Fleet Financials - Current Articles

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February 2010, Fleet Financials - Feature

Top 50 Commercial, Private Utility & Public Sector Hybrid Fleets

By Lauren Fletcher

Representing 19,189 hybrid vehicles on the road today, the top 50 hybrid fleets collectively have increased by 3,300 total units since 2008, as of Dec. 14, 2009.

January 2010, Fleet Financials - Cover Story

LKQ Lean Fleet & Telematics Boost Productivity & Cut Costs

By Cheryl Knight

LKQ Corporation keeps fleet operations lean and uses telematics to increase daily fleet delivery stops, dramatically reduce overtime costs, improve driver safety, and trim fuel costs.

Tags: LKG, Telematics

January 2010, Fleet Financials - Feature

Toshiba America Medical Systems Expands Hybrid Fleet

By Chad Simon

Since implementing Toyota Camry Hybrids in 2007, Toshiba America Medical Systems’ fleet has burned 117,000 fewer gallons of gasoline, saving approximately $352,000, based on average mpg, and reduced CO2 emissions by 2.1 million lbs.

Tags: Dodge Grand Caravan, Green, Toshiba, Toyota Camry Hybrid

January 2010, Fleet Financials - Feature

How to Audit Fleet Fuel Invoices

By Glen Sokolis

Auditing fuel purchase invoices takes time and access to industry pricing data, but such scrutiny can avoid overcharges and duplicate transactions.

Tags: audit, fuel

January 2010, Fleet Financials - Feature

Depreciation Up in Most Vehicle Segments

By Lauren Fletcher

According to industry analysts, most vehicle segments increased in vehicle depreciation in 2009 due to such factors as extended replacement cycling, shifts in the wholesale vehicle market, and higher capitalized vehicle costs.

Tags: depreciation, GE Capital Fleet Services, LeasePlan, PHH Arval, resale market

January 2010, Fleet Financials - Feature

What Do Fleet Managers Dislike Most About the Job?

By Staff

It's a challenging, interesting, and even fun career, involving cars and trucks, plenty of human contact, and a place for creativity. But, some things about the job drive fleet managers crazy.

Tags: fleet managers, surveys

January 2010, Fleet Financials - Feature

Frito-Lay’s Million-Milers Program Helps Reduce Collisions

By Thi Dao

One element of Frito-Lay’s safety program recognizes over-the-road drivers with clean records, and a growing number of drivers are hitting the 1-, 2-, and 3-million mile mark accident-free.

Tags: Frito-Lay, Million-Milers program

January 2010, Fleet Financials - Feature

Become a More Strategic, Less Operational, Fleet Manager

By Staff

Ringing phones, pages of e-mails, one crisis after another. It’s easy to see how a fleet manager can get bogged down in day-to-day detail. Here are some tips on how to become more strategic-planning and forward-thinking.

Tags: planning, strategic thinking

November 2009, Fleet Financials - Cover Story

Abbott Maximizes Fleet, Minimizes Costs & Increases Driver Productivity

By Cheryl Knight

Through its GreenFleet Initiative, Abbott improved its average domestic vehicle fuel efficiency by nearly 20 percent compared to 2006 and reduced gasoline consumption by more than 600,000 gallons per year.

Tags: cost savings, fuel, Green

November 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Defining ‘Green’ Metrics

By Jason Mathers

Leading fleets track progress of green initiatives by measuring greenhouse gas emissions. A complete accounting of fleet emissions must include tracking CO2, methane, nitrogen oxide, and refrigerants.

Tags: GHG, Green, green initiatives

November 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

3 Steps to Developing & Controlling a Fleet Budget

By Mike Antich

This article explains how to prepare a fleet budget in three easy steps. Step one, develop cost assumptions. Next, determine line item expenses. Finally, correct the variances between budgeted and actual costs.

Tags: budget planning, budgets

November 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Imagining the Future of Telematics

By Lauren Fletcher

From simple routing and vehicle tracking to preventive and predictive maintenance, telematics experts share their thoughts on where the future of telematics is headed.

Tags: Telematics

November 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Why Leasing Makes Good Financial Sense for Fleet

By Gary Scanlon

While owning vehicles offers some advantages, leasing vehicles can provide cash flow benefits, reduce administrative headaches, and make available a variety of fleet management tools.

Tags: benefits, Leasing, Maintenance

November 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport & Luxury Boast New Features

By Lauren Fletcher

Featuring four models, the 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 brings sportiness and luxury to executive fleets.

Tags: C300, executive fleets, Mercedes-Benz

September 2009, Fleet Financials - Cover Story

Nestle Bolsters Fleet Value by Improving Processes and Leveraging Size

By Cheryl Knight

Leading nutrition, health, and wellness company Nestlé saved more than 300,000 gallons of fuel, reduced emissions by more than 15 percent, and produced an annual savings of $1.2 million.

Tags: cost-saving initiatives, Green, Nestle, reduced emissions

September 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Does LIBOR Still Correlate to Corporate Borrowing?

By Mike Antich

Since the early 1990s, LIBOR has been used as a fleet lease funding index. However, recent financial market turmoil prompted governments to “backstop” bank borrowing, which caused LIBOR to no longer correlate to fleet lessor costs.

Tags: funding, LeasePlan USA, leases, LIBOR

September 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Telematics: No Longer Just a Dot on a Map

By Lauren Fletcher

Telematics solutions have come a long way since the beginning days of simple vehicle tracking. With a multitude of capabilities, such as remote vehicle diagnostics and routing/driver productivity tools, finding the right solution can be a daunting task.

Tags: GEOTAB, Networkfleet Inc., ROI, Telematics

September 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

How CPS Centralized its Fleet Management Data

By Cindy Brauer

Once hampered by a legacy, DOS-based data system, Crop Production Services' fleet operations improved efficiency and productivity with an advanced enterprise system providing seamless multiple data stream integration.

Tags: CPS, Crop Production Services, DOS-based data system, FleetWave

September 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

5 Tips to Avoid an EEOC Harassment Investigation

By Richard Alaniz

Every employee harassment claim must be handled properly or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) may be called in to investigate. As part of company management, fleet managers must also be aware of the issue and how to handle complaints.

Tags: complaints, EEOC, harassment

July 2009, Fleet Financials - Cover Story

AT&T Fleet Connects to the Right Solutions

By Cheryl Knight

Right-sizing vehicles, utilizing technology, and employing an alternative-fuel vehicle fleet, where appropriate, allows AT&T’s Fleet Operations to cost effectively manage its fleet of more than 85,000 vehicles.

Tags: alt-fuel, AT&T, CNG

July 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

'Training' the Boss: Dealing with Organizational Change

By Staff

It is no longer unusual for a fleet manager to see the fleet function move from one area of the company to another, and each organizational shift brings a new boss with different priorities. Here's how to deal with such changes.

Tags: cost, revenue, training

July 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

10 Ways to Elevate Your Fleet Management Skills

By Staff

Fleet management requires a skill set that is a unique combination of technical, communications, and personal qualities and experience. Here are 10 ways to elevate those skills to the next level.

Tags: communicatiion skills, fleet management, negotiation skills, technology skills

July 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Fiduciary Duty: ‘Dancing with the One that Brought You’

By Richard Alaniz

Every employee owes his or her employer a fiduciary duty, a level of responsibility and obligation to promote the company’s well-being and long-term success.

Tags: fiduciary duty

July 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

How to Get Optimum Performance from Fleet Suppliers

By Staff

Whether dealing with one fleet supplier or several, a fleet manager's actions are directly impacted by supplier performance. Here are some tips on how to get the best in products and service.

Tags: Accident Management, fleet suppliers, leasing programs, Maintenance, service

May 2009, Fleet Financials - Cover Story

Fleet Executive Helps Streamline Uniform and Career Apparel Fleet

By Cheryl Knight

Satish Natarajan, senior director of Fleet Operations for ARAMARK Uniform and Career Apparel, is Fleet Financials’ 2009 Fleet Executive of the Year. Natarajan’s leadership helped his company better leverage people, processes, and technology.

Tags: Aramark, Award, Fleet Executive of the Year, reorganization

May 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Fleet Executives & Managers Partner to Control Costs and Productivity

Wayne Smolda (right), CEO of The CEI Group, presents the 2009 Fleet Executive of the Year trophy to Satish Natarajan, senior director of fleet operations for ARAMARK Uniform and Office Apparel. CEI is a sponsor of the annual award, this year presented April 26 at the NAFA I&E in New Orleans.

By Cheryl Knight

According to Wayne Smolda of The CEI Group, fleet executives continue to help mentor and guide fleet managers, promoting policy streamlining and strategic initiatives.

Tags: Aramark, Award, cost-cutting, Fleet Executive of the Year, The CEI Group, Wayne Smolda

May 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Evaluating RFPs: Choosing the Best Supplier

By Staff

Effective use of a formal request for proposal (RFP) can help fleet managers ensure they’ll select the best supplier. The process begins before the RFP is even sent out.

Tags: fleet management, procurement, RFP, strategic sourcing

May 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

7 Questions to Ask Before Issuing an RFP

By Staff

Going out to bid for fleet services isn’t an end unto itself; nor is it a process to just “see what’s out there.” Don’t waste your or a supplier’s time. Ask these key questions before sending out an RFP.

Tags: bids, fleet management, fleet supplier, procurement, RFP

May 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

5 Common Mistakes in Negotiating a Fleet Lease Agreement

By Staff

Fleet managers are wise to read the entire lease agreement and familiarize themselves with the terms and conditions under which they will be doing business. For it is the business side that impacts the fleet manager most.

Tags: Lease Agreement, lessee, lessor, open-end lease, open-end TRAC lease, strategies

May 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Fleet Management: Stepping Stone to Career Advancement

By Staff

Few management positions are better suited to moving up the career ladder. Fleet management contains all the key elements of responsibility and experience the company looks for in an up-and-coming manager.

Tags: career advancement, career building, executive level, fleet management, senior management, strategies

May 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

2009 Volvo XC90 Offers Exec-Level Features

By Grace Lauron

Staying true to the Volvo brand’s reputation, the XC90 provides safety, durability, and functionality in a comfortable, refined package.

Tags: 2009-MY, vehicle review, Volvo, Volvo XC90

April 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Volvo Introduces All-New S80 Sedan

VOLVO S80

By Lisajoyce Vergara

The 2009 S80 luxury sedan offers safety, style, and performance.

Tags: 2009-MY, AWD, FWD, performance, style, Volvo S80

April 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Breaking the News: How to Give Management Bad News

By Staff

It is likely the one scenario fleet managers dread most: there is bad news, and management needs to know. Are there ways to soften the blow? Being the bearer of bad news isn’t fun, but it’s a part of doing business.

Tags: bad news, dilemma, problem-solving, senior management

April 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Fixed or Floating: Which Lease Funding is Best?

By Staff

Lease rate funding instruments have become more and more complex. Most lessors recommend floating rate fleet leases. Is there a place for fixed financing any more?

Tags: credit meltdown, fleet lease rate, funding source, LIBOR, resale, self-funded leasing

April 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

From Green to Greenbacks

By Staff

Developing and implementing successful green fleet initiatives provides more than a good corporate image. The real value can be in saving the kind of “green” that fills the corporate pocketbook.

Tags: corporate image, Green, green efforts, green initiatives

April 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

How to Manage Incidental Employee Drivers

By Staff

Not all employees who drive on company business are assigned company vehicles. Many drive only occasionally on business-related functions. Here are some tips on managing and controlling incidental drivers.

Tags: assigned vehicles, company vehicles, incidental drivers, MVR, personal vehicle, vehicle assignments, vehicle pool

April 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Self-Funded Leases: An Option in Tight Credit Markets

By Staff

The fleet industry has been hit hard by the credit meltdown. At one time, some lessors were refusing to fund new orders. Fleets are scrambling to find alternatives; one may be to self-fund the leases.

Tags: credit markets, self-funded leasing, self-funding

April 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

5 Nominees Compete for 2009 Fleet Executive of the Year

By Staff

An exceptional field of fleet executives vies for the 2009 Fleet Executive of the Year Award. This year’s award will be presented April 26 at the NAFA Institute & Expo in New Orleans.

Tags: 2009 Fleet Executive of the Year, finalists, fleet executives

March 2009, Fleet Financials - Cover Story

Motorists Streamlines Fleet Processes While Cutting Costs

Lisa Price, Office Services Supervisor; Michael Lisi, Assistant Vice President, Office Services; and Karen Macioce, Office Services Technical Clerk.

By Cheryl Knight

The Motorists Insurance Group pays attention to the smallest details to maximize its fleet results, allowing the companies’ fleet team to keep service high, minimize costs, and elevate driver productivity.

Tags: cost-cutting, employee sales programs, fleet operations, Motorists Insurance Group, strategies, streamlining processes

January 2009, Fleet Financials - Cover Story

Parsons Restructures with Economic-Focused 'Smart' Decision Approach

By Cheryl Knight

Implementing tighter centralized procurement controls, buyer accountability, and cradle-to-grave management of the procurement function has yielded significant savings in a short period of time at Parsons.

Tags: construction industry, cost-effective strategies, fleet savings, Parsons Corp.

January 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

How to Make Yourself Indispensable

By Staff

Fleet management continues to be at risk when corporate cost-cutters roam the halls. Here are some ways fleet managers can make themselves as close to indispensable to the company as possible.

Tags: cost-cutting, fleet management, relationship-building, strategies

January 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Should Spouses be Allowed to Drive Fleet Vehicles?

By Staff

In fleets that allow personal use of company vehicles, the privilege is often extended to spouses as well. Are there downsides to allowing spouses — or other family members — personal use privileges?

Tags: company vehicles, fleet budgets, fleet vehicles, mileage, personal use

January 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Say 'No' to Senior Management without Getting Fired

By Staff

When it comes to cars and trucks, everyone believes they’re experts, especially senior managers. Saying “no” to a senior ­executive’s "brilliant" idea is a challenge. Preparation, information, and solid communication skills can help.

Tags: disputes, fleet management, senior management

January 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Executive Privilege: Dealing with Customizing Requests

By Staff

It takes talent and hard work to move up to the executive suite. Does that mean fleet managers must acquiesce to ­executive requests to customize a company vehicle?

Tags: executive vehicles, fleet policy, staff recruitment, vehicle assignment, vehicle customization

January 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

How Vehicle Signage Can Boost the Bottom Line

By Lynn Tilton

Studies show that vehicle signage can generate impressions at a cost-per-thousand that’s far less than other forms of promoting your company. But with a scant 1.5 seconds for drivers to take in the message, effective sign design is key.

Tags: advertising, bottom line, company promotion, vehicle signage

January 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

Vehicle Quality is Up, but So is Cost Per Repair

By Mike Antich

Vehicle quality has improved dramatically, with fleets experiencing a decline in the frequency of vehicle repairs. However, the average cost of repairs has been increasing.

Tags: compliance requirements, fleet maintenance, nonwarranty fleet maintenance, rising costs, vehicle complexity

January 2009, Fleet Financials - Feature

The Future of In-Car Communications

By Chris Brown

“Find me the nearest hardware store that sells Western Red Cedar shingles at the lowest price. Then direct me there.” Talking to your car using telematics, Wi-Fi, and mobile computing promise to revolutionize productivity in the vehicle.

Tags: GPS, Technology, Telematics, wireless telecommunications

November 2008, Fleet Financials - Feature

Real-World Ways to Handle Problem Executives

PHOTO CREDIT: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/KONSTANTINOS KOKKINIS

By Staff

Executives egos can often lead to bullying and unprofessional behavior that makes a fleet manager’s life difficult. Here are some ways to deal with troublesome ­executives.

Tags: bullying, executive egos, problem executives

November 2008, Fleet Financials - Feature

Do You Have a Clear Mission for Your Fleet?

PHOTO CREDIT: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/KUTAY TANIR

By Staff

A fleet’s mission is often said to be a reflection of the daily, monthly, and annual decisions made by the fleet manager. What are these decisions, and how does the mission shape them?

Tags: company vehicles, decisions, mission

November 2008, Fleet Financials - Feature

How to Get Maximum Value from Salespeople

PHOTO CREDIT: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/JACOB WACKERHAUSEN

By Staff

It has been said in business, “Nothing happens until someone sells something.” Fleet managers have regular contact with sales personnel; here’s how to get maximum value from these meetings.

Tags: maximum value, sales contacts, salespeople

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Ed Bobit
Puzzling Thoughts On Compensation vs. Education

By Ed Bobit
While I'm a distance from being called an academic, I've always felt that education is the road to professionalism; and that professionalism leads to increased compensation. There are many variables, but my recent re-review of the salary surveys that we conduct raises some interesting questions.

Comparing the CFO With the Fleet Manager

By Ed Bobit

Market Trends

Mike Antich
Fleets Reassess Amortization Rates

By Mike Antich
In the commercial fleet industry, the most common amortization rate used for establishing a depreciation reserve is 50 months. Recently, some major fleets extended amortization rates on new-vehicle orders.

Maintenance Costs Up Due to Frequency of Repair Increases

By Mike Antich

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Fleet Financials - September/October 2009

In This Issue:
Here are some of the Highlights

  • Nestle´ Bolsters Fleet Value by Improving Processes and Leveraging Size
  • Does LIBOR Still Correlate to Corporate Borrowing?
  • Telematics: No longer Just a Dot on a Map
    And much more…