It’s Long Past Time to Get Serious About Our Highways and Bridges
By Mark Boada, Executive Editor
Amid all the political brouhaha coming out of Washington, one thing seems to have been forgotten: the sorry state of America’s highways and bridges.
I was prompted to ponder them when the bridge collapsed in Genoa, Italy in August. Signs are that rain-induced corrosion of the bridge’s steel cables that ultimately caused them to snap. 38 people died and another 15 were injured as a result.
The incident reminded me of the collapse of another bridge 11 years earlier, almost to the day. It was the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which killed 13 people and injured 145 more. And that brought me back to a number of sad facts about both the quality and inadequacy of our roadways.
Loosening of Ethanol Rules Could Cause Big Issues for Your Vehicles
Blended gasoline generally gets cheaper as ethanol content rises, as well. Thus, a move to introduce year-round E15 might result in lower prices at the gas pump, which motorists are sure to enjoy.
However, E15 will also likely result in your vehicle returning worse fuel economy. Increasing ethanol content in a gallon of gasoline also reduces its energy density, which means a gallon of gas won't get you as far as it would if it had less ethanol. Flex-fuel vehicles, which are capable of operating on gasoline that's up to 85 percent ethanol (E85), run less efficiently than they do on regular gas, sort of negating E85's lower cost.
Read the article at CNET.
Sofico Opens New UK Office
Sofico, software provider to the global automotive finance, leasing and fleet and mobility management industry, has set up a new regional office in the UK to better service growing numbers of local customers as it continues to expand in the country.
Sofico Managing Director, Gémar Hompes (pictured), said: “We are delighted to be opening a new, locally-dedicated office and expanding our operations in the UK. The establishment of local offices helps us stay close to our customers in the country and helps us in attracting new staff with knowledge of the local market and local languages,” he said.
Magellan Advises Winter Fleets to Brace for Heavier Than Normal Snowfall in 2019
Magellan® today encouraged fleet utility companies to prepare for extreme winter conditions by outfitting their fleet with the latest GPS technology.
Climate Communication, a non-profit science and outreach project, warns that “Climate change is fueling an increase in the intensity and snowfall of winter storms. The atmosphere now holds more moisture, and that in turns drives heavier than normal precipitation, including heavier snowfall in the appropriate conditions.”
Sustainability: Doing Well by Doing Good
FMW congratulates Holman Parts Distribution for its newly-earned NAFA Sustainable Fleet Accreditation. As our nation responds to the dire impacts of client change, this is an opportune time to call attention to the role fleets can play in reducing global warming emissions.
In his video clip, Gary Lentsch, CAFM, speaks about how his agency’s sustainability initiatives also work to contain rising fuel costs.
We have a car with driver assist safety technology and can relate to how easy it can be to rely on certain aspects of it. But texting while driving? Never. Don't miss Taken for Granted: Driver Disengagement and Reliance on Technology Leading to Increased Road Hazards.
Janice Sutton
Editor in Chief
