As founder and CEO of Anew Solutions, Austin Schutte has built a company that supports fleets through nearly every stage of the vehicle lifecycle. He shares how he got his start in fleet, why he believes relationships matter just as much as technology, and the advice that's guided his career.

Fleet Meetsattempts to show the human side of an industry often defined by numbers, metrics, and data. Get to know the people behind what makes fleet, fleet.

Meet Austin Schutte.

How did you first find your way into the fleet industry?

Schutte: Within the first year of launching Anew Transport, a small automotive transportation brokerage serving local dealerships, I was introduced to the fleet industry through what was then Donlen Leasing.

Although I was completely new to the fleet space, several individuals took a chance on me, including Ryan McClory (now with ABM) and Timothy Poeppel (now with Merchants). They gave Anew the opportunity to support clients who were experiencing transportation delays and needed immediate assistance. That introduction opened the door to an industry I quickly became passionate about. What started as helping solve transportation challenges evolved into building long-term partnerships and expanding Anew into a full-service automotive supply chain solutions company serving fleets worldwide.

What is your typical workday like?

Schutte: Today, Anew serves fleet clients across nearly every industry, including healthcare, beverage, grocery, utilities, and service-based organizations. As a result, no two days are ever the same.

Every day brings new challenges, unique client requests, and opportunities to identify where the industry is headed and how Anew can continue evolving to better support our customers. That's one of the things I enjoy most about the business. The variety allows us to stay innovative and continuously build new solutions for our clients.

The other side of the logistics industry is that there's always an issue somewhere. When you're moving vehicles and managing complex supply chain operations nationwide, unexpected situations arise every day, many of which you would never anticipate. Problem-solving, adapting quickly, and supporting our team and clients through those challenges is a significant part of my role and what keeps the work exciting.

You've built Anew Solutions around nearly every stage of the vehicle lifecycle. Which part of that process do you think fleets tend to underestimate, and why?

Schutte: The human aspect of fleet management is often the most underestimated part of the vehicle lifecycle. While technology, automation, and process optimization have transformed our industry, vehicles don't make decisions—people do.

Behind every vehicle order, title transaction, transport, upfit, repair, or delivery is a person whose experience directly impacts the success of the program. Fleets naturally focus on metrics such as cycle times, utilization, and cost savings, all of which are important. However, long-term success is typically determined by the relationships between clients, drivers, vendors, and internal teams.

When communication breaks down or people feel unheard, even the most efficient process can struggle. At Anew, we've built much of our culture around what we call the H.E.A.R.T. Method: Hear, Empathize, Act, Relate, and Trust. We believe the best outcomes occur when technology and operational excellence are combined with genuine human connection.

Speed to completion has been a recurring theme in your work. As fleets face increasing pressure to get vehicles into service faster, what operational changes have made the biggest difference in reducing delays?

Schutte: Speed is rarely the result of working harder—it's usually the result of removing friction.

The organizations that consistently get vehicles into service faster are the ones willing to challenge their assumptions, listen to their clients, and evolve their processes to solve the real issue rather than protect the status quo.

The biggest difference has come from focusing on the client's actual problem rather than simply selling the product or process we have today. The first step is understanding what's truly causing the delay, whether it's communication gaps, process bottlenecks, vendor coordination, title and registration requirements, visibility challenges, or something else entirely. Once you identify the root cause, you can design a solution around the client's needs instead of forcing the client to adapt to yours.

What's one misconception about today's fleet industry?

Schutte: One of the biggest misconceptions about today's fleet industry is that it's simply about vehicles.

In reality, fleet management is a complex ecosystem involving people, technology, supply chains, compliance, data, and customer experience. A vehicle may be the end product, but behind it are dozens of interconnected processes and stakeholders working together to keep businesses operating efficiently.

Another common misconception is that fleet is slow to innovate. In my experience, some of the most forward-thinking organizations are in this industry.

What is the best career advice you've ever received?

Schutte: The best career advice I've ever received came from my mentor, Mike Pitcher: "Get busy and stay quiet."

It's a simple phrase, but it has had a profound impact on how I've approached business and leadership. Over the last nine years, Anew has grown tremendously, not because we spent our time talking about what we were going to do, but because we stayed focused on execution, delivering results for clients, and continuously improving.

What's one piece of advice you'd give to someone beginning a career in fleet?

Schutte: Be authentic, have awareness, and don't be afraid to have a little audacity.

Fleet is a relationship-driven industry, so authenticity and trust matter. Stay aware of how your work impacts others, and always look beyond your specific role.

What's something people would be surprised to learn about you outside of work?

Schutte: Most people know me as the CEO of Anew, but outside of work I'm a pilot and a father to a 4-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter.

I most enjoy anything that combines adventure, learning, and quality time with the people I care about most.

Finish this sentence: "The future of fleet is __________."

Schutte: The future of fleet is you.

No one would have guessed that a kid from St. Louis, Missouri, would build something as disruptive as Anew. Yet here we are.

The biggest opportunities in this industry won't come from the largest companies or the loudest voices. They'll come from people willing to challenge the status quo, take risks, and keep showing up when others quit. So, if you have an idea, a vision, or a goal that seems too ambitious, pursue it anyway. Who knows what you might achieve.

Fleet Meets is an ongoing series from Automotive Fleet that introduces readers to the people shaping the fleet industry. Through quick Q&As, fleet professionals share their career paths, leadership philosophies, and perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing today's fleets.