Most Small Pickups Earn Passing Grades in New Side Test
Five out of six small pickups tested earn good or acceptable ratings in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s updated side crash test.
The Chevrolet Colorado crew cab, GMC Canyon crew cab and Honda Ridgeline crew cab earn good ratings, while the Nissan Frontier crew cab and Ford Ranger crew cab are rated acceptable. The Toyota Tacoma crew cab is rated marginal.
“Overall, this was a solid performance from these vehicles,” said IIHS Senior Research Engineer Becky Mueller, whose work formed the foundation for the new evaluation. “Their high ride height means that the barrier we use to represent a striking vehicle hits the strong door sill structures directly. This likely prevented excessive intrusion into the occupant compartment, except in the case of the Tacoma.”
Tom Coffey of Merchants Fleet Named to Fleet Hall of Fame by Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association
Merchants Fleet is proud to announce that Tom Coffey, Senior VP of Sales and Consulting has been inducted into the Fleet Hall of Fame by the Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have someone of Tom’s caliber on the Merchants team,” said Brendan P. Keegan, chairman, ceo and president of Merchants Fleet. “Tom is a remarkable leader, and his fearless approach has driven significant innovation throughout our company and our industry. The Fleet Hall of Fame is truly befitting of someone whom many of us consider to be among the brightest minds in the industry.”
Registration Now Open for the Premier Annual NAFA 2023 Institute & Expo
NAFA Fleet Management Association announced today that registration is now open for NAFA 2023 Institute & Expo, the industry’s largest gathering of fleet and mobility professionals. The event is taking place April 17-19 in Baltimore, MD.
The NAFA 2023 Institute & Expo (I&E) is the industry’s leading fleet event with thousands of fleet professionals from every segment of the industry, including corporate, government, public safety, utility, education and more under one roof.
“This is a can’t-miss event—from the incredible keynote presentations to an amazing Expo Hall—we have it all,” said Raymond Brisby, CAFM, NAFA Board President. “I&E has something to offer everyone, from those just starting their careers to professionals who have decades of experience. This event is a welcome place to forge new connections and strengthen existing ones, all while exploring innovative ways to manage your fleet’s operations.”
Consumer Reports: EVs Less Reliable Because of Newer Technologies
When compared with hybrid and gas-powered cars and trucks, electric vehicles powered entirely by batteries were the worst-performing segment, aside from traditional full-size pickup trucks, according to Consumer Reports.
“The automakers are using EVs as a technological testbed for whatever new technology they want to try out,” Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports told CNBC. “By having all this new technology, there’s a lot of potential problems with them.”
Unlike all-electric vehicles, hybrid cars and trucks were among the most reliable in the study. That’s largely because many hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius, have been on the market for years, so automakers have been able to work out problems they’ve encountered.
Automatic Emergency Braking Reduces Rear-end Crashes for Pickups but Few Are Equipped
Automatic emergency braking (AEB) reduces rear-end crash rates for pickups dramatically, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows.
But despite the heightened danger they pose to other road users, pickups are less likely to be equipped with the crash avoidance feature than cars or SUVs.
“Pickups account for 1 out of 5 passenger vehicles on U.S. roads, and their large size can make them dangerous to people in smaller vehicles or on foot,” said study author Jessica Cicchino, vice president of research at IIHS.
