In Memoriam: Michael G. Sheldrick, Distinguished Automotive Journalist
By Janice Sutton, Editor-in-Chief, Fleet Management Weekly
I am deeply saddened to announce that Fleet Management Weekly Senior Editor Michael G. Sheldrick passed away suddenly on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Foster City, California.
Mike was my life partner for more than 18 years and an invaluable contributor to FMW's success. He was an all-around great guy and possessed one of the keenest intellects of anyone I have ever known.
"Mike was a sought-after speaker at industry conferences and trade shows. He was a solid writer and visionary. In 1990, he authored 'Driving While Automated' for Scientific American, written many years before autonomous car systems were produced," said Kevin Dennehy, editor of Location Business News and a longtime friend and colleague.
Chevin’s Powerful New Fleet Tool to Digitize Processes, Automate Workflows
Chevin Fleet Solutions announced FleetWave SmartForms, a revolutionary tool embedded within FleetWave fleet management software.
SmartForms allows users to effortlessly create unique data capture forms, automate operational processes and notify users in real time.
“We are very proud of FleetWave SmartForms”, says Will Wycks, Chief Marketing & Product Officer. “Benefitting from the latest technology, we have made it effortless for our customers to create and automate smart processes..."
Hertz CEO Resigns After Big Bet on EVs Fails to Pay Off
In 2021, Hertz made a big splash when it announced plans to buy 100,000 Teslas and greatly expand its fleet of EVs. Two and a half years later, the brand is selling off many of those EVs at perilously low prices.
That is the sort of outcome that suggests a huge gamble did not pay off, and as a result, CEO Stephen Scherr is stepping down from his role.
Hertz is the latest automotive giant to feel the sting of an early investment in EVs not going to plan immediately. For the rental car giant, the biggest issues were low demand from renters and high repair costs from suppliers.
Stellantis Launches MyTasks: First Fleet Management Tool for Real-Time Driver Communication
Stellantis is launching MyTasks, an industry first tool for fleet managers that enables real-time communication, task assignment and status updates with drivers in the field via the vehicle’s built-in infotainment unit.
MyTasks enables fleet managers or dispatchers to assign tasks or change schedules of individual drivers via an online portal. Vehicle drivers then get an instant notification of assignments via a pop-up message in the vehicle’s infotainment screen.
“A breakthrough tool like MyTasks is the result of when we put our customers’ needs above all else,” Stellantis Chief Software Officer Yves Bonnefont said.
In-Car GPS Data Could be Used to Improve Traffic Signal Wait Times
The University of Michigan recently conducted an experiment using in-car GPS data to try and alleviate the issue of long traffic signal stops. The 18-month study is claimed to be the world’s first large-scale, cloud-based traffic signal retiming system.
It used GPS data from General Motors cars traversing Birmingham, Michigan. Researches say by using this limited data, they were able to reduce the number of stops by 20-30 percent at signalized intersections. U-M states the study “represents a major opportunity for communities to recalibrate their signal patterns at reduced costs.”
