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Oct 20-22, 2026 | MD

Driving Notes

Knowing about a vehicle is one thing; driving it is quite another. Getting behind the wheel gives yo...

Multiple Authors

6 contributors

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FleetTakes

FleetTakes is exactly that — a take on what fleets need to know when it comes to the latest in autom...

Chris Brown

Associate Publisher

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Insight Lane

Insight Lane delivers Colin Sutherland’s perspective from the intersection of leadership and innovat...

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Market Trends

Automotive Fleet's former editor, Mike Antich, shared his opinions and ideas on the overall commerci...

Multiple Authors

2 contributors

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Remarketing Streams

Remarketing Streams reports on the flow of used vehicles moving through the consignor-auction-dealer...

Martin Romjue

Managing Editor

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Market Trends•by Mike Antich•September 30, 2011

Pros & Cons of New Medium- & Heavy-Duty Truck Fuel Standards

Medium- and heavy-duty trucks comprise 4 percent of the total vehicles on the road, but account for 20 percent of the fuel consumed and 20 percent of the greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted by the transportation sector. Now, for the first-time ever, fuel economy standards for heavy- and medium-duty trucks over 8,500 lbs. will be regulated by the federal government. Here are the pros and cons of this new mandate.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•September 13, 2011

Resale Values Forecast to Decline 10-15% by 2014 as Used-Vehicle Supply Increases

Today’s high resale values are an anomaly caused by the shortage of used vehicles in the wholesale market due to the extremely low sales of new vehicles during the 2008-2011 timeframe. Nowadays, everyone is a hero when it comes to getting top dollar for their out-of-service fleet vehicles. However, these artificially high prices will ultimately decline as used-vehicle supply increases.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•September 2, 2011

Modifying Driver Behavior: The 'Last Mile' in Greening a Fleet

If you are constrained by equipment limitations, the "last mile" to achieving corporate sustainability objectives is modifying driver behavior. This is possibly the greatest opportunity available to fleet managers to green their fleets.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•August 16, 2011

Vehicle Remote Starting and Door Unlocking Can be Hacked

Recently, a security systems consultant demonstrated that the technology used to link a car to a smart phone can be hacked to gain control of these vehicle functions. The demonstration showed that the wireless communication protocols between a server and a vehicle can be intercepted allowing a hacker to “reverse engineer” the encrypted software protocols. Once the software protocols are replicated, a hacker can maliciously communicate with a vehicle to unlock doors or start the engine.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•August 8, 2011

Proposed 2025 CAFE Standards to be the Catalyst for the Increased Hybridization of Fleets

The 2025 CAFE rules will have a dramatic impact on the types of future vehicles in fleet operations. Currently, no OEM can meet the 2025 CAFE standard of 54.5 mpg, which will double the average EPA-rated fuel economy for all OEMs selling vehicles in the U.S. in less than two decades. Today, only a handful of models get 39 mpg or more. To achieve this standard, the government plans to incentivize the use of advanced technologies, such as hybrid powertrains and vehicle electrification.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•July 27, 2011

A Double Whammy for Truck Fleets: Ticket ‘Inflation’ and ‘Malicious Compliance’

Ticket fees have escalated dramatically and there appears to be a trend toward "malicious compliance," all for the sake of generating revenue. It's not uncommon for multiple tickets to be issued for the same violation due to overlapping regulations and the 'latitude' of interpretation afforded to officers. Plus, officers are providing fewer warnings and increasingly citing minor infractions, especially equipment violations. Increased citations negatively impact a fleet's DOT rating under CSA.

In Memoriam: Coach's Insights•by Ed Bobit•July 27, 2011

Do You Know ‘Fleet?’ Here’s a Candid Perspective

There have always been divergent opinions on the actual role of “fleet” vs. “retail” among automakers and the industry. Here are some new observations of facts that may corrode some of the myths.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•July 25, 2011

Fleets Report Aggressive Efforts to Collect Delinquent Unpaid Tickets and Toll Violations

As many states combine delinquent ticket data into a single database, there’s an increased effort by government entities to go after unpaid violations, some as old as 10 years. In the past, political subdivisions within a state operated independent of the state DMV. Now, the databases of these jurisdictions are merged into the state DMV database, making it easier to identify and collect on unpaid tickets. Fleets have seen significantly more violations handed over to collection agencies.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•July 6, 2011

Wholesale Inventory Shortage of Medium-Duty Trucks Fuels Higher Resale Values

The decreased volume of new medium-duty trucks sold from 2008-2010 has created a tight inventory of used trucks in today's wholesale market. As a result, demand is exceeding supply, especially for lower-mileage medium-duties in good condition, which has exerted positive upward pressure on resale prices across the board.

In Memoriam: Coach's Insights•by Ed Bobit•July 6, 2011

Who Has a True Appreciation for Depreciation?

No one would suggest we ignore the current egregious fuel prices. However, to mimic my personal mantra for the last 50 years, resale values continue to identify the vehicle’s most costly item.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•July 5, 2011

Does Automatic Payment of Camera Tickets Violate a Driver’s Due Process Rights?

Does automatic payment of a photo-enforcement ticket implicitly presume guilt and deny a driver due process? Some fleet drivers have been cited for running a red light and had the fine paid, all without ever knowing about it or given the due process opportunity to contest the citation. In addition to possible due process concerns, an employee may have a claim for wrongful termination if your failure to provide notice of the infraction ultimately cost the employee his or her license.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•June 28, 2011

Double Digit Odometer Fraud Between 2007 - 2010

“Clocking” is the illegal process of rolling back an odometer to a mileage lower than the actual miles driven. This crime is most prevalent with late-model vehicles, which have accumulated high mileage in a relatively short period of time, such as typically occurs with fleet vehicles. If you think odometer tampering is a thing of the past, you should think again. From 2007 to 2010, there has been a double-digit increase in odometer tampering.

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