves driving a sedan in the future, compared to just 31% who chose SUVs.

via Autoblog

By Mark Hogland, President, Moventum Fleet Management

As Union Leasing transitions to Moventum Fleet Management, we’ve been asked what this change means for our clients and how we’ll support fleets moving forward.

The foundation of our business is not changing. The new brand gives us a clearer way to describe who we’ve become.

What matters most to us is strengthening the client experience and Moventum Fleet Management is uniquely positioned to serve.

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By Ed Pierce, Contributing Editor, Fleet Management Weekly

The recent NAFA I&E conference featured several sessions on fleet safety, highlighting ways to improve fleet safety and efficiency through AI.

Machine learning systems can now analyze telematics, camera feeds, and operational data in real time, identifying subtle patterns that humans might miss.

Fleets that successfully integrate AI, behavioral coaching and driver engagement strategies may ultimately gain advantages not only in safety performance but also in operational efficiency.

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Total new-vehicle sales for May 2026 project a 5.8% increase year-over-year, according to a joint forecast from JD Power and GlobalData.

New-vehicle retail sales for May 2026 are projected to reach 1,231,900, a 6.0% increase from May 2025.

Hybrid share of retail sales has climbed to 16.3%, up 1.6 ppts, while EV share has softened to 7.0%.

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