Teenage Drivers? Be Very Afraid
Spend enough time having parenting conversations, as I’ve done personally and professionally for the last dozen years, and certain patterns emerge.
In nine out of 10 cases, if you’re talking about highly motivated parents, the message to Mom and Dad is: back off, chill out, park the helicopter.
Recently, I stumbled onto a topic in which the advice was the exact opposite
Feds Warn of Potential Cyberattacks on Cars
The federal government is warning drivers about potential cyberattacks on their vehicles as cars are becoming increasingly more “connected.”
The FBI and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said researchers have identified vulnerabilities in cars made as recently as the 2014 model year that highlight a troubling trend in auto cybersecurity, citing a report that was conducted in 2015 by the Seattle-based IOActive security firm.
How Using Technology Can Reduce Your Fleet’s Maintenance Spend
By Tom Callahan, President, Donlen Corporation
A fleet’s operating costs are impacted by vehicle breakdowns, trips to repair vendors, and down time. Fleet vehicles adhering to a preventative maintenance (PM) schedule reduces the number of unscheduled maintenance events and helps keep those costs down.
The challenge is that fleet vehicles frequently deviate from on-time PM, as fleet drivers typically need to find room in their already busy work schedule to bring their vehicle into a shop. Historically, fleet managers relied on their drivers following static service intervals to meet maintenance requirements, but the reality is that following static intervals has a limited impact on reducing the over- or under-maintenance of a vehicle. This is where leveraging technology can help drive maintenance savings for your fleet.
Just When We Thought We Were Making Progress
By Art Liggio, President, Driving Dynamics
NHTSA research shows that in an estimated 94 percent of crashes, the critical cause is a human factor. As professional fleet operators, specifically what has your company done to empower your drivers to be exceptional behind-the-wheel?
No matter where your company currently stands regarding this question, whether it is room for improvement in your current fleet safety program or implementing a new senior management supported initiative, these reports are a sobering reality check.
An Unintended Consequence of Plastic Auto Parts: Rising Repair Costs
By Greg Neuman, CEI Senior Manager of Quality Control
Mr. McGuire: I just want to say one word to you. Just one word.
Benjamin: Yes sir.
Mr. McGuire: Are you listening?
Benjamin: Yes, I am.
Mr.McGuire: Plastics…There’s a great future in plastics.
--Dialog from the 1967 hit movie, The Graduate
It turns out that it wasn’t bad advice that the successful businessman, Mr. McGuire, was giving Benjamin Braddock (played by Dustin Hoffman) at his graduation party. Plastics have been one of the fastest growing manufacturing materials over the past 50 years, and they continue to play a larger part in automobiles every year.
As with other non-traditional materials, the increasing appearance of plastics to help improve fuel economy has an unintended consequence: higher repair costs. The reason? While minor damage to many plastic parts can be repaired, the same impact that produces minor damage in steel, in plastics means that the part needs to be replaced, and replacement costs are higher than they used to be.
