Six Benefits of Telematics for Government Fleets
Kevin Aries, Product Management Leader, Verizon Connect
Unlike private sector fleets, which exist at the discretion of the companies that own them, public and government fleets must perform as an essential component of operations for cities and states.
And the sheer volume of vehicles required to serve a vast number of citizens means that, though they experience many of the same issues as private fleets, the challenges that public fleets face tend to be amplified and more time sensitive.
From finding fleet funding and streamlining fuel costs to grappling with vehicle utilization and maintenance, public fleets are often forced to find innovative ways to stretch thinning budgets and do more with limited resources. This is where investing in GPS technology comes in, and these are 6 of the biggest benefits public fleets can realize from the use of the right solution.
Court Finds Marking Tires of Parked Cars Unconstitutional
The police practice of chalking tires to tell whether a car overstays the time limit on a parking space is unconstitutional, according to three federal judges who ruled unanimously on the issue. Chalking violates the Fourth Amendment’s ban on unreasonable searches and seizures.
The ruling is a result of Alison Taylor's case against the city of Saginaw. She had received 14 parking tickets in three years all written by the same officer.
“One, nobody should touch my car,” she said, listing her objections to chalking. “Two, it’s not a reliable source to get information. Because it’s chalk, you know.”
Read the article at The New York Times.
Big Changes to the Fleet Industry in the Next 10-15 Years
Due to changes in information technology, vehicle technology and a significant and ongoing brain drain, this industry expert predicts that we will see more change in the fleet industry in the next 10-15 years than we have seen in the past 70.
Putting Controls on Spending at Every Level
Whether you want your drivers to be able to buy only fuel, or if you’d like to include other options - like oil or maintenance, for example - WEX offers powerful controls on spending at every level.
Ford to Invest $500 Million in Electric PickUp Truck Maker Rivian
Ford is investing $500 million in electric pickup truck maker Rivian, working together to develop a new battery plug-in vehicle for Ford.
The joint effort with Rivian is in addition to Ford's plans to work with Volkswagen to develop a number of vehicles, including electric ones.
Company executives said Ford will still move ahead with its own electric vehicle development efforts, including a plug-in version of the Ford F-150 pickup. They said the vehicle it will develop with Rivian will be an addition to its future lineup.
Read the article at CNN.
