Merchants Fleet Expands Last Mile Fleet Program with OneRail Partnership
Merchants Fleet and OneRail, a final mile delivery orchestration and fulfillment platform, announced a partnership launching a national fleet rental and leasing program for its Logistics Partners (LPs).
“We have seen significant growth in last mile over the past several months,” said Matt Schultz, VP of Logistics Partnerships at OneRail. “Merchants Fleet’s programs are robust and offer a high level of flexibility, which will help our LPs scale up their businesses to meet new demands.”
Under the partnership, Merchants will provide funding options as well as services to support the day-to-day operations of the vehicles. The service offerings will include managed programs for fuel, maintenance, telematics, and remarketing vehicles at the end of term/use.
Read more at Merchants Fleet.
Intel’s Mobileye And Ford Sign Deal On Next-Generation Driving Technology
Ford Motor Co. and Intel's Mobileye have worked together previously, but this is the first time the automaker is committing to use the company’s technology for the entire lifecycle of its next-generation cars and trucks, including vehicles such as the new Ford Bronco, all-electric Mustang Mach-E crossover and next-generation F-150 pickup.
The deal reached by the two companies includes Ford using Mobileye’s “EyeQ” camera-based detection technologies for features such as forward collision warning and of vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist detection. They’ll also be used for Ford’s forthcoming hands-free driving system.
Camera-based technology systems such as Mobileye’s are critical for active safety features to prevent crashes as well as driver-assist systems like Tesla’s Autopilot and General Motors’ Super Cruise. Mobileye's customers include 13 of the world’s top 15 automakers
Read the article at CNBC.
Are Fully Electric Vehicles Already Cheaper for Fleets to Own?
You’ll Need to Apply a Very Sharp Pencil to Find Out
By Mark Boada, Executive Editor
There have been some voices raised lately that say it’s already cheaper for people to swap out their fossil-fuel vehicles for 100 percent electric vehicles, also known as Battery Electric Vehicles or BEVs.
A couple of those voices could be heard just last week. Fleet Management Weekly curated an article from NGTNews.com about a brand-new U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) study that said consumers can save as much as $14,500 on fuel costs by driving an electric vehicle for – and here the emphasis is mine – 15 years.
Now don’t get me wrong -- that’s a nice chunk of change, but it’s less than $1,000 a year, which is still nice. But how relevant is that to fleets that typically hold a vehicle for only three or four years, especially when BEVs cost more than gasoline and diesel-fueled vehicles and federal incentives on some OEMs are running out?
We Believe the Work You’re Doing Each Day Matters
Raise your hand if you’re ready for this year to be over.
We’re already into Q3; even "essential" personnel have barely seen many of our coworkers in person since Q1, and it feels like with every two steps forward, we’re taking one step back. But that still proves we’re making progress.
We’ve gone too many steps forward to hit “ctrl+Z” on 2020. Look at some of the improvements in our work lives we’ve gained because of the pandemic:
• Much warranted appreciation for workers whose jobs were taken for granted for so long. The people who selflessly continued to show up at work to serve others during the pandemic.
• More streamlined workflow and productivity thanks to technology such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Also less commuting and work travel gives us back more time for ourselves.
• Learning new skills and technologies, expanding our personal development and creating more brain power.
• Implementation of safety measures in facilities for employees who cannot work remotely.
See, you’re feeling better already.
Driver Safety Training in the Virtual Classroom
Driving Dynamics offers your company drivers the flexibility of enrolling in an advanced performance, social-safe, virtual training course today and then registering for a behind-the-wheel session in the future.
NEW: Many open enrollment dates available on Zoom and WebEx platforms for virtual format fleet driver safety training. Learn why students are giving this instructor-led class high marks and why so many fleet-based organizations choose this program to help keep their drivers safe.
Fleet and Safety Management Professionals are invited to audit a live class.
