Wheels Wins Bronze Stevie® Award for Customer Service Department of the Year
Wheels’ Integration Services team was honored in the Customer Service Department of the Year category for its client-centric approach to managing Custom Process Requests.
The team strengthened its process for implementing customized requests received by clients during onboarding. This resulted in the creation of a strategic framework that supports clients’ business objectives and sets the stage for long-term success.
Integration Services focused on two areas of improvement: organizational alignment and data quality. The team shifted resources and centralized ownership of the cross-functional process in order to improve coordination, consistency and alignment throughout the organization. Incorporating sophisticated data maintenance practices and new reporting workflows enabled the team to ensure data accuracy, and better track key metrics in order to drive continuous improvement.
The New “Quiet Car” Rule
Back in 2010, Congress demanded that automakers add identifying sounds to their EVs (and hybrid-powered models in EV-only mode) when operating at up to 18.6 miles per hour.
The DOT is allowing automakers to request the ability to build multiple sounds into the system, with the driver selecting how he or she wants his EV to resonate on that particular day.
"The quiet car rules will reportedly to cost automakers about $40 million a year. While that sounds like a lot of money to equip the nation’s burgeoning fleet of EVs to play what can be expected to be little more than video game sounds when they slow down to a crawl, much of the cost will be going into adding especially durable external speakers that will be able to stand up to rain, snow, and road salt without skipping a beat."
Read the article at Forbes.
AFLA Seeking Volunteers for 50th Anniversary Task Force
The Automotive Fleet and Leasing Association (AFLA) announced the formation of a task force to plan for the 50th Anniversary celebration at the AFLA 2019 Corporate Fleet Conference.
Katie Keeton, AFLA Secretary, who will chair the 2019 Corporate Fleet Conference, said “The AFLA Board has agreed that it’s important to start planning for our golden anniversary right now. We are seeking a task force chair and members to assist with a number of important duties.” The 50th Anniversary Task Force Charter is available online with more information. AFLA members are encouraged to volunteer and are reminded that this task force may be limited based on the interest level of AFLA members.
The organization holds an annual conference, hosts educational webinars, releases industry whitepapers, global fleet market data and offers opportunities for members to network with key leaders throughout the fleet industry. For more information on everything AFLA has to offer, please visit www.afla.org.
AT&T Launches Fleet Management for Enterprise and Government
AT&T* is expanding its Internet of Things (IoT) Fleet Management solutions portfolio as a full-service provider. We’re now working to meet the needs of small business, enterprise and government customers.
We’ve integrated Geotab’s fleet tracking platform with our IoT platforms to launch a comprehensive solution. AT&T Fleet Management for Enterprise and AT&T Fleet Management for Government will help boost productivity, control costs, improve safety and manage compliance for our customers.
“Geotab’s award-winning telematics solution with our IoT platforms and nationwide data network is a winning combination for fleets of all sizes. We use it for our own fleet of company vehicles,” said Chris Penrose, president, Internet of Things Solutions, AT&T. “Now we can help businesses and government customers look holistically at vehicles, assets and mobile workers from a single analytics-based platform.”
Autonomous Cars Get a Green Light to go Completely Driverless
The requirement for self-driving vehicles to have a person in the driver’s seat to take over in the event of an emergency, is being eliminated by California's Department of Motor Vehicles effective April 2.
A new rule requires companies to be able to operate the vehicle remotely - similar to a flying military drone - and communicate with law enforcement and other drivers when something goes wrong.
“This is a major step forward for autonomous technology in California,” said Jean Shiomoto, director of California’s D.M.V. “Safety is our top concern and we are ready to begin working with manufacturers that are prepared to test fully driverless vehicles in California.”
Read the article at The New York Times.
