Merck's Fleet Administration and Procurement Associate Director Retires
Scott Lauer retired as associate director, North American Fleet Administration and Procurement for Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. on Aug. 31, following a 29-year career with the company, of which, the past 10 were in fleet.
Scott Lauer retired as associate director, North American Fleet Administration and Procurement for Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. on Aug. 31, following a 29-year career with the company, of which, the past 10 were in fleet.
Since 2009, Lauer managed the fleet program for Merck in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, which, at the time, was comprised of approximately 9,000 vehicles and increased to almost 12,000 units following the company’s later acquisition of Schering Plough. At the time of his retirement, the Merck fleet was comprised of approximately 6,000 vehicles. Prior to being promoted to associate director of North American fleet administration and procurement, Lauer managed U.S. fleet administration for Merck from 2007 to 2009.
Ad Loading...
During his career in fleet, Lauer served on Ford's fleet advisory board, Wheels, Inc.'s sounding board, CEI's advisory board, and, most recently, General Motors' commercial sounding board. Lauer won the 2016 Fleet Visionary award presented by Automotive Fleet and on multiple occasions was a nominee for Automotive Fleet's Fleet Manager of the Year award.
Before moving to fleet management, Lauer was the facilities manager for Merck. He joined Merck in 1988 following an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army where he served from 1985 to 1988 as commander of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Detachment stationed at Ft. Bragg, N.C. “We averaged more than 700 live ordnance missions per year,” said Lauer.
Lauer received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Delaware in 1984.
While retired, Lauer’s future plans include hiking on the Appalachian Trail, cycling, camping, mentoring, and teaching English as a second language.
“I really look forward to spending more quality time with my wife, parents, four children, and three adorable grandchildren,” said Lauer. “I also lead the deacon's board at my church and teach fourth and fifth grade Sunday school.”
AI is no longer a future concept for fleets—it’s already embedded in the tools, data, and decisions that operators rely on every day. In this episode of the Fleet Forward Podcast, recorded live at Fleet Forward, industry leaders take the conversation beyond hype to examine what responsible AI adoption really looks like in fleet operations.
As fleets rethink how they capture, manage, and act on vehicle data, telematics is at a major inflection point. In this episode of the Fleet Forward Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most pressing questions facing fleet leaders today: Should you rely on OEM factory-installed connectivity, aftermarket devices, or a hybrid of both?
Experts from telematics analytics, fleet-as-a-service operations, and national EV benchmarking share how real-time data is reshaping fleet strategy—dispelling assumptions, validating best practices, and exposing costly missteps.
A powerhouse panel featuring experts from the American Automotive Leasing Association, CalSTART, and municipal fleet leadership dives into the realities of navigating shifting emissions rules, regulatory waivers, federal agency actions, the future of the EPA’s endangerment finding, and the push for unified standards. They also examine the impacts of tariffs, autonomous vehicle policy, battery innovation, and the accelerating global EV market.
This episode kicks off with a deep dive into the technologies and market forces reshaping today’s fleet landscape. Host Chris Brown is joined by Laolu Adeola (Leke Services), Tyson Jomini (J.D. Power), and Richard Hall (ZappiRide) to break down real-world data, shifting incentives, and practical strategies fleet leaders can use right now.
In the middle of natural disasters fleet managers must shift priorities to protect people and assets. What policy items should be loosened, and when should the line be held?
In this episode, fleet leaders from municipal, university, and private-sector organizations share a candid EV reality check. From infrastructure setbacks and policy whiplash to grant funding, total cost of ownership, and charging resiliency, this conversation dives into what it actually takes to scale electrification in the real world.
After a decade of lagging compensation, fleet manager pay is climbing. But expanding responsibilities, larger fleets, and growing complexity continue to redefine the role.
