Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

AF Readers Sound Off on Fleet Utilization

To encourage and facilitate discussion of today’s fleet industry challenges, Automotive Fleet offers a platform for fleet managers and other fleet professionals to exchange their diverse opinions and perspectives.

Mike Antich
Mike AntichFormer Editor and Associate Publisher
Read Mike's Posts
July 24, 2023
AF Readers Sound Off on Fleet Utilization

By taking a hard look at how trucks are spec’d, along with modifying driver behavior, a fleet manager can find many opportunities to increase productivity and reduce costs.

Photo: Stellantis

3 min to read


Fleet industry professionals responded with their own thoughts to a recent article by AF Editor Mike Antich focusing on the benefits of smart fleet utilization. The article, Maximizing Fleet Utilization Increases Productivity & Revenue, is a comprehensive look at the topic. Below is a brief quote:

“Optimizing fleet utilization … is crucial to maximizing efficiency, controlling costs, and improving productivity. By actively managing and optimizing vehicle utilization, fleet managers can drive better overall fleet performance and achieve operational and financial goals. When you take a deep dive into the nuances of fleet utilization, here are six reasons why it is important: ”

Ad Loading...
  • Cost Efficiency

  • Resource Allocation

  • Productivity and Performance

  • Revenue Generation

  • Maintenance and Downtime Management

  • Safety and Compliance

Beyond Traditional Metrics

Thanks for sharing, Mike Antich. I enjoyed reading the blog “Maximizing Fleet Utilization Increases Productivity & Revenue.” It’s easy sometimes to get caught up in utilization metrics only being about miles driven per unit and high mileage meaning big costs. The reality is most organizations wouldn’t be profitable without their fleet, led by dedicated fleet managers designing proactive solutions on tight budgets. You highlight that profitability can come from right sizing based on usage, having spares available during downed events, reassigning assets to lower impact divisions, proactive PM planning, improved record keeping, which can drive down expenses and create real dollars. (And increased morale for everyone!)

Stefano Daneri, Account Executive, Fleetio, Birmingham, Ala.

Holistic View is Needed

After reading the Market Trends blog on “Maximizing Fleet Utilization Increases Productivity & Revenue,” I want to comment that the good fleet managers are and have been treating their fleet like a business. Unfortunately, too many in the C-suite don’t appreciate good fleet leadership because these execs want to look at sales and revenue instead of taking a holistic business approach.

Brian Reynolds, Owner, Reynolds Premier Motors, Tyler, Texas 

Ad Loading...

Yes. Yes. So Much Yes

I read the Market Trends blog on “Maximizing Fleet Utilization Increases Productivity & Revenue.” My reply is “Yes. Yes. So much yes.”

Fleet touches so many areas of business. It is directly tied to Revenue Generation (sales), Productivity (operations/sales ops/service), Risk (liability, legal, safety), Expense Management (accounting/finance/procurement), and Human Resources (employee empowerment/retention/recruitment/satisfaction).

Are you viewing fleet holistically with the various stakeholders in mind and treating it as a business?

Rizvana Alam, Fleet Consulting Executive, Wheels, Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

About this Space:

Ad Loading...

Automotive Fleet offers a platform for fleet managers to share opinions and perspectives with peers and other industry professionals, to encourage and facilitate discussion of today’s fleet industry challenges through the exchange of diverse voices. Presented here are responses to AF print and online articles, blogs and videos from our readers and viewers.  

Topics:Operations
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Operations

Two employees pull opposite ends of a rope in a tug-of-war, illustrating workplace conflict and the leadership strategies fleet organizations use to improve communication and teamwork.
Operationsby Faith HowellJune 8, 2026

How to Manage Conflict for Your Fleet Operations

Conflict management is becoming a core leadership skill. Here are five strategies fleet leaders should know.

