After Car2Go Eased Background Checks, 75 Vehicles Stolen in One Day
In an attempt to draw in new members and make it easier to sign-up, the car-sharing service Car2Go waived the manual back-ground check. In Chicago, this resulted in fraud and the theft of 75 higher-end cars - Mercedes CLA sedans and GLA sport utility vehicles.
A group of thieves claimed the vehicles as their own and Car2Go employees were unable to retrieve the vehicles.
Chicago Police were enlisted to assist in the recovery of the vehicles, many of which were stripped of doors, seats and other parts. Car2Go quickly reverted to manually reviewing new accounts and hasn't had any serious issues since then.
Read the article at Bloomberg Business Week.
Bob Barna Joins Merchants Fleet’s Southeast Sales Team
Bob Barna has joined Merchants Fleet's Southeast region as a Regional Sales Manager.
Barna has more than 25 years of sales and marketing experience, including six years in the fleet industry. His area of expertise is in large, complex fleets, and in creating strategic, data-based solutions for his clients.
"I joined Merchants because of their focus on excellent client service and growth,” said Barna. “It’s clear they want to make a difference to their clients and are focused on investing in the people and resources required for that high level of tailored service. I’m looking forward to using my skillset to deliver their innovative solutions to large fleets.”
This Tech Uses Cell Signals to Help Drivers Not Run Over Pedestrians
Modern car safety technology has gotten very good about warning drivers before they hit other cars. This startup wants to add warnings before you hit people.
It’s one common scenario in car crashes: a pedestrian approaches an intersection, hidden from an oncoming driver by a building or trees, and steps off the curb. The driver can’t stop in time. It’s a problem that new sensors on vehicles can’t avoid, since someone behind a building isn’t any more visible to a sensor than to the person behind the wheel.
New technology now in development aims to use mobile phones to help. The tech uses new AI—designed to be embedded in phones and cars—to predict an accident before it happens. “We have a mathematical model that resides in the mobile phone that has the ability to predict human behavior several seconds ahead,” says Gabi Ofir, CEO of Visiblezone, the Israel-based startup building the technology.
Read the article at Fast Company
Taking Risky Drivers Off the Road, Proactively
Having the right streamlined, consolidated, actionable information can help you mitigate risk and improve safety when it comes to your fleet drivers.
The Importance of Accurate Data for Effective Asset Management
Identify inefficiencies, set performance standards and measure success
By Lynne White, Chevin Fleet
On a regular basis, fleet managers need to address a range of responsibilities such as vehicles and equipment, maintenance operations, drivers, fuel, and safety.
The ability to collate and analyze quality, relevant data can lead to better asset and operations management.
Such data can also help drive an informed approach to identifying inefficiencies and create opportunities to set performance standards and accurately measure success.
What data do I need?
The key to efficiently and effectively utilizing data begins with two key steps:
