By John Wolford, CEI associate director of network services and loss recovery

If you notice that your collision repair bills seem to spike in December, you’re not alone.

Mitchell International, a company that monitors the collision repair industry, reports that the average cost of repairs that include parts reaches a peak every December.

Mitchell published the report in the latest edition of its quarterly Industry Trends Report (Vol. 15, No. 4). Looking at recent history for all accident repairs (not just fleet jobs), it found that at the beginning of every winter “the number of parts on the average increases, usually by 1.5 parts per estimate, and total parts spend typically increases by more than $100.”

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By Reinier Willems, International Marketing Director, LeasePlan International

The day-to-day basics of managing hundreds, or even thousands, of vehicles and drivers are very demanding. That can mean opportunities for adding value are frequently overlooked, either because they’re not noticed, or because there simply isn’t enough time in the day to even consider them.

But what if you could easily access real fleet and market insights – to take the guesswork out of managing a global fleet and start really improving your operations?

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By Mike Cieri, MSIR, Vice President of Mardac Consultants

Coaching is all about encouraging, and challenging others to perform at their best. It is as simple as noticing how an employee is performing and then letting them know you noticed. It is about letting people know that, “What they do Matters.”

Coaching is a means rather than an end in itself. A coachee’s performance and development do not automatically happen in positive ways because coaching is taking place. It takes time, patience and consistency. The end result will increase employee’s performance, accountability, & dedication.

The key is knowing the people you work with and knowing the best way of presenting them with rewards and challenges.

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World Industrial Reporter

WayRay, a Swiss startup company, has unveiled the WayRay Navion, an augmented reality system which projects holographic navigation imagery and notifications onto the windshield of a car.

WayRay Navion comprises of the WayRay Element, a smart tracker which can be plugged onto the diagnostics port of a car for scrutinizing driver performance, safety and fuel efficiency. WayRay and Orange Business Services, a B2B global IT solutions and telecom operator, will bring the holographic navigation technology to U.S.

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The Detroit Bureau

Ford is the latest in a growing list of automakers adding Apple’s Siri voice valet service to its cars. But unlike some of its competitors, Ford will allow owners of vehicles dating back as far as the 2011 model-year to add the popular feature to their cars.

The move is expected to impact as many as 5 million Ford owners who will simply need to go online, download the update and then plug it into vehicles equipped with Sync and the maker’s MyFord Touch infotainment system.

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Detroit Free Press

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said Friday it has completed a two-year, $40-million project to switch to a new fleet of 179 trucks powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and renovate its truck operations center on Detroit’s east side.

The automaker said it made the switch to CNG compressed natural gas because the fuel is cheaper than diesel fuel and generates fewer emissions.

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Forbes

Now that a good chunk of the nation has gotten its first hard slap of winter weather, we’d bet there are more than a few motorists out there who’ve already grown weary with their vehicles’ inherent slipping and sliding though the snow. And don’t think those residing below the Mason-Dixon line automatically get a pass in this regard.

In fact, all 50 states receive some measure of snow in a typical year, and even those basking in the warmest climates could well encounter the worst Mother Nature has to offer during the course of their holiday travels.

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The New York Times

As United Nations climate conferees meet near here, Eric Feunteun wishes everyone could agree: If the world is going to curb climate change, there is no choice but to stop driving cars that burn fossil fuels.

“If we want affordable, practical and fully green technology,” Mr. Feunteun said in an interview in an office building on the edge of Paris, “the electric vehicle is the answer at this stage.”

For all Mr. Feunteun’s optimism, the delegates to the United Nations climate conference in nearby Le Bourget, France, confront a sobering fact: The number of automobiles on the world’s roads is on pace to double — to more than two billion – by the year 2030. And more likely than not, most of those cars will be burning carbon-emitting gasoline or diesel fuels.

Read the complete article in The New York Times

Ed Pierce, Fleet Industry Marketer

In last month’s column, I concluded that prospective customers do not have time to educate vendors on their businesses. In fact, the once-acceptable “tell me about your business” sales approach is an imposition on busy managers in today’s fast-moving environment.

Instead, prospects want to be engaged in a “rational” discussion characterized by a conversation with an expert possessing insights into their business, competitors and markets. The best way to earn acceptance, possibly even an enthusiastic response, is to recount the business challenges and opportunities similar companies have addressed. Introduce industry benchmark data, survey analyses and anecdotes from other companies that capture those business challenges.

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San Jose Mercury News

New cars that can steer and brake themselves risk lulling people in the driver’s seat into a false sense of security — and even to sleep. One way to keep people alert may be providing distractions that are now illegal.

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