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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•January 11, 2005

Revising Upfitting Specs Can Decrease Workers’ Comp Claims

Avoiding potential workers’ compensation claims is becoming a greater factor in fleet upfitting decisions. For example, according to a Zurich Service Corp. study, the average workers’ comp cost for a pushing/pulling injury was $10,175, while the average cost for a lifting/bending incident is $8,989.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•December 21, 2004

New Fleet Applications Emerge Using Wi-Fi Technology

What does Dayton, Ohio, have in common with the cities of Aurora, Colo.; Corpus Christi, Texas; Milpitas, Calif., New Orleans; San Mateo, Calif.; North Miami Beach, Fla.; Oklahoma City and Philadelphia? It will become the latest in a growing number of municipalities that have built or plan to build Wi-Fi networks that will turn their entire city into a wireless hot spot.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•December 13, 2004

Managing Vehicle Depreciation Using a Seasonal Remarketing Strategy

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•November 30, 2004

20 Challenges Facing Public Sector Fleets in 2005

Without a doubt, the job of managing a public sector fleet is more complex today than it was 15 years ago, and the job promises to get tougher in the ensuing years. Here are 20 ongoing or new challenges that public sector fleet managers will face in 2005 and beyond.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•November 23, 2004

15 Challenges Facing Utility Industry Fleet Operations in 2005

The past 10 years have been very tough for energy and utility companies since the advent of deregulation and the growing com-petition in an open marketplace. The change brought on by de-regulation has prompted many utilities to restructure their opera-tions.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•November 4, 2004

It’s Time to Develop a Vehicle Condition Grading Standard

The increasing number of used vehicles sold via the Internet is making it necessary to develop a vehicle condition grading standard in the remarketing industry. Buyers and consignors alike need a way to identify the condition of vehicles sold online in some form of shorthand fashion. This is not a new concept.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•October 27, 2004

Driving and Prescription Drugs Can be a Lethal RX

As a business driver, any time you use an over-the-counter or prescribed medication, you must consider the risk and the effect it might have on your ability to drive. Impairment from alcohol and illegal drugs is a leading cause of vehicle crashes, but impairment can also be caused by many common prescription and over-the-counter medications, reports the National Safety Council, which recently launched a public service campaign to educate Americans about the hazards of drug-impaired driving.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•October 23, 2004

Four Ways to Avoid Overloading

Each year, Automotive Fleet conducts an operating cost survey and a separate fleet maintenance expense survey. And each year, we find that the number one cause of unscheduled truck maintenance expense is overloading. This is a chronic problem for fleets and there are several factors causing it.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•October 13, 2004

How to Increase Fleet Policy Compliance

The best time to control cost is before it occurs and the way to do this is by establishing policies and procedures that inhibit unnecessary spending. However, just because your company implements a written fleet policy, it doesn’t mean it is being followed. How do you in-crease driver compliance with fleet policy? Here are 10 suggestions.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•October 8, 2004

Recruiting Technicians: Be Creative or Be a Victim

Searches to fill open technician positions are becoming more and more lengthy. One fleet that operates an in-house maintenance operation reported that it took six months to find a qualified candidate to fill a single open position. And, the situation seems to be getting worse. Fleet managers say the num-ber of qualified applicants is much fewer than just three years ago.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•October 4, 2004

Interest Rates for Used-Vehicle Financing Almost Double

A new concern about the future resale values of used vehicles has been the sudden increase in retail interest rates to finance used vehicles.

Market Trends•by Mike Antich•September 11, 2004

Fleets Feel the Impact of Increased Vehicle Taxes

States and other governmental jurisdictions are looking for ways to generate more revenue to compensate for lower tax reve-nues. Many have opted to generate new revenues through motor vehicle-related taxes, such as higher vehicle registration fees, additional taxes on tires and batteries, and new environmental fees and surcharges. “These are small taxes with a high cost of admini-stration,” said Jim Fredlund, fleet tax director for GE Commercial Finance, Fleet Services. “I view it as a form of d

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