Read More →
wheel geotab image
SponsoredJune 1, 2026

Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Decisions That Matter

Fleet leaders have more data than ever, but turning that data into clear, actionable decisions remains a challenge. This white paper shows how leading organizations are using connected vehicle data to improve safety, reduce costs, and optimize fleet performance. Learn how to turn insight into action across your fleet.

Read More →
A person holding a clipboard and writing on an inspection checklist beside the wheel of a large white vehicle, likely conducting a fleet or safety inspection.
SponsoredJune 1, 2026

Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-time Prevention

Commercial auto remains one of the most challenging and costly lines of coverage for fleet operators and insurers alike. Learn more about how to effectively address these issues from Onur Aksan, Enterprise Business Development Executive, Geotab.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
fleetio coast pay
SponsoredMay 29, 2026

Are You Tracking Your Fleet's True Total Cost of Ownership?

Bobit Business Media surveyed 190 fleet professionals and found that while most fleets are tracking costs, fragmented systems and data gaps are keeping true TCO visibility out of reach. With rising pressure to control spend in an increasingly volatile environment, the gap between what fleets think they know and what the data actually shows is wider than you might expect. See how your peers are managing costs today and where the industry still has room to improve.

Read More →
Promotional graphic for a fleet management whitepaper titled “From Data Overload to Decisive Action: 5 Steps to Drive Smarter Fleet Decisions.” The design features a row of white commercial fleet vans, blue and lime-green branding, and supporting text about using telematics data to improve fleet performance, driver behavior, safety, and operational decision-making. A highlighted quote reads, “The challenge is no longer collecting data. The challenge is using it effectively.” The Utilimarc logo appears at the bottom alongside the website URL.
SponsoredMay 28, 2026

Turn Fleet Data Into Smarter Decisions

Fleet leaders have access to more operational data than ever, but disconnected systems and unclear metrics often slow decision-making instead of improving it. This article outlines five practical steps fleets can take to transform fragmented data into actionable insights that improve planning, safety, utilization, and long-term performance.

Read More →
SponsoredMay 15, 2026

Hybrids: Electrification Without the Challenges

For fleet managers, fuel is one of the biggest line items in the budget — and it's one hybrids can shrink without changing how your people work. Download the eBook to see the numbers, understand the technology, and get a step-by-step guide to making the switch.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Man speaking during an Automotive Fleet interview beside text reading “The 60% Driver Improvement Nobody Expected!” with blue motion graphics background.
Operationsby Chris BrownMay 14, 2026

How NOV Uses Telematics to Improve Fleet Safety Across 160 Locations

James Victory of NOV discusses how the company manages fleet safety, maintenance, and telematics across more than 150 locations supporting oilfield operations throughout the U.S.

Read More →
A graphic with Ford Pro's Steven Sanstostasi's headshot on it representing the Fleet Meets series.
Operationsby Faith HowellMay 14, 2026

Fleet Meets: Steven Santostasi

This edition of the Fleet Meets series features Steven Santostasi, the current TSP channel manager for Ford Pro.

Read More →
Cover of a whitepaper titled “The Hidden Costs of Departmentally Assigned Vehicles on Your Fleet” featuring a black fleet vehicle driving on a road at sunset. Subheadline reads: “Discover how your fleet can reduce costs and minimize risk by implementing vehicle sharing.” The document focuses on fleet optimization, vehicle sharing, cost reduction, utilization tracking, and risk management for fleet operations.
SponsoredMay 13, 2026

Why Fleet Managers Are Replacing Departmental Vehicles with Shared Motor Pools

Departmentally assigned vehicles often create hidden costs through underutilization, poor visibility, and increased administrative burden. This white paper explores how shared motor pool strategies help fleets reduce costs, improve accountability, and optimize vehicle utilization.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Three team members in shop with Chris
Operationsby Chris BrownMay 12, 2026

Soap Box Derby Challenge: Assembling the Crew

Meet Gabriel, Matthew, and Angel — the team helping bring this soap box derby build to life.

Read More →