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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•July 3, 2008

Accident Management Costs Trend Upward

On average, 20 percent of fleet vehicles are involved in accidents each year. Although this percentage has remained steady from 2005-2007, the cost of repairing these vehicles is rising.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•June 30, 2008

Increased Fleet Demand for 4-Cylinder Engines

There is a growing belief among fleet managers that today’s high fuel prices are not a temporary phenomenon, but a new reality. Almost everyone is looking for ways to downsize vehicles (where possible) or opt to four-cylinder engines as part of either a corporate sustainability initiative or fuel spend / GHG reduction program.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•June 10, 2008

The Dangers of Policy Exceptions

It is these procedures and regulations that determine the types of fleet each of us operates and its characteristics. Think about it. By creating policy such as to who is eligible for a company vehicle, you are, in effect, determining the size of your fleet. In my discussions with fleet management companies over the years, they tell me that the best managed fleets tend to be those that adhere to a written fleet policy.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•May 30, 2008

10 Milestones That Changed Fleet Management

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, businesses started to migrate from salesmen reimbursement to company-owned fleets. Since then, 10 milestones have dramatically changed the nature of fleet.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•May 23, 2008

Pros & Cons of TPMS for Class 3-8 Truck Tires

The U.S. Department of Transportation is expected to release its revised medium-truck tire standard (FMVSS No. 119) during the second half of the year. However, it is anticipated that it won’t contain a provision calling for the use of a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) for Class 3-8 commercial trucks. TPMS is an electronic system that monitors the air pressure inside pneumatic tires. Should TPMS be mandated for commercial trucks over 10,000 lbs.? Here are three reasons supporting this.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•May 19, 2008

High Fuel Costs Take Fleet into Uncharted Water

After 8,000 hours of research, more than 11,000 facts pertinent to the fleet industry have been collected for this year’s Automotive Fleet Fact Book. Within this wealth of data, one overriding fact stands out with klieg-light intensity – the impact of the high cost of fuel.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•May 2, 2008

Avoid the Complacency of Running a Well-Managed Fleet

Complacency. It is defined as self-satisfaction, especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies. Is this you? Complacency is a real danger to fleet operations, especially well-run fleets.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•April 21, 2008

Subprime Crisis Metastasizes to Fleet Resale Market

An average end-of-service fleet sedan is three years old with 60,000-plus miles. The resale market for these used vehicles encompasses diverse demographics. However, in most cases, the dealers who buy fleet vehicles at auction will ultimately resell them to someone of limited financial means. In many cases, these buyers have less than stellar credit and may only qualify for a subprime auto loan. Since the onset of the subprime crisis, loan approvals for these customers are more difficult.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•April 14, 2008

Reduce Fuel Spend by Modifying Truck Specs

For the first time ever, the price of diesel in many regions of the country exceeds $4 a gallon. Since Jan. 1, diesel prices have risen more than 19 percent. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) predicts that truck fleets will spend more than $135 billion on fuel in 2008. This compares to $112 billion in 2007.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•April 7, 2008

Medium-Duty Truck Operating Costs Increase (Again)

The key reason for the increase was the cost of fuel, in particular, diesel fuel. This has also led to price increases for other oil-based products such as tires, which increased 4-7 percent in the past year. Other PM costs remained flat.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•April 1, 2008

Think Like a Used-Car Sales Manager

When resale prices soften, there is a pendulum-like resurgence in marketing used vehicles to employees. On the other hand, when the resale market is strong, fleets are complacent about employee sales (waiting for buyers come to them) and do not aggressively market the program to new buyers. The national average of vehicles sold to employees is 23 percent. However, by aggressively marketing employee sales, many fleets could sell as much as 50 percent of their vehicles in-house.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•March 17, 2008

Loss of Control is Reimbursement’s Fatal Flaw

Score one for our side! Recently, a Fortune 100 company gave (very) serious consideration to eliminating its company-provided vehicle fleet program and switching to driver reimbursement. Initially driving this initiative was senior management’s desire to cut cost by removing the vehicle assets from the books. The option to move to an operating lease was not viable since it violated the company’s accounting policies set by finance.

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