March 2010, Automotive Fleet - Cover Story
By Mike Antich
Maintenance costs increased in 2009 due to higher cost of replacement tires, PM oil changes, and labor rates. However, the biggest factor was widespread deferment of vehicle replacement, resulting in the operation of older units.
Tags: GE Capital Fleet Services, maintenance
September 2009, Automotive Fleet - Department
By Lauren Fletcher
Need a Laugh? These “Strange but True” stories were sent to Automotive Fleet by fleet managers, drivers, and fleet management companies. Have a strange, but true story? Something so incredible it couldn’t have been made up? Share your stories with Automotive Fleet. E-mail: Lauren.Fletcher@bobit.com.
Tags: bull bar, corn-snake, Dodge Sprinter, strange but true
August 2009, Automotive Fleet - Cover Story
Medium-duty truck sales have declined sharply, as have resale values, due to the recession and the slowdown in new construction. Many fleets are extending service lives, which threatens to increase future maintenance costs.
Tags: Acquistion Cost, diesel, Environmental Regulations, Fleet Trends, maintenance, medium-duty trucks, replacement tires, Resale Value
May 2009, Automotive Fleet - Cover Story
By Cindy Brauer & Thi Dao
From acquisition to remarketing, a compilation of best ideas in managing successful, cost-effective, and efficient fleets is presented.
Tags: Accident Management, best practices, bright ideas, Depreciation Management, Driver Productivity, fleet policy, fuel, maintenance management, Process Management, remarketing, risk management, sustainability , vehicle acqusition
March 2009, Automotive Fleet - Cover Story
Replacement tire costs rose 5 percent and labor rates increased 3-4 percent in 2008-CY. Although extended OEM warranties protect powertrains against catastrophic failures, expanded maintenance requirements may increase cost.
Tags: brakes, extended powertrain warranty, fleet expense, labor rates, maintenance, OEM warranties, preventive maintenance, Tire
February 2009, Work Truck - Cover Story
By Lauren Fletcher & Sean Lyden
Defining exactly what a truck must do is the first step in spec’ing a medium-duty truck engine.
Tags: Cummins, Detroit Diesel, engines, Ford, GM, International, Isuzu, MaxxForce, PACCAR, Peterbilt, Rebuilt engines, Remanufactured engines
December 2008, Automotive Fleet - Feature
By Shelley Mika
Eastman Chemical selects First Vehicle Services to oversee its maintenance operations, share customer service best practices, and identify ways to increase vehicle availability within its fleet.
November 2008, Automotive Fleet - Cover Story
For calendar-year 2008, the year-to-date cost of fuel has increased 30 percent, the price for replacement tires rose 5-10 percent, and the cost for non-warranty maintenance services was up 5 percent.
Tags: maintenance expenses, oil change costs, operating costs, prices, replacement tires
November 2008, Automotive Fleet - Department
By Staff
What Fleet Issues Keep You Up at Night?
Tags: closed-end lease terms, firing line, fuel, inventory control, maintenance, RFPs, safety, salespeople, time management
November 2008, Work Truck - Feature
Utilized as advertisements or mobile billboards, vehicle graphics can give fleet vehicles an identity. The pros advise not to make designs too busy or complicated, and communicate needs and requirements clearly.
Tags: Signature Graphics Inc., SkinzWraps Inc., Vehicle Graphics, VSP Marketing Graphics Group
By Sean Lyden
Each material offers benefits and drawbacks. Aluminum may be less expensive, but fiberglass reinforced plywood (FRP) is sturdier. Evaluate your truck application to determine which factors matter most.
Tags: Aluminum Sidewall, Fiberglass Reinforced Plywood Sidewall, FRP Sidewall, Truck Body, Truck Body Sidewall
October 2008, Automotive Fleet - Department
Automotive Fleet has collected these “Strange but True” stories from fleet managers, drivers, and fleet management companies. Do you have a strange but true story? Something so incredible it couldn’t have been made up? Share your stories with Automotive Fleet; e-mail: Lauren.Fletcher@bobit.com.
Tags: strange but true
September 2008, Work Truck - Feature
By Mike Guardabascio & Chris Brown
With environmental benefits, low operating costs, and application flexibility, NEVs may offer a viable alternative for your fleet. Yet there is much to consider before taking the leap to fully battery-powered vehicles.
