| Video News & Views
PEOPLE & IDEAS TO WATCH | Improving Productivity and Safety of Mobile Professionals | | John Norris, president of AmeriFleet, talks about a new way to hike productivity and improve safety for fleet drivers, today's mobile professionals. |
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June 02, 2011
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| Fleet Trends & Issues |
Opportunities & Successful Fleet Management |
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Negligent Entrustment: Family Use of Company Vehicles Attorney John Cruickshank says allowing family use of a company vehicle can be risky. This is the fourth in a series of articles on the topic of negligent entrustment. By John E. Cruickshank , Attorney at Law, Alaniz & Schraeder, LLP Negligent entrustment is a real risk for fleet owners. It doesn't matter who you put behind the wheel – whether it is your employee or someone else – if they aren't competent to operate the vehicle, if the necessary background checks haven't been done to demonstrate that they are competent to operate that vehicle, or if the insurance that follows them as a driver isn't sufficient to cover the liability, the fleet owner risks significant judgments levied against them which can be, and in fact have been in the past in the millions of dollars. One issue that frequently comes up is family use of a company vehicle. The employee is an authorized user of the family vehicle and he is permitted to take it home. Some companies also permit that employee's family members to use the company vehicle on a limited basis for personal purposes. Family use policies are extremely dangerous. Especially in the case of teenage sons or teenage daughters, these drivers are less sophisticated, less qualified and less trained, and more likely to cause an accident If a company is bound and determined to have a family use policy, to reduce liability it really would need to conduct the same rigorous analysis into the qualifications of that family member to determine competency before they actually allowed that family member to drive a company vehicle.
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| Managing Your Fleet Selector |
OEM & Equipment Manufacturer Products & Services
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2011 Toyota Sequoia The Toyota Sequoia can transport eight people plus some cargo in comfort. Sequoia's interior is designed with generous seats, big armrests, and lots of storage for passengers, plus an optional entertainment system for long trips. A comprehensive combination of electronic safety, stability and traction controls, Toyota's STAR system, is standard on all models, as are eight airbags. Read more.
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2011 Hyundai Tucson The Hyundai Tucson employs the latest technology. A compact crossover SUV, the Tucson is shorter in length but slightly wider than its chief rivals. For 2011, the Hyundai Tucson lineup includes a new value-priced Tucson GL with a smaller, more fuel-efficient 2.0-liter engine and front-wheel drive. The Hyundai Tucson delivers crisp performance and very good fuel efficiency. Read more.
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2011 Mazda CX-7 The Mazda CX-7 is sporty, svelte, and distinctive, while still being functional, roomy, and comfortable, with decent interior space and all the right safety equipment. It's available with a snappy four-cylinder turbo. We find the Mazda CX-7 fun to drive, with excellent high-speed stability and responsive handling. The CX-7 excels in cornering, something Mazdas are known for. Read more.
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| Association News & Views |
Activities, Events & Success Stories |
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NCSFA Virtual Roundtable With the travel restrictions many organizations are facing, this is an excellent opportunity to stay connected to other state and university fleet managers. These one hour discussions are available at no cost to NCSFA members and are only $50 for non-members. The first roundtable discussion will be June 9th and focused on CNG. Chris Hoffman, NCSFA President, will moderate and share his own experiences. Participants can submit questions in advance when they register online, ask questions on the call, or just listen in and see what others are doing in this area. If we have extra time, participants can bring up other issues and also give us topic suggestions for future discussions. - VIRTUAL ROUNDTABLE: CNG
- DATE: Thursday, June 9th
- TIME: 2:00 P.M. CST
You must register online at the NCSFA website to participate! Click here to register for the CNG Virtual Roundtable. Once you have registered, call-in information will be send to your email address.
