5G Will Transform Fleet: Safer, Smarter and Maybe Autonomously
For decades, hybrid computer/car enthusiasts have declared that the car is nothing but a computer on wheels, and predicted the imminent arrival of futuristic features and functions. Autonomous driving perhaps the most exciting of all.
By Kenneth Sheldrick, FMW
The idea of catching up on paperwork, relaxing, taking a nap, or watching a movie during the daily commute does have a good deal of allure to many.
Now, the advent of 5G has breathed new life into these dreams. Moreover, in addition to all these futuristic possibilities, some observers believe that the car itself will change dramatically. According to Axios, Some have predicted that the car will no longer depreciate when driven off the dealer's lot, but will gain value thanks to cloud-based software enhancements, for instance.
Wheels Inc & GM’s OnStar Partner to Extend Vehicle Connectivity Services
Wheels Inc, and GM's OnStar Business Solutions have announced today they are working together to enable their mutual fleet customers to access a wide array of vehicle information utilizing the OnStar embedded hardware available on most GM Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac brand vehicles in fleets managed by Wheels.
This platform will offer critical insights and opportunities to improve driver behavior and vehicle utilization in areas such as safety, sustainability, productivity, and more.
“As the world becomes more connected, Wheels is committed to helping fleets take advantage of the opportunities this presents,” said Ahsan Rahim, Chief Operating Officer, Wheels Inc. “Our clients can benefit from accessing this data to improve their safety, sustainability, productivity, and overall performance. Joint efforts such as this help ensure we are ready to support the evolution of fleet and mobility.”
Jon Stafford Appointed SVP of LeasePlan USA Corporate Fleet
LeasePlan USA, a global leader in fleet management and driver mobility services, is dedicated to reimagining the fleet experience so it can best help its clients pursue what’s next.
As LeasePlan looks to cultivate even stronger customer relationships, it has built out an exemplary corporate fleet team of industry experts to be led by Jon Stafford.
Newly promoted to senior vice president (SVP) of LeasePlan’s corporate fleet, Stafford will oversee LeasePlan USA’s business development and client success teams, with an emphasis on advancing the company’s customer-first approach that offers organizations an end-to-end fleet management experience.
Chief commercial officer, Ricardo Fonzaghi, said “LeasePlan USA had a strong year of client engagement and growth, part of this success is due to our amazing team and their passion to serve our clients, with that, I am excited to announce the promotion of Jon Stafford, who will lead our corporate fleet business segment."
Meet the Newly-Formed Fleet Advisory Council at NTEA
NTEA is pleased to announce the newly formed Fleet Advisory Council, composed of forward-thinking fleet leaders who will provide perspective and guidance on Association resources for the work truck community.
The Council will offer insight on how NTEA’s efforts in key areas resonate with fleets, including
• Educational programming
• Vehicle optimization and design
• Regulatory compliance
• Risk management
• Alternative fuels
• Electrification and technology applications
Talk to FMW: Succession Planning and Experience Retention
One of the topics that frequently arises in our conversations with fleet professionals is succession planning as a generation of fleet leaders look ahead to retirement.
We plan to write an article about the best practices for averting "brain drain" within the fleet industry. If you have some thoughts on this topic, we would like to hear from you. We have just two questions:
Q #1: Are you a fleet professional who intends to leave the industry in the next five years?
Q #2 Would you be willing to speak, confidentially, with an FMW writer on the subject of succession planning and experience retention?
If you answered "yes" to the second question, please contact Janice Sutton to arrange a date and time to talk.
We realize this may be sensitive information so no names or affiliations will be disclosed in the published article.
