Article

By Mike Antich & Lauren Fletcher

Fuel costs, the largest fleet operating expense, declined dramatically in the 2009 calendar-year due to a sharp decline in worldwide consumption. Also, many fleets have downsized, which contributed to a lower overall fuel spend.

Tags: ARI, Diesel Emission Standards, Emkay, forecast, fuel, GE Capital Solutions Fleet Services , LeasePlan USA, Motor Oil, operating costs, PHH Arval, Tire Costs, Wheels, Inc.

By Mike Antich & Grace Lauron

OTD was affected by plant closures due to Chapter 11 reorganizations by GM and Chrysler, an economic downturn that decreased fleet and retail sales, and shipping delays caused by less-than-full loads for railcars and transporters.

Tags: ARI, Donlen, Emkay, GE Capital Solutions Fleet Services , LeasePlan USA, Order-to-Delivery, OTD, PHH Arval, Wheels, Inc.

By Mike Antich & Lauren Fletcher

Resale values for mid-size sedans are substantially higher than in 2008, as are prices for light-duty trucks and SUVs. Contributing to this rebound is a decrease in wholesale inventory, low fuel prices, and strong retail used-vehicle sales.

Tags: ARI, Emkay, GE Capital Solutions Fleet Services , Kelley Blue Book, LeasePlan USA, PHH Arval, remarketing, resale values, Wheels, Inc.

By Mike Antich

This was an interesting order-to-delivery year. A protracted UAW strike and flooding in the Midwest delayed some models, while others posted improved OTD due to reduced retail sales, which expedited fleet production.

Tags: ARI, Donlen, GE Capital Solutions Fleet Services , LeasePlan USA, order to delivery, OTD, PHH Arval, Wheels, Inc.

By Cindy Brauer

LeasePlan USA’s new CEO Mike Pitcher plans to build on a legacy of innovation, out-of-the-box solutions, and flexibility with clients. His key message to employees emphasizes the company’s stability and growth.

Tags: David Dahm, LeasePlan USA, Mike Pitcher, Tom Toups

By Christine Erice

For many fleet managers, the closed-end lease means everything is “fixed.” However, this isn’t always the case. By offering customers more options and mid-term lease recalculation, LeasePlan USA, a vehicle leasing and fleet management company, has made the closed-end lease a more flexible option.

Tags: LeasePlan USA, Leasing