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Automotive Fleet Magazine

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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 23, 2008

Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010: A New Way to Reduce Truck-Related Fatalities

Due to staffing constraints, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA ) can currently only audit about 2 percent of nation's truck fleets. In response to these resource constraints, FMCSA is developing a Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA) 2010 initiative to implement new ways to reduce truck-related accidents. CSA 2010 will measure a fleet's safety performance through data uploaded from fleet compliance activities and accident reports.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•September 22, 2008

Branded Fleet Vehicles Puts Drivers in Conflict with Homeowner Associations

When a company decides to brand vehicles with either logos or full-vehicle advertising wraps, it may inadvertently create a situation that puts employees in conflict with homeowner association restrictions on the parking of commercial vehicles in common areas. Most homeowner associations allow commercial vehicles as long as they are garaged, but not all fleet vehicles can fit in a garage due to height or length. An estimated 50 million Americans live in homeowner association communities.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•September 19, 2008

Confronting Non-Compliance & Fraudulent Personal Use Reporting

The high cost of fuel is causing more employees to use fleet vehicles for personal use since many companies pays for gasoline. Although overall fleet mileage has increased, there has not been a corresponding increase in reported personal use miles. Companies that allow drivers to take vehicles home, but do not allow personal use, report a growing problem of policing unauthorized personal use by employees looking to reduce their "personal" fuel costs. This is a broad-based industry issue.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•September 12, 2008

Mixed 2008 OTD Performance: Some Models Up, Some Down

The 2008 model-year produced mixed results in order-to-delivery (OTD) perfromance. A protracted UAW strike and flooding in the Midwest delayed some models, while other models posted improved OTD due to reduced retail sales, which expedited fleet production. In addition, there was sufficient rail car availability due to soft retail sales and a decrease in quality holds.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•September 9, 2008

Import-Badged Models Increase Market Penetration with 2009 Fleet Buy

When fuel prices crossed the $3.25 per gallon threshold, fleets began looking for ways to downsize vehicles or opt to four-cylinder engines.This trend is reinforced by corporate sustainability initiatives and/or fuel spend/GHG reduction programs. The shift to four-cylinder engines is broad-based and includes many of the nation’s largest fleets. One consequence to this increased demand for four-cylinder models is that fleets have increased their purchases of import-badged vehicles.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•September 8, 2008

Impact of Plant Shutdowns on Ship-Thru Deliveries

With a dramatic decrease in retail truck sales, some fleets are concerned that assembly plant closures and production slowdowns may delay truck deliveries and ship-thru upfits. In addition, there are further concerns about potential fleet allocation issues, availability of transportation, extended lead times caused by shift eliminations, and reduced special equipment runs. One challenge is moving completed upfit vehicles back into "traffic" when an assembly plant is shutdown.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•September 5, 2008

SEC Proposal to Allow Early Adoption of International Accounting Standards

On Aug. 27, the Securities and Exchange Commission raised the possibility that approximately 110 U.S. publicly traded companies will be able to use international accounting standards (IAS) next year and may require all U.S. companies to switch to IAS between 2014-2016. There is a 60-day comment period about the SEC proposal. Fleet leasing will be impacted by the adoption of IAS. It is probable that all fleet leases in the U.S. will need to be capitalized sometime in the 2011-2016 timeframe.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•September 2, 2008

The Hidden Cost of Personal Use

With fuel prices remaining elevated, many companies are wondering whether they are charging enough for personal use. At some companies, this discussion is long overdue. When re-evaluating personal use charges, a common mistake is to focus solely on the cost of fuel, which is understandable because, after all, fuel is the catalyst for these discussions. However, doing so ignores the other “hidden” costs of personal use, which have also risen.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•August 28, 2008

Fleet Becomes an Epicenter for Interdepartmental Encroachment

Interdepartmental conflicts are common in the medical and IT industries, and at most companies between sales and operations. However, for many years, fleet existed as a realm of its own. Management in other departments often didn’t fully understand the nuances of fleet management other than they got a new vehicle every 36 months. Fleet managers of that era (not that long ago) were the “kings” and “queens” of their own realms. However, that reality is rapidly changing.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•August 25, 2008

Strategic Fleet Management Focuses on Management by Objective

The greatest challenge facing the future of fleet management is how we see ourselves as a profession. Are we administrators of a fleet or are we managers? Do we manage from a tactical level – putting out day-to-day fires – or from a strategic level focusing on specific long-term objectives using metrics to benchmark progress? In the future, you will need a strategic focus to succeed in fleet management; otherwise you run the risk of fading into irrelevancy.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•August 22, 2008

When Fleet Collides With HR

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (also known as HIPAA) makes it a criminal act to divulge medical information to a third-party without the employee’s permission. Many fleet managers believe HIPAA non-disclosure requirements are counter-productive to fleet safety. One fleet manager lamented to me that “HIPAA is the worst thing that has ever happened to fleet.”

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•August 18, 2008

Fleet Safety Must be Your No. 1 Job Priority

In two decades of chronicling the history of fleet management, I have seen interest in fleet safety ebb and flow. In an annual survey I conduct of fleet managers, they rated fleet safety as their No. 2 concern, right behind the cost of fuel. Why the renewed interest in fleet safety? More and more fleet managers are reporting an uptick in preventable accidents. In addition, fleet managers are feeling pressure from other corporate departments to increase fleet driver safety.

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