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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

3 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...

Mike Antich

Former Editor and Associate Publisher

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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 17, 2007

Industrywide, one out of three fleets does not order post-employment motor vehicle record (MVR) checks on employee drivers. When asked why, many fleet managers will tell you privately the reason for not doing so is that they would rather not know. The logic is by not knowing they distance themselves from potential negligent entrustment and negligent retention lawsuits.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•July 9, 2007

Forecast of Commercial Fleet Buying Intentions for 2008-MY

Increasing fuel efficiency and corporate “green” initiatives will be a much greater factor in selector decisions than prior years, according to surveyed fleet managers. However, for most, CPA monies are the deciding factor.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•June 27, 2007

The Catch-22 Paradox of Green Fleet Initiatives

Each month we are in contact with hundreds of fleet managers who manage fleets ranging from fewer than a hundred vehicles to mega-fleets of tens of thousands of units. This link provides us a strong pulse of what’s happening in the marketplace.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•June 18, 2007

The Catch-22 Paradox of Green Fleet Initiatives

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•June 12, 2007

The Cancer of Higher Fuel Prices

Like a cancer, the malignant effects of the high cost of fuel have spread throughout the fleet industry. Many companies have seen fleet fuel expenses double in recent years. Especially hard hit are truck fleets as the cost of diesel has risen at a faster rate than unleaded gas.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•June 4, 2007

Fleets Vulnerable to the Latest Crime Trend: Catalytic Converter Theft

Thieves are targeting fleet vehicles parked overnight in secluded parking lots. Their target? Catalytic converters. The theft of catalytic converters is a growing crime trend happening throughout the country.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•May 29, 2007

European Union Data Privacy Laws Complicate Global Fleet Management

Web-based fleet management offered a vision of centralized global fleet management for multi-national companies. However, current (and possibly future) data privacy laws enacted by the European Union threaten to restrict the extent to which U.S. fleet managers can manage subsidiary fleets in Europe.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•May 22, 2007

European Union Data Privacy Laws Complicate Global Fleet Management

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•May 15, 2007

High Cost of Fuel Rekindles Reimbursement Debate

For most companies, it is less expensive to provide a company vehicle than to administer a driver reimbursement program. Why would a company want to reimburse an employee $600 per month for a vehicle they can operate at $500 per month? However, after attending the annual conference of the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA) last month, I heard that reimbursement is re-emerging as an issue in reaction to the high cost of fuel.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•April 24, 2007

Overloading is the No. 1 Cause of Unscheduled Truck Maintenance

Overloading creates an unsafe vehicle and increases liability exposure. When a vehicle is overloaded, its emergency handling capability is reduced, which can contribute to an accident. For instance, braking distance increases, which can cause drivers to misjudge stopping distances, and tire failure rates are higher because tires run hotter.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•April 17, 2007

Fleets Restrict Driver-Paid Options to Avoid the Expense of Replacing Larger Tires

In March, Goodyear, Bridgestone-Firestone, Continental, and Yokohama, announced they will increase the prices of replacement tires by 4-7 percent. The reason for the price hike is the ongoing increases in the cost of raw materials and manufacturing and transportation costs to move product to tire dealers.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•April 2, 2007

Top Challenges Facing Public Sector Fleet Managers in 2007

These include operating on a fixed budget in the midst of wild fluctuations in fuel prices, uncertainty about reliability of 2007 diesel engines, the dearth of technicians, and the ‘just one more year’ vehicle replacement battle.

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