Fleet Management

July 2010    Volume 31, Number 7

1. Proactive Fleet Safety Programs Reduce Accident
     Expenses, Injuries
 • Developing driver MVR controls
 • CPI for insurance and related items

5. Fleet Industry Notes
 • Mercury’s residual values
 • CR reviews useful mobile apps
 • More auto recalls than usual?
 • Plug-in vehicle workshop online
 • Class 8 truck satisfaction study

8. Fleet Safety Update
 • Stability control reduces fatal crash risk by a third  

9. Alternative Fuel Update
 • Annual fuel cell vehicle sales to reach 670,000 by 2020
 • More than 4.7 million EV charge points to be installed by 2015

10. UCS Explains Environmental Impact of Hybrid Batteries

11. News at a Glance
 • Manheim Index declines
 • Incentives stall
 • Fuel prices down
 • Unsold inventory

12. Two-Vehicle Cost Comparison
           2011 Chevrolet 2500 HD pickup vs.
       2011 Ford F-250 XL pickup

August 2010    Volume 31, Number 8

1. Budget Woes Impacting Vehicle Maintenance, Technician Pay
 • Preventive maintenance management
 • Average PM intervals
 • Weekly salary paid to mechanics
 • Vehicle-to-mechanic ratios
 • Fleet maintenance cost-per-mile

5. Fleet Industry Notes
 • Manheim Index declined in July
 • Thieves target pickups, luxury models
 • KBB ranks top 5 auto brands
 • Top cop killer: crashes

7. Fleet Safety Update
 • Cellphone and texting bans impact fleet liability
 • Use of non-conforming vehicles for school transportation
 • Vehicle recalls and investigations
 • Mandatory onboard HOS recorders

10. Alternative Fuel Update
 • Volt to list at $41,000
 • Hydrogen code inspector training

11. News at a Glance
 • Gas consumption flat
 • Pickup sales jump
 • Gas prices gain five cents
 • Summer vehicle fires

12. Two-Vehicle Cost Comparison
           2011 Chevrolet Malibu LT1 sedan vs.
       2011 Ford Fusion SEL sedan

May 2010   Volume 31, Number 5

1. On Merit and By Default, Imports Gain Among Fleets
 • 21% of corp fleet vehicles are imports
 • Percentage of “Buy American” fleets

2. Tire Prices Heading Up June 1

3. Fleet Industry Notes
 • No-fault spurs fraudulent claims
 • Wholesale used vehicle prices rising
 • Crackdown on staged car crashes
 • New vehicle incentives fall
 • 2010 tire satisfaction study

7. Fleet Safety Update
 • Highway work zone deaths decline
 • Toyota dealers tackle recalls
 • Automakers want cap on safety fines
 • Auto insurance premiums by state

9. Alternative Fuel Update
 • Luxury hybrids downsizing engines
 • State of hydrogen and fuel cells
 • Ford, GM tout flex-fuel leadership
 • Experts question biofuels, diesel

11. News at a Glance
 • Domestic car quality
 • China car sales in U.S.
 • Fