By Fleet Management Weekly Staff

Merchants Fleet CEO Matt Dyer believes the fleet industry is being challenged to maintain something increasingly important: Human connection.

As fleets navigate rising costs, growing operational complexity, and increasing pressure around utilization and total cost of ownership, the industry has understandably focused on technology, efficiency, and scale.

Fleet operations now involve managing more data, more decisions, and more transactions than ever before.

Those things matter. However, the reality is that top quality fleet management has always been rooted in partnership.

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By Jillian Kossman, COO, IDScan.net

An analysis of more than 1.7 million ID verifications conducted across automotive and mobility businesses throughout North America revealed how large-scale travel events increasingly create ideal operating conditions for fraudsters.

Bad actors are using the distraction of holidays and other peak times as opportunities to commit fraud.

Businesses across the automotive and rental ecosystem face the familiar challenge of balancing customer convenience and efficiency with safety and security.

While most travelers are legitimately trying to reach their destinations, travel surges create conditions that fraudsters look to exploit.

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By Mohamad Kabbani, Head of Shell Fleet Solutions US

Organizations are looking for fuel management solutions that support nationwide operations, provide fueling options and align with procurement requirements.

This need is at the core of Shell Fleet Solutions’ strategic partnership with Hightowers Petroleum Company.

The collaboration combines Shell’s fleet card platform, brand, network and account management capabilities with Hightowers’ discount network and supplier credentials.

The result is a solution designed to enhance fueling flexibility and deliver greater value while maintaining operational simplicity.

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For decades, the auto insurance industry has relied on proxy data – credit scores, zip codes, and marital status – to estimate risk rather than measuring the actual time behind the wheel.

Telematics technology has introduced a new and different framework, shifting the industry toward a personalized risk assessment model.

Instead of paying a flat premium designed around an industry-assumed average of 12,000 to 15,000 miles per year, policyholders are charged a hybrid rate. This pricing model divides the monthly premium into two calculated components: a nominal daily base rate and a variable per-mile fee.

via CarBuzz

Last updated by the Clinton administration in 1993 from 14.1 cents to 18.4 cents per gallon, the federal gas tax has remained stagnant for more than 30 years, and now our nation’s infrastructure is paying the price.

While toll roads seem to be the simplest solution, others argue that mileage-based user fees would be the better long-term system to replace the gas tax.

It would more accurately reflect road usage and create a sustainable income stream; there are some serious problems as well. Not only would it be complex to implement at the administrative level, but it would likely face plenty of resistance from the public.

via Autoblog

The average price of a new car today in the U.S. is $50,000. Runaway car prices, inflation and gas prices have pushed a lot more people into the used market.

Ignorance of EVs and the public’s unfounded distrust in used models (especially batteries) means used EV prices have consistently hovered on the low end of used car prices while offering buyers sometimes near luxury-level amenities for little money.

“In an expensive, affordability-constrained environment, used EVs represent the best value for consumers now,” said Kevin Roberts, director of economic and market intelligence at CarGurus, told the Wall Street Journal.

via Jalopnik

A new list of recommended used vehicles for teen drivers shows safety doesn’t have to take a back seat even amid rising concerns about affordability.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Consumer Reports (CR) have identified 45 used vehicles starting under $10,000 that offer good crash protection and are suitable for teen drivers.

“We curate this annual list specifically for teens because driving holds extra risk for them,” said IIHS Senior Research Scientist Rebecca Weast. “That said, the suggestions are suitable for drivers of any age looking to balance affordability with crash protection and crash avoidance.”

via Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

(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.

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By Mark Hogland, President, Moventum Fleet Management

As Union Leasing transitions to Moventum Fleet Management, one of the questions we’ve been asked most often is what this change means.

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

Clients are looking for partners who can help optimize the full vehicle lifecycle while remaining responsive, accessible, and invested in long-term success.

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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.

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