Tags: electric car, EVs, GEM, Miles Electric Vehicles, Modec, NEVs , Phoenix Motorcars, Smith Electric, Tiger Star Electric Truck, Zap Electric Cars
August 2008, Automotive Fleet - Feature
It has been “common wisdom” to replace fleet vehicles in relatively short cycles. Rising costs, however, have led fleet managers to consider lengthening replacement criteria. There are pros and cons to the practice.
Tags: replacement cycle, replacement mileage, replacement policy, vehicle life
June 2008, Automotive Fleet - Feature
By Cheryl Knight
The National Fleet Powertrain Program provides competitive pricing at more than 750 locations nationwide. The new Parts Program assures value pricing for participating companies.
Tags: Chrysler LLC , Mopar, parts pricing, powertrain program
May 2008, Automotive Fleet - Feature
The high cost of fuel is the No. 1 challenge facing fleets. Annual fuel cost increased, on average, $600 per vehicle from 2005-2007. In addition, other fuel-related commodities, such as replacement tires, have increased in cost.
Tags: Green Fleet Initiatives, Maintenance Trends, operating costs, Trends in Telematics
April 2008, Automotive Fleet - Feature
By Daryl Lubinsky
In 1956, Midas opened as a muffler repair shop. Today, the company offers a comprehensive commercial fleet services program using state-of-the-art Web-based technologies.
Tags: Fleet Team, Midas, Web-services
March 2008, Government Fleet - Feature
By Mike Scott
With an effective tire monitoring system, fleets can lower operating costs, increase tire life, and improve driver safety.
Tags: cpm, Tire, tire management systems , TireStamp
March 2008, Automotive Fleet - Feature
Increased cost of replacement tires and PM caused car maintenance expenses in 2007 to increase slightly higher than the prior year. Tire costs were up 4-7 percent, while PM expenses increased 10 percent. Other costs remained flat.
Tags: hybrid, maintenance, PM Costs, Powertrain Warranties, Tire Costs
February 2008, Automotive Fleet - Feature
The No. 1 factor is the ongoing high cost of fuel, in particular diesel, which is driving management demands to lower operating costs. Another huge factor that will influence fleets will be the 2010 diesel emission standards.
Tags: 2010 emission standards, driver ergonomics, hybrid, replacement tires, technician shortage, Telematics, truck acquisition, truck trends, upfitting trends
November 2007, Government Fleet - Feature
By Paul Dexler
Through careful use and regular PM maintenance, Los Angeles County Fire Station 92 has gotten 337,000 miles of service out of Squad Truck 592, which was still running strong when the F-350 crew cab was retired.
Tags: Los Angeles County Fire Station , maintenance, servicing
September 2007, Work Truck - Feature
By Tariq Kamal
Fleet managers describe how the ability to track vehicle location, gas consumption, and preventive maintenance has benefited their fleets.
Tags: fuel savings, maintenance, Telematics
August 2007, Automotive Fleet - Feature
By Lisajoyce Vergara
ONSTAR CONTINUES TO OFFER A RANGE OF SERVICES FOR FLEETS THAT PROVIDE COMPANIES WITH COST BENEFITS AND DRIVERS WITH ASSISTANCE WHEN NEEDED.
Tags: fuel, maintenance, OnStar, safety
More fleets are extending oil change intervals based on OEM requirements or onboard oil life monitoring systems. Despite price increases for replacement tires, longer tread life and a shift to off-brand tires are offsetting this expense.
Tags: maintenance
June 2004, Automotive Fleet - Feature
By Elizabeth Linck, CFM
With a disciplined approach and careful planning and implementation, outsourcing non-core functions can provide a positive impact on the entire fleet operation.
By Steve Saltzgiver
Nearly every function of fleet vehicle management requires a decision dependent upon accurate odometer reporting. Utah’s Division of Fleet Operations employs a proactive approach to ensure correct mileage data.
June 2004, Automotive Fleet - How-To
By Editor
To be successful, fleet management must develop a partnership with the operating departments, their operators, and vendors. Fleet is the pivotal player in these relationships as it manages equipment from cradle to grave
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