Fleet Financials - Current Articles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Lauren Fletcher

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

Tags: C300, executive fleets, Mercedes-Benz

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Lisajoyce Vergara

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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