Thinking of the Newbies of the Future
A lot has changed in the past 10-15 years, so we can only imagine this momentum will continue into the next decade-plus. How will this change impact the fleet manager of tomorrow?
With more than 50 years in the fleet industry, Ed Bobit, Automotive Fleet editor and publisher, reflects on issues affecting today’s fleets. Drawing insight from his own experiences in the field, Ed offers a perspective similar to that of a sports coach guiding his players.
A lot has changed in the past 10-15 years, so we can only imagine this momentum will continue into the next decade-plus. How will this change impact the fleet manager of tomorrow?
Work truck fleets run fewer miles than the typical car fleet, but companies hold these vehicles longer until they get into the costly area of maintenance, including preventive maintenance intervals. Every part of a work truck is driven harder.
Even though I have been critical (constructively so, I hope) in past years, after a good deal of thought, it occurs to me that NAFA needs strong continued support from the entire industry.
In late February, virtually every member of the NAFA office staff received a new or additional assignment and a new title to go with it. All to meet the goals of their "very aggressive strategic plans" (no specifics identified).
This year, the Fleet Safety Conference will demonstrate the latest developments in technology and the use of predictive analytics and other metrics to identify at-risk drivers.
Despite the compact truck market diving from 2 million sales to 250,000, there appears to be ample competition coming. Most believe the compact truck market is now expanding and will continue.
With mpg improving with each new model and prices at the pump receding, some are forgetting the more expensive depreciation cost.
Make sure that you not only learn about resale values, but you should be getting a free (customary for dealers and fleets) lunch at your favorite auction. Maybe your FMC is taking it for you.
Thinking of the 12 Days of Christmas song, I thought I would substitute 12 hopefully smile-generating complaints that I’ve heard customers say. You’re lucky I decided not share this as a video since I’m banned from most karaoke clubs… Perhaps you and your staff have heard some of these comments/responses.
From my own experience, nothing gets an exec's attention more than a testimonial on a potential money-saving idea. And, why not make the benefit come back to the fleet manager?
Ever since the NAFA Fleet Management Association announced its Beyond Fleet (many hats) initiative about two years ago, I (and our entire staff) have been 100-percent supportive of the program. We've been working closely with NAFA to make the campaign as effective as possible.
The world has changed since we presented our first Green Fleet Conference six years ago. Today, fleet managers are looking for facts. That’s where we come in.
GF just released the annual survey for Public Fleets. 218 fleets responded to the survey and the results should indicate a reasonable cross section of the 3,000+ professionally managed fleets across the country.
I kept looking at the two-page promo for what we internally call our “F&I Show.” It’s successful and regularly draws nearly 1,000 dealer and dealer-related managers. Still, the ad bothered me.
When you’re finally ready to retire, to hunt and fish more, to set in the shade and drink more Arnie Palmers, are you going to trust your professional legacy to the hands of your successor or are you going to worry about it.
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