Early Adopter of Web-Based & Telematics Solutions Jerome Hoes Retired from GEICO

Jerome Hoes retired from GEICO Direct as director of fleet and travel in September 2021, concluding a 37-year career with the company.

Nominee for 2019 Fleet Manager of the Year

Hoes joined GEICO in October 1984, working in the company’s internal audit department. He was promoted to director of fleet and travel in February 2001, and 18 years later, Hoes was nominated for the 2019 Fleet Manager of the Year Award.

At the time of his nomination, Hoes supervised a staff of 12 who managed a fleet of 4,891 company vehicles.

GEICO Trailblazes Web-Based and Telematics Fleet Solutions

Hoes was an early practitioner of Web-enabled fleet management during the dawn of Internet-based fleet applications. Among his notable achievements cited in his nomination for Fleet Manager of the Year was his implementation of strategies that launched online safety modules to reduce accident rates.

Also, during Hoes' tenure, GEICO was an early adopter of fleet telematics and, along with other early adopter fleets, helped identify that unnecessary idling was far more prevalent than believed, which was a major  and surprising revelation to the fleet industry.

In addition, GEICO was a strong proponent of fleet safety, purchasing vehicles regardless of trim level to get the most safety equipment for its associates. At that time, most vehicle safety options were only offered only in higher trim level packages.

Hoes viewed safety as an ongoing initiative monitoring driver performance via safety dashboard meetings. When a safety recall impacted a large portion of its fleet, Hoes and GEICO management mandated drivers repair their vehicles and secure rentals; he enlisted his FMC partner to monitor driver compliance and coordinate rentals.

When hurricanes in Florida and Texas closed down gas stations, Hoes partnered with his FMC to secure eight fuel tankers to be first on the scene.

Educational Background

Hoes graduated with a degree in accounting from Fairmont State University in Fairmont, WV in 1981. As a student-athlete, Jerome played football and ran track for the university.

Giving Back in Retirement

In retirement, Hoes is a baseball coach for 12- and 15-year-old kids.

“I always wanted to go back and work with kids,” said Hoes.

He co-coaches the baseball teams with his son L.J. (a nickname for Little Jerome), who played major league baseball for the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros from 2012-2017.