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Janice Sutton, Editor
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Polls tell us that fleets are especially concerned over high - and volatile - gasoline and diesel prices, but we knew that already. Many people we talked with at NAFA I&E were lamenting the situation and looking for alternative solutions for their fleets. At the same time, we heard a good deal of interest in propane autogas. At NTEA Work Truck Show we talked with Brian Miller, vice president of sales at Ferrellgas, about propane autogas - the most widely used alternative fuel in the world. Read our interview with him in The Fleet Spot; if you have a fleet that lends itself to propane, you definitely want to consider this clean burning fuel. While we're talking about propane, in Fleet Resources, Papers & Expert Advice you will want to read a case study from ROUSH CleanTech on a fleet that has enjoyed considerable savings with the use of propane. Please check out our Fleet Management Weekly Fanpage, become a fan by clicking on the Like button, and follow us on twitter to get the latest Automotive News. Drive safely,
Janice
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Last Minute News
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U.S. Presses to Rein In Web Gadgets in New Cars
As consumers clamor for more tools to help them stay connected to online media on the road, auto makers are coming under fresh pressure to minimize distracting gadgetry in new cars. Read more Top Pre-Owned Model Revealed
Members of the New England Motor Press Association and WheelsTV’s writers and analysts on Tuesday revealed the 2011 WheelsTV POV of the Year - presented annually to one generation of a pre-owned vehicle. Read more
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| Places, Sites, and People for New Ideas
& Applications |
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Home Medical Equipment Provider Finds Propane Autogas Economical and Dependable The Challenge: To provide an economically feasible and environmentally conscious alternative fuel fleet vehicle.Read the case study
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Brian G. Miller
Ferrellgas
Vice President, Sales
Save Money, Save the Air, Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil!
Propane autogas is the most widely used alternative fuel in the world. We asked Brian to tell us more about this cost-effective, environmentally friendly fuel and how U.S. fleets are saving money - and enjoying lower maintenance costs because it burns much cleaner. Just think what U.S. fleets could do to reduce our nation's carbon footprint and lessen our dependence on foreign oil.
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Nicole Ley
AmeriFleet Transportation
Account Consultant
AmeriFleet Transportation announces the appointment of Nicole Ley as Account Consultant. Ley will be based in Minnesota and serve as the Account Consultant on AmeriFleet’s ongoing fleet management company partner GE, based out of Minnesota. Her responsibilities will include serving as the lease company liaison, overseeing accounts and providing support to GE.
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Naveen Agarwal
Pricelock
CEO
Pricelock announced that Naveen Agarwal has been appointed chief executive officer and a member of the Board of Directors. Agarwal has been the company’s chief operating officer since 2009. Agarwal will be leading the expansion of Pricelock’s innovative platform, which empowers small and medium-sized business to take control of their fuel costs in ways previously available only to America ’s largest companies.
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| Managing Your Fleet Trends, Issues & Opportunities |
Chrysler, Feds Launch Test of Plug-in Ram Hybrids
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Chrysler Group delivered the first of 140 plug-in hybrid Ram pickups as part of a three-year demonstration project to test the technology. The automaker said the trucks will provide data on performance over 6.5 million miles of road testing, measuring fuel economy and emissions, thermal management, durability and the impact on a region's electric grid. Test vehicles at a military base will evaluate the ability for the vehicles to provide power back to the electric grid in a reverse power flow.
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Commercial Tires Balance Efficiency, Durability
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Long-haul truckers can specify tires designed for fuel economy, but those tires might have disadvantages in delivery or urban situations. Improved maintenance may save more fuel than giving up other features to gain rolling resistance.
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| Driver Safety Management Practices, Policy, & Training |
Automakers Try to Address Fatigued Driver Problem
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Drivers testing their stamina on the highway can be a deadly practice. Fatigued drivers cause more than 100,000 crashes a year in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, causing roughly 1,550 deaths. Most drivers cannot judge when they are on the verge of slumber or have seriously compromised reaction times. Both automakers and independent electronics companies are applying technology to this problem.
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Zero to Hero: Small Cars Win Top Safety Pick
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As recently as 2006 only three small cars earned a safety award from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Now 22 small vehicles have won the coveted safety award. Six of thirteen recently won Top Safety Pick and more importantly, none received a poor rating. The use of more airbags, stronger steel as well as anti-rollover technology have all contributed to improved ratings.
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| Manufacturer Developments Design, Production, & Services |
Small Cars Have Big Features
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Small, more fuel-efficient cars are hitting dealer showrooms just when consumers are concerned about $4 gas. Unlike the fuel-efficient vehicles of the past, the new vehicles have many features once reserved for luxury cars. Six-speed transmission, rain-activated wipers, rear view camera, heated rear seats, navigation and more are all found on today's fuel-sipping smaller vehicles.
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Honda Odyssey Wins Ultimate Minivan Shootout
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Cars.com says the Honda Odyssey won its first Ultimate Minivan Shootout. The 3-day test included drives by experts as well as a family of five. Among other minivans tested were the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Nissan Quest, VW Routan and Toyota Sienna.
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| Driving Green Initiatives, Actions, & Implementations |
New Fuel Economy Stickers Realistic for 21st Century
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The long-awaited revamped window stickers have been released by the Environmental Protection Agency and Dept. of Transportation, replacing the long-standing MPG standard. With a growing number of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles coming to market, it's offering a more realistic way for consumers to make cost comparisons when shopping.
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EV Owners Happy to Find Solution for 240 Volt Charging
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As early adopters bring home their Nissan Leafs and Chevy Volts and become familiar with charging systems, interest is growing for faster and remotely accessible solutions. Owners and engineers began hacking and testing out their own solutions while EVSEupgrade.com developed its solution, allowing drivers to ditch wall-mounted stations and charge up wherever 240 volt outlets can be found.
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| The Intelligent Vehicle Telematics, Telecommunications, &
Technology |
Telephone Companies Address Driver Distraction, In-Car Apps
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U.S. mobile companies are stepping up efforts to address driver distraction issues before lawmakers ban in-car applications. Some solutions include blocking apps while the car is in motion. Many agree that all parties--including OEM, suppliers and telematics--need to work together.
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Event Data Recorders for All Vehicles
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The U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing "black boxes" Event Data Recorders be placed in all vehicles. This proposal is endorsed by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. Many vehicles already have the devices, but the proposal would standardize the events recorded and the data retrieval process.
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| Fleet Vehicle Remarketing Marketing Strategies, Channels,
& Sales Data |
Dealers Cautious Over Wholesale Purchases
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Black Book's Ricky Beggs says dealers may be cautious about buying wholesale due to uncertainty about the market in 30 to 90 days. Overall, he says, the wholesale market is on the upswing.
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Detroit Automakers Taking Back Part of Small Car Market
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While Japanese competitors have dominated the small car segments for years, Detroit automakers, particularly Ford and GM, have been making strides forward in increased sales with subcompact and compact models. This is happening as the industry recognizes a fundamental shift in consumer preferences during an era of fast-rising gas prices.
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Government Fleet Expo & Conference 2011
San Diego Convention Center, Hall C
San Diego, CA
June 6-8, 2011
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11th Annual Telematics Detroit 2011
The Suburban Collection Showplace
Novi, MI
June 8-9, 2011
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Plug-In 2011 Conference & Expo
Raleigh Convention Center
Raleigh, NC
July 18-21, 2011
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2011 AFLA Conference
Paradise Point
San Diego, CA
September 14-16, 2011
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Hybrid Truck Users Forum National Conference & Expo 2011
Baltimore Convention Center
Baltimore, MD
October 10-13, 2011
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Stats and Smart Charts
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Trade in Values of Some Popular Small Cars – May 2011 Vs. June 2011
[Click to enlarge graphic]
 - Comparing trade-in values from May to June 2011, prices for several popular-selling cars have increased by double-digit percentages
- According to forecasts in June edition of NADA Used Car Guide
- June edition will reflect price increases to help dealers and consumers determine accurate trade-in appraisals
- And assist lenders with loan underwriting during this unique time in the auto industry, said Jonathan Banks, senior analyst
- Trade-in values of small cars, such as Ford Focus, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla, are forecast to rise more than 30% year-over-year in June
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