GM Fleet will offer commercial, government, and rental fleets substantial discounts on replacement parts under a new program unveiled at NTEA's The Work Truck Show in Indianapolis.
Police have seen a spike in thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles in recent years, especially in California, according to a new video report based on data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
When procuring replacement parts for their vehicles, more than two-thirds of commercial fleet managers surveyed by Automotive Fleet don't mandate factory parts and nearly three of four didn't identify a preferred brand.
Recently, I conducted a survey of several hundred fleet managers to identify emerging industry trends. One recurrent theme expressed by fleet managers was the concern that fleet costs are starting to experience upward pricing pressures. Here's what they told me.
AutoZone has reshaped the structure of its fleet by establishing a more varied asset portfolio and new policies.
Accident costs saw a modest increase in 2014 vs. 2013 figures, with the percentage of preventable accidents remaining mostly flat, according to Element Fleet Management, The CEI Group, Corporate Claims Management (CCM), and Fleet Response.
Vehicle quality continues to improve and extended powertrain warranties have covered some expensive repairs, which occur at higher mileage. Although quality has increased, vehicles are becoming more complex, especially with the proliferation of new onboard technologies. In this context, what follows are the top 15 maintenance trends for passenger cars that are facing commercial fleet managers in 2013 and beyond.
The price of parts is expected to rise as raw materials and manufacturing costs increase. There will continue to be ongoing upward pressure on replacement tire prices, particularly for commercial trucks. Oil drain intervals will continue to be extended, especially as OEMs migrate to the GF-5 motor oil standard, which provides better wear protection. However, two-thirds of all fleet maintenance expenses continue to be PM-related, which requires relentless monitoring of driver PM compliance.