Why Mainstream Industry Knowledge Can Help You With Your Job
Everyone has a budget these days. Everyone has a CFO or boss of some kind who wants you to do more with less. You’re expected to defend your turf. Here’s how to become a star.
Ed Bobit・Former Editor & Publisher
June 4, 2013
3 min to read
When asked by a leading research firm where fleet managers were obtaining information to help them do their jobs better, nearly 80 percent said from professional magazines. Not surprisingly, they said the Internet was their habit with more than 70 percent.
Shortly, you will be receiving Automotive Fleet’s annual Fact Book that’s chock-full of updated directory data. Much of the content is not available elsewhere, although we do post some of it on our website. While other research confirms that fleet managers refer to the data often, the statistical section is not the favorite part.
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And, it should be. Why, you ask? Here are a few basic examples that will make you conversant both with your CFO and effective in networking with your peers.
Using the period from 2007 to 2012 you should know that, after the tough recession years, commercial fleet sales should be ahead of ’07 this year.
Important? Yes, it means that the factories and FMCs are totally healthy and may be more flexible for services and in your negotiations. Blend this in with your own corporate expansion or other direction and it may provide an entrance to a better buying tier.
Similarly, you can study the OEM’s market share.
Important? Yes! Are “imports” making a bid for your business? Who’s “hungry” for your business with the best deal? What does it mean in terms of volume vs. delivery time vs. projected remarketing values?
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“If the rich could hire other people to die for them, the poor could make a wonderful living.”
-Yiddish Proverb
“The wise man, even when he holds his tongue, says more than the fool when he speaks.”
-Yiddish Proverb
“I don’t want to become immortal through my work. I want to become immortal through not dying.”
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-Woody Allen
It could also mean that, since daily rental fleet sales are largely non-buyback, they are now more profitable for the OEMs. This could mitigate against expanded commercial fleet incentives as rental sales far exceed in the total fleet market.
Commercial fleet buyers are now often finding that purchasing off special retail incentives (especially for out-of-stock) are as good or offer better savings.
For budgets you need to know trends; i.e. the Wall Street Journal figured out that the average price paid in 2012 for a new car was up $3,099 vs. same time in 2007.
Black Book figures that in that similar period three-year-old cars had a value increase of just over $2,800.
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Each year, AF conducts and publishes the results of both operating costs and maintenance costs studies, which are key in making estimates for budget. One “hot” cost area is for tires. For a mid-size model major brand tire (Michelin — P205/60R16) the cost was $127 in 2007. In 2012, that same tire is priced at $176.
This data should alert you to the value of obtaining, studying, and projecting your own costs based on solid industry statistics. That’s why we invest in the many industry surveys and make them available to you. Much is encapsulated in our annual Fact Book, due out in June.
One last thought on “numbers.” Keep us informed if you qualified for a listing in our Top 300 Commercial Fleets. It’s an honor and you can find similar fleets like your own to compare numbers with for cost savings.
And a final, final “number” idea; keep AF as your No. 1 source for supporting data.
A lot has changed in the past 10-15 years, so we can only imagine this momentum will continue into the next decade-plus. How will this change impact the fleet manager of tomorrow?
Work truck fleets run fewer miles than the typical car fleet, but companies hold these vehicles longer until they get into the costly area of maintenance, including preventive maintenance intervals. Every part of a work truck is driven harder.
Even though I have been critical (constructively so, I hope) in past years, after a good deal of thought, it occurs to me that NAFA needs strong continued support from the entire industry.
In late February, virtually every member of the NAFA office staff received a new or additional assignment and a new title to go with it. All to meet the goals of their "very aggressive strategic plans" (no specifics identified).
This year, the Fleet Safety Conference will demonstrate the latest developments in technology and the use of predictive analytics and other metrics to identify at-risk drivers.
Despite the compact truck market diving from 2 million sales to 250,000, there appears to be ample competition coming. Most believe the compact truck market is now expanding and will continue.
Make sure that you not only learn about resale values, but you should be getting a free (customary for dealers and fleets) lunch at your favorite auction. Maybe your FMC is taking it for you.
Thinking of the 12 Days of Christmas song, I thought I would substitute 12 hopefully smile-generating complaints that I’ve heard customers say. You’re lucky I decided not share this as a video since I’m banned from most karaoke clubs… Perhaps you and your staff have heard some of these comments/responses.
From my own experience, nothing gets an exec's attention more than a testimonial on a potential money-saving idea. And, why not make the benefit come back to the fleet manager?
