Observations on a fleet cuff:

While sitting in on the recent annual meeting of the Car and Truck Rental and Leasing Assn. in Chicago, I heard an interesting presentation on the subject of odometers. Interesting from the standpoint that I learned something unusual. An official of Ford Motor Co. told the group that the auto industry could build an odometer that would be 100 per cent accurate-but that the cost would be so prohibitive that nobody could afford it. I don't believe it! Maybe I have too much faith in the engineering know-how of American industry, but I believe that the auto industry could turn out an odometer that doesn't have an error factor of six per cent-the percentage cited by the Ford official. And at a reasonable price. Six per cent represents an error of six miles every hundred miles. If we carry this to the extreme, auto companies should extend their new car warranties because the cars really aren't travelling 24,000.

I liked the suggestion of Rodney A. Peterson, the capable executive of Hertz Corp. Peterson said if there has to be an "error" in odometer readings, let it be balanced out instead of being all on the plus side. By having some odometers over-register and some odometers under-register, it would average out. This would be a great benefit to the renting and leasing companies who are under fire for allegedly overcharging their customers. If renting and leasing customers are overcharged on the basis of odometer readings, it is not the fault of the industry. The blame rests with the auto industry for not producing a more accurate odometer. Who ever said that a better mousetrap couldn't be built?

The American Automotive Leasing Assn. at its recent convention in Miami Beach passed a resolution praising the National Automobile Dealers Assn. for alerting auto companies to the practice of a few auto dealers who sell cars to so-called leasing companies who in turn immediately resell the cars to so-called leasing companies who in turn immediately resell the cars in direct competition with authorized factory dealers. AALA urged the auto companies to "carefully review the requirements of legitimate leasing companies and restore an equitable distribution which will take into consideration the actual needs and requirements of leasing companies." I couldn't agree more.

A note from Emil J. Ames, who has just taken over as special consultant to the National Assn. of Fleet Administrators after a long and active career with Universal CIT Corp. Emil writes that NAFA members have fallen down in submitting entries to the fleet safety contest sponsored by the National Safety Council in cooperation with NAFA.

Fewer entries were received in 1963 than in 1962, he said. Unless there is more participation, the special fleet division may be dropped.

"Staying out of the contest is going backwards," Emil wrote. We cannot help ourselves unless we're willing to find out how we stand. Seven fleets out of more than 100 is by no means representative. What can we boast about? Can we tell any one how good or how bad we are?" Come on, fleet administrators, get those entries in!

While on the subject of NAFA, I hope to see many of you at the annual meeting in Chicago next month. It is one of the most practical meetings I've ever attended. If you have never made a NAFA meeting, make a special effort to get to this one. Remember, you don't have to be a member to attend. I might even get Ed Bobit to pop for a drink.