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Brian Barber
LeasePlan USA
National VP of Client Services
Managing Surplus Vehicles
Today's economic climate has left many fleets with surplus vehicles. Brian tells us how LeasePlan uses multiple analytical tools - and a strategic partnership - to help fleets deal with the problem in the most cost-effective way.
- [Read More] |
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Stu Zalud
NADA Used Car Guide
Director of Dealer Services
Valuing the Used Vehicle
Putting a value on a used vehicle is an art. NADA has partnered with AutoTrader, J.D. Power & Associates, Manheim, and VAuto to develop the AppraisalPRO, which allows a dealer to appraise a car quickly and accurately.
- [Read More] |
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Steve Kirchner
SOMS Technologies
Chief Operating Officer
A New Technology Oil Filter
Steve tells us about a new technology oil filter that helps fleets reduce their cost of oil maintenance and helps preserve our environment. You'll want to read the interview to find out how you can drive 24,000 miles before changing oil.
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Stats and Smart Charts
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Average Trade-In Mileage & Unemployment Rates – Jan 2008 to June 2009
[Click to enlarge graphic]
 - Edmunds.com tracked correlation between trade-ins and unemployment
- Trade-in mileage increasing closely to unemployment rate
- Consumers preparing to buy cars but not closing deals
- Average mileage of trade-ins increased much in past 18 months
- Up 8% from year ago and 15% since January 2008
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Industry Events
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Plug-In 2009 Conference & Exposition
Long Beach Convention Center
Long Beach, CA, USA
August 10, 2009
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International Automotive Remarketers Alliance
Fairmont Hotel
Chicago, IL
August 18-19, 2009
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AFLA 2009 Annual Meeting & Conference
Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa
Phoenix, AZ
September 9-11, 2009
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National Conference State Fleet Administrators
Hilton Indian Lakes Resort
Chicago, IL
September 27, 2009
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National Auto Auction Association
San Francisco Marriott
55 Fourth Street
San Franciso, CA
September 29 - October 2
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NAFA Fleet Management Association
Fleet Management Seminar October 14-16, 2009
Advanced Fleet Management Seminar October 16-18, 2009
Marriott Detroit at the Renaissance Center
Detroit, MI
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Fleet People Going Places
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David G. Dahm
LeasePlan USA
Chief Financial Officer
LeasePlan USA announced that David G. Dahm, current chief operating officer (COO), will be taking on the role of chief financial officer (CFO), effective immediately. The CFO position is one that Dave held for nine years with LeasePlan USA prior to becoming CEO in 2000. "His experience as a former CFO, our CEO, and COO will provide him with a solid foundation to lead our financial efforts once again," said Mike Pitcher, president and CEO.
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Maryann Goebel
FIserv, Inc.
Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer
Fiserv, Inc. has named Maryann Goebel as Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Goebel joins Fiserv with more than 30 years of progressive technology experience, which includes 15 years as a senior technology officer for some of the world's leading companies. Since 2006, she has served as EVP and CIO for DHL Express in Bonn, Germany, where she managed an organization of 1,500 employees with responsibility for service delivery in more than 200 countries.
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| Managing Your FleetTrends, Issues & Opportunities |
Texting While Driving Makes Crash Much More Likely
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An 18-month video study of 100 trucks proved texting while driving is the biggest distraction, making a crash 23 times more likely. On average, drivers looked at the device and away from the road for almost five-seconds at a time.
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Battery-Electric Trucks Built in U.S. Delivered to Fleets
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Smith Newton is a battery-electric vehicle with 100+ mile range on a charge which can travel at 50 mph and carry a payload of 16,000+ lbs. The first U.S. built units have been delivered to two utility and four local delivery fleets for fixed route use.
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| Manufacturer DevelopmentsDesign, Production, & Services |
New Taurus to Help Ford Maintain Momentum
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As Ford prepares to launch the 2010 model year Taurus, the automaker is riding a bit of a wave of momentum. At the expense of damaged competitors, GM and Chrysler, Ford has gained market share and reported a profit in the second quarter. Ford hopes to keep moving forward with the launch of their flagship model, the Taurus.
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Auto Execs Love Cash for Clunkers, But What’s Next?
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July sales, pumped by the CARS program, are just 12% short of a year ago. It can’t last forever, but this shot in the arm proves consumer confidence and interest is high enough to add a new car to the "to do" list for many Americans. It further shows that as the economy rebounds, so will the auto industry.
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| Driving Green Initiatives, Actions, & Implementations |
Fuel Prices Affect Hybrid Payback
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When petroleum-based fuel was priced above $4 a gallon, hybrids were flying off dealers' lots. This summer, however, gas prices are down and consumers are rethinking the hybrid payback equation. Surprisingly, diesels are the winner when all powertrain systems are considered.
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AT&T Fleet Vehicles to be Converted to Natural Gas
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BAF Technologies will convert 8,000 AT&T fleet vehicles to natural gas over the next five years. All totaled, AT&T will convert 15,000 vehicles to have the largest corporate alternative-fuel fleet in the nation. BAF will hire additional workers and expand its facilities to manage the extra work. The company will have the capacity to convert up to 1,800 vehicle per year.
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| The Intelligent Vehicle Telematics, Telecommunications, &
Technology |
Nissan 'Safety Shield' Keeps Vehicles Away from Unavoidable Crash
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"Navigation-cooperative intelligent pedal" and "active stability assist" systems debuting on the 2010 Nissan Fuga car in Japan keep drivers out of trouble navigating curves. They are part of Nissan's effort to use electronic systems in cooperative mode to prevent unsafe situations rather than just protect occupants when a crash occurs.
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2010 Taurus Gets Hi-Tech Campaign to Match Car
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Ford is advertising the 2010 Ford Taurus which offers high quality and innovative technology on par with much more expensive luxury cars in the same segment. Smart tag ads and Webisodes highlight the features in the debut campaign.
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| Driver Safety Management Practices, Policy, & Training |
Unsafe Truck, Bus Companies Operating Under Other Names
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Truck and bus companies are cited and sometimes closed for unsafe practices, but over 500 are still operating with different company names but the same owners, vehicles and drivers. GAO and Congress have the FMCSA scrambling to improve identification of these violators.
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Some States Outlawing Camera Traffic Enforcement
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Montana, Mississippi and Maine have already stopped use of camera enforcement this year and Ohio is considering a bill to join them. Advocates say cameras promote safety, but multiple studies show accident rates go up where they are used.
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| Fleet Vehicle Remarketing Marketing Strategies, Channels,
& Sales Data |
Leasing May Make a Comeback at GM
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A year ago residual values began to tumble and credit markets froze, causing auto lenders to tighten restrictions on vehicle loans. Sales plummeted. One of the causalities of this situation was auto leasing. GMAC got out of the leasing business in a hurry, but now it appears that GMAC will expand its lease portfolio once again.
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Ford’s July Sales Encourage Industry Analysts
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July sales saw a tremendous boost from the "Cash for Clunkers" program, with Ford recording a 2.2% gain over June with 158,354 units sold. Subaru recorded a 34% gain in July sales. Toyota and Honda both saw sales declines but not as steep as in previous months.
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