Agile Fleet Announces Finalists for 2022 Core Values Awards
Finalists for the Core Values Awards demonstrate the principles Agile Fleet stands by each day
FleetCommander FMIS provider Agile Fleet, Inc. announces the finalists for its annual Core Values Awards. The awards program celebrates notable individuals in the fleet industry who demonstrate the set of core values Agile Fleet stands by every day. Winners of the Core Values Awards will be announced Thursday, January 27, 2022, during the company's Town Hall webcast presentation.
"Our core values are guiding principles that define the behaviors we expect from each other and our partners, clients, and associates," says Agile Fleet President Ed Smith. "Finalists for our Core Values Awards likewise demonstrate these principles both in their relationships with Agile Fleet and with the fleet community as a whole."
Look Back — Look Ahead — Fleet Industry in for Much of the Same in 2022
By Bill Bishop, FLD Remarketing
Nearly 30 years ago, the comedian Bill Murray starred in a movie that would become part of the national lexicon. “Groundhog Day,” was the story of a cynical weatherman who kept living the same day over and over until he sees a way of using it to his advantage.
And while our industry might not be reliving the exact same day over and over, a look back at 2021 – and a look ahead to 2022 – gives me one over-riding thought: That fleet, especially from a remarketing perspective, can expect to face many of the same challenges it has the past two years. And that unless something unforeseen happens to change that trajectory, 2022 is shaping up to be quite similar to 2021.
Like most, I had high hopes that 2021 would be markedly different from 2020. And with a new vaccine on the horizon, and nearly a full year of restrictions behind us – why not?
Caution: Not All Transportation Quotes Are Created Equal
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in FMW in March, 2021, but as fleet costs continue their upward climb, it is even more compelling today.
By Ed Pierce, Contributing Editor
"Not all transportation quotes are created equal.” That’s the cautionary message from Teri Ross, vice president of sales and client relations for PARS.
“Quotes for transport services may seem like a simple matter of specifying the cost for moving a vehicle from point A to point B,” says Teri.
“Transport company quotes are not the same and can result in ‘apples to oranges’ comparisons that astute fleet managers must drill into to discover the real cost. Otherwise, an unaware fleet manager will find unexpected charges on the invoice,” she notes.
“At first blush, a quote from one vendor may look to be $20 more expensive than another, leading to a decision to go with the cheaper quote,” Teri explains. “Once the invoice arrives, fuel costs can be $60, $80, even $100 more than the original quote depending on the distance."
Ford Warns Dealers Over F-150 Lightning Scalping
By Mike Sheldrick, Senior Editor
Fleet managers who might be tempted to order an out-of-stock unreserved 2022 F-150 Lightning are likely to be disappointed.
To tamp down overwhelming demand, Ford has stopped taking reservations for the vehicle and doubled initial production by 150,000 annually by mid-2023. More recently, it has made moves to end F-150 Lightning scalping among customers and dealers even before the truck's first deliveries -- likely by late June.
According to an article in Insideevs.com, Ford has warned dealers who interact with customers in a manner that is "negatively impacting customer satisfaction and damaging to the Ford Motor Company brand," and that "if it is determined that your dealership is engaging in such practices, Ford Motor Company reserves the right to redirect that dealership's allocation of the F-150 Lightning for the entirety of MY 2022."
New And Used Car Prices Keep Climbing. Don’t Expect Relief Anytime Soon
January 8, 2022 - An ongoing global shortage of microchips - key components needed for today’s autos to operate - that began in 2020 continues to slow down manufacturers’ production of new vehicles, which has translated into demand outpacing supply.
Part of the reason for record transaction prices is that automakers have slashed their discounts because, generally speaking, they don’t need to offer big incentives to sell cars right now.
If you have flexibility in the timing of your purchase and are not finding what you want on dealer lots, it may be worth ordering your car. Additionally, interest rates are generally low right now. The demand for used cars has pushed trade-in values well above normal. You may be able to negotiate on the value assigned to your trade-in.
