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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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In Memoriam: Coach's Insights•by Ed Bobit•June 22, 2011

Do You Question Where Internal Fleet Management is Heading?

We have almost become accustomed to company outsourcing, reducing head count, technology reliance, adding responsibilities, and doing more with less. The question is, where is this leading?

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•June 15, 2011

The Best Green Fleet Strategy is to Reduce Fuel Consumption

If you want to green your fleet by reducing emissions, you need to decrease fuel consumption. Up to 30 percent of a vehicle's fuel efficiency is impacted by driver behavior. The way an employee drives make a big difference in the volume of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions emitted by a company vehicle. Every unnecessary gallon of diesel burned creates 22.1 lbs. of CO2. The quickest way to reduce fuel consumption is to modify employee driving behavior.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•May 31, 2011

The Impact of CAFE on Fleet Procurement

I foresee fleet procurement patterns changing due to impending federal-mandated corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards in 2016 and 2025. Government CAFE mandates for higher fuel economy, coupled with higher fuel prices, will change the vehicle portfolio mix offered by many OEMs, which in turn will ultimately change the asset composition of tomorrow’s fleets.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•May 9, 2011

A New Emerging Fleet Issue – ‘Burnout’

My takeaway from last April’s NAFA I&E Conference was the extent to which fleet managers are being stretched to their limits. The catalyst has been the recent economic downturn, which decimated what little staff may have been at the disposal of many fleet managers. Time constraints have caused a fleet manager’s daily activity to be a "juggling act," which has devolved into “crisis management” of putting out an endless stream of "fires."

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•April 26, 2011

The Uncontrollable Component of Fleet OTD

Fleet vehicles are vulnerable to order-to-delivery (OTD) delays because most fleet orders are concentrated among a handful of models. There are four components to the OTD cycle: ordering, scheduling, production, and delivery.The weak link is the delivery component. For the past 10 years, the nationwide rail car shortage has been a factor in fleet delivery delays. This promises to continue to be the case for the foreseeable future. Here's why.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•April 19, 2011

The Ongoing Used-Vehicle Shortage Favors a Short-Cycling Replacement Strategy

Nearly all fleet-related costs, both fixed and operating, are influenced by when a vehicle is replaced. Today’s exceptionally strong wholesale market caused by the shortage of used vehicles offers commercial fleet managers an “out-of-the box opportunity” to short cycle vehicles. A shorter 24-month replacement cycle will maximize resale values, reduce operating costs and downtime, increase negotiating leverage with OEMs, and improve driver morale,

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•April 1, 2011

Time to Add a New Component in Calculating Total Cost of Ownership

Senior management at many U.S. companies continues to support corporate sustainability and green fleet initiatives. In the past, “green” was difficult to “pencil out” when calculating vehicle lifecycle costs, but those days appear to be ending.

In Memoriam: Coach's Insights•by Staff Writer•March 25, 2011

An Enigma No More

A lot of the fleet community knows Joe Gholston, the pivotal sage at Chrysler Fleet in Detroit. I think I’ve known him for maybe 20 years and have never found anyone who doesn’t like him and respect him as I do.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•March 11, 2011

Beware of Expunged MVR Records

Expungement is a legal procedure to remove driving infractions from an individual's motor vehicle record. Fleet managers report MVR expungements are occurring with greater frequency -- more so in some jurisdictions than others. The most notorious is Puerto Rico, but there has also been an increase in expungements of DUIs and speeding tickets in other jurisdictions, such as Illinois and Pennsylvania. Fleet managers need to be aware of the negligent entrustment ramifications.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•March 1, 2011

Higher Raw Material Costs Put Upward Pressure on Replacement Tire Prices

Retail transaction prices for light-truck replacement tire were up 12.5% in 2010, and 11% for the passenger car segment. Although retail tire prices increased, replacement tire pricing for commercial fleets remained relatively flat because of pre-existing national account pricing agreements. However, it would be short-sighted to believe national account vendors will indefinitely absorb tire cost increases without passing them on to their fleet customers.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•February 15, 2011

In a Slow Economy, Driver Violations Increase

Vehicle violations now represent 1-3 percent of total fleet costs. Traffic violation revenues are being used by many jurisdictions to balance budgets. In an era of budget deficits, fleets are discovering a sharp uptick in driver violations.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•February 15, 2011

In a Slow Economy, Driver Violations Increase

Vehicle violations represent 1-3 percent of total fleet costs and vary by fleet depending on the cities and states where vehicles operate.

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