Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Strange but True

“Strange but True” stories were sent to Automotive Fleet by fleet managers, drivers, and fleet management companies. Do you have a strange but true story? Something so incredible it couldn’t have been made up? Share your stories with Automotive Fleet; e-mail: Lauren.Fletcher@bobit.com.

September 1, 2008
3 min to read


How Not to Fill Your Gas Tank
One morning, a fleet manager got a call from a branch office a company truck had been totaled in a fire.

The fleet manager investigated and found that the driver had left home at 7 a.m. He had been running late and needed to fill up the truck with gasoline, and he also wanted to get a cup of coffee.

Ad Loading...

Entering a gas station, the driver discovered he needed to hold the handle of the pump while filling the fuel tank. Since he still wanted his coffee, he jammed the handle in place by using his cigarette lighter.
The driver entered the store at the station, and by the time he went back to his truck, he found the tank overflowing and a large puddle of gasoline on the ground.

He immediately pulled the lighter from beneath the pump handle; unfortunately, the flint stone created a spark. The spark ignited the gasoline, which started a fire, totaling the truck and half the gas station.

While the driver sustained an injury to his arm, no one else was hurt.

Watch What You Tow

Several years ago, a tow-truck technician went out on a service call to retrieve a vehicle stalled in traffic. After loading the vehicle on the tow truck, the technician headed back to the shop.

Ad Loading...

Traveling in the right-hand lane, the tech was a few miles from the shop when, looking to his left, he noticed a van slowly passing by.

The technician tried to wave to the driver, but didn’t see anyone in the  driver’s seat. Looking over again to determine what was happening, he was astonished to find the vehicle was the same van he thought he was towing!

Panicked, but quick-witted, the technician maneuvered the tow truck alongside the van, forcing it to the road’s edge.

The proud technician returned to the shop where he relayed his story of heroism to explain the new-found damage to the van. Management did not share enthusiasm for the tech’s carelessness in neglecting to secure the van to the tow truck.

One Big ‘Doggy’ Don’t

Ad Loading...

A pharmaceutical sales driver parked his vehicle in a hospital lot, leaving in the vehicle his large dog, traveling with him that day.

The driver went into the hospital for his appointment. Apparently, the dog jumped into the vehicle’s front seat, knocking the vehicle out of gear with his paw. The vehicle drifted through the parking lot, striking three cars. When the driver returned, he couldn’t locate his vehicle.

According to the driver, police officers and flashing lights were everywhere, and his vehicle right in the middle of everything. The dog? Asleep like an angel in the back seat.


Keep Hands and Arms Inside the Vehicle at All Times

A driver was in his car while going through an automatic carwash when he realized he needed to get something from the back seat.

Ad Loading...

Believing there was enough time, the driver attempted to get out of the car  in the middle of the carwash.

The carwash mechanism hit the open door, and the driver wanted to know why the carwash owner would not take responsibility for the damage.

No Smoking – or Spitting!

One company’s policy prohibited smoking on any company property — including company vehicles.

The fleet manager reports, “I guess we should have been more specific and had a “no tobacco” policy. One rep tooled around all day with a spittoon in the company vehicle until I found out. Yuck!”

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Operations

A blue Automotive Fleet graphic representing the weekly AF News Recap series.
Operationsby Faith HowellMay 4, 2026

From Waffle House to AI: Fleet Trends You Need to Know

In this AF news recap, host Faith Howell covers how Waffle House stepped up during disaster response and new AI tech on the market.

Read More →
OperationsApril 30, 2026

Fleet Operations in the Age of AI: Navigating Ethical and Legal Challenges

AI is no longer a future concept for fleets—it’s already embedded in the tools, data, and decisions that operators rely on every day. In this episode of the Fleet Forward Podcast, recorded live at Fleet Forward, industry leaders take the conversation beyond hype to examine what responsible AI adoption really looks like in fleet operations.

Read More →
OperationsApril 30, 2026

Factory Installed vs. Aftermarket: Choosing the Right Telematics Path & Managing the Data

As fleets rethink how they capture, manage, and act on vehicle data, telematics is at a major inflection point. In this episode of the Fleet Forward Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most pressing questions facing fleet leaders today: Should you rely on OEM factory-installed connectivity, aftermarket devices, or a hybrid of both?

Read More →
Ad Loading...
OperationsApril 30, 2026

What Real-Time Data Reveals About EV Cost, Performance, and Scalability

Experts from telematics analytics, fleet-as-a-service operations, and national EV benchmarking share how real-time data is reshaping fleet strategy—dispelling assumptions, validating best practices, and exposing costly missteps.

Read More →
OperationsApril 30, 2026

Planning Through Policy Shifts: What Fleets Must Track in 2026

A powerhouse panel featuring experts from the American Automotive Leasing Association, CalSTART, and municipal fleet leadership dives into the realities of navigating shifting emissions rules, regulatory waivers, federal agency actions, the future of the EPA’s endangerment finding, and the push for unified standards. They also examine the impacts of tariffs, autonomous vehicle policy, battery innovation, and the accelerating global EV market.

Read More →
OperationsApril 30, 2026

Managing Market Turbulence with Strategic Fleet Insights

This episode kicks off with a deep dive into the technologies and market forces reshaping today’s fleet landscape. Host Chris Brown is joined by Laolu Adeola (Leke Services), Tyson Jomini (J.D. Power), and Richard Hall (ZappiRide) to break down real-world data, shifting incentives, and practical strategies fleet leaders can use right now.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Clipboards with flooded cars in background.
Disaster Responseby Chris BrownApril 30, 2026

Adapting Fleet Policy When Disasters Strike

In the middle of natural disasters fleet managers must shift priorities to protect people and assets. What policy items should be loosened, and when should the line be held?

Read More →
OperationsApril 24, 2026

EV Reality Check: How Fleets Are Managing Policy Shifts, Safety, and Scaling Challenges

In this episode, fleet leaders from municipal, university, and private-sector organizations share a candid EV reality check. From infrastructure setbacks and policy whiplash to grant funding, total cost of ownership, and charging resiliency, this conversation dives into what it actually takes to scale electrification in the real world.

Read More →
2019 Automotive Fleet Hall of Fame inductees Joe LaRosa Bob Miesen Bud Morrison Theresa Ragozine portraits
Operationsby StaffApril 21, 2026

Fleet Hall of Fame Honorees Through the Years

A running list of the fleet industry’s most influential leaders, recognized for their lasting impact on commercial fleet management.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Operationsby Chris BrownApril 20, 2026

2026 Salary Survey: Six-Figure Fleet Manager Salaries Become the Norm

After a decade of lagging compensation, fleet manager pay is climbing. But expanding responsibilities, larger fleets, and growing complexity continue to redefine the role.

Read More →