Merchants Fleet Welcomes Jonathan Parker to Board of Directors
Merchants Fleet, a leader in innovative fleet solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Parker to its Board of Directors.
A distinguished leader with over 20 years of experience, Parker has held influential roles including Chief Commercial Officer at GE Capital and Executive Vice President/Chief Commercial Officer at Element Fleet Management.
“Jonathan’s exceptional financial acumen and visionary outlook will be invaluable as we continue to build a strong and transformative future for our clients,” said Brad Burgess, Interim Co-CEO of Merchants. “We are thrilled to welcome him to our Board of Directors, and we look forward to working together to shape the future of fleet.”
Automakers Brace for New Tariffs, EV Changes Under Trump Presidency
Automakers are bracing for President-elect Donald Trump to impose new tariffs on vehicles from Mexico and potentially from other countries and to reverse many existing pro-electric vehicle policies, industry associations and executives said.
Trump has said he plans to begin rescinding Environmental Protection Agency and Transportation Department vehicle rules on his first day in office and is considering paring back or eliminating EV tax breaks and other incentives.
Those regulatory changes could give automakers more flexibility to build more profitable gas-powered SUVs and trucks but raise questions about the future of billions of dollars in EV battery and manufacturing spending.
Understanding Supply Chain Fleet Safety: An Invitation to Participate in the Benchmark Study
The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) has partnered with the University of Colorado School of Public Health (CO SPH) to launch a comprehensive study targeting middle-mile and last-mile delivery fleets.
This Supply Chain Fleet Safety Benchmark Study aims to gather insights from fleet managers or safety managers who oversee driver fleets across all vehicle types.
The initiative is designed to identify current safety policies, technologies, and practices used by fleets delivering to various locations, including warehouses, distribution centers, stores, and homes.
If you oversee a delivery driver fleet and are interested in the safety of the supply chain, please participate.
The survey link can be accessed here: https://ucdenver.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2oCYe5Bf43melJs
Four Vehicles Fall Short in IIHS Tests
Four vehicles from four different brands fall short in one or more tests required for a 2024 Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award in the latest ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The 2025 Kia Sorento qualifies for Top Safety Pick, retaining the status earned by the 2024 model. However, it misses out on the “plus” due to a marginal rating in the updated moderate overlap front test.
The 2025 Altima, a midsize sedan, also earns a marginal rating. Two new electric SUVs, the midsize luxury 2024 Acura ZDX and midsize 2024 Honda Prologue, miss out on awards after coming up short in the small overlap front test.
Detroit Is Turning Lampposts into Internet-Connected EV Chargers
Photo by Voltpost
Curbside EV charging in Michigan should become easier in the coming months thanks to a new collaboration between telecom giant AT&T and lamppost EV charging startup Voltpost.
The two have joined forces to bring internet connectivity to EV charging posts across Michigan and the Metro-Detroit area–this way, the operator knows immediately if a stall has gone offline and can send a team to fix it faster.
Voltpost’s lamppost charging solution essentially turns existing street lights into EV chargers. The startup claims the installation of a single stall takes anywhere from one to two hours and that the costs are much lower than a conventional EV charging station.
