Get Smart — Virtually!
We have had the first half of 2020 to learn the new life rules that the pandemic has imposed upon us in our quest to stay well and keep our families safe. We know the dire straits we are in with COVID-19, and now we have hurricane season bearing down upon us. Our fleet industry has had a significant role to play in these terrible times and we have learned a lot under extreme pressure. So, it’s time for us to get together and share best practices.
While we can’t mingle at a conference this fall, we do have some terrific options. First, AFLA has a Virtual Coffee Break on August 4th, and their annual corporate fleet conference is October 5-7. NAFA 2020 Virtual I&E is September 14-17. (If you register before August 14, you’ll save a cool $100!) NETS Virtual Strength IN Numbers® Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference is October 13-15. NETS has just announced their impressive lineup of keynote speakers.
Our FMW team is eager to attend the virtual conferences, but we sure will miss seeing you in person. We do love our Zoom interviews; please let Ted Roberts know if you would like to chat with us!
Drive safety and keep well!
Janice Sutton
Editor in Chief
Wrench Partners with Tirescanner.com to Bring On-Demand Mobile Tire Installation to Fleets
Partnership will decrease downtime and reduce costs for fleet operators across the U.S.
Wrench announced a partnership with Tirescanner, the leading U.S. online tire retailer and mobile tire installation service, to offer on-demand mobile tire installation to fleet vehicles.
Through this partnership, Wrench technicians will have access to Tirescanner’s nationwide network of mobile tire vans, enabling next-day install scheduling of any brand or tire for most fleet vehicles at the drivers home, or place convenient to them.
Teletrac Navman: Best and Worst Commutes in America
Washington, D.C. Metro Area Tops Inaugural List of “Worst” Commutes in America Review
As portions of American’s return back to work, Teletrac Navman, a global software-as-a-service provider that leverages location-based technology and services for managing mobile assets, has issued its first comprehensive look at commuting in the U.S.
The new Teletrac Navman Commute Index (TNC Index) takes the 50 most populous cities in the nation and applies seven key factors, including commuter volume, commute time, accident rates and road quality to provide a unique commute quality rating.
Continued Record-Setting Performance For Wholesale Prices
Given the current turbulence in the automotive marketplace, the Cox Automotive Economic & Industry Insights team is publishing its mid-month view of the wholesale market, including wholesale prices.
Wholesale used vehicle prices increased 4.4% in the first 15 days of July compared to the month of June. This brought the mid-month Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index to 155.9, an 11.0% increase from July 2019.
If the mid-month value of the Manheim Index holds for the full month, the Index will set a record high for the second consecutive month.
Manheim Market Report (MMR) prices improved again over the last two weeks, resulting in a 2.9% cumulative increase in the first two weeks of July on the Three-Year-Old Index.
Access the Mid-Month Update for the full report.
Europe’s Shift To Electric Cars Picks Up Despite Recession
In Europe, sales of battery-powered and hybrid cars have held up better than the overall market amid a deeply painful recession, mainly thanks to the action of governments.
The 27-country European Union is moving ahead with a major shift in transportation as part of the bloc’s efforts against climate change. Under regulatory pressure carmakers are rolling out a slew of new electric models so they can meet tougher limits on greenhouse gases that come into full force next year.
Battery-only models are becoming more affordable, especially as sales are supported by substantial government subsidies. As sales of internal combustion cars have fallen, demand for battery-only cars and hybrids that combine electric motors with conventional engines has been stable or even increased, recent statistics show. By contrast, electric car adoption is moving more slowly in the U.S. due to regulatory uncertainty.
Read the article at The Detroit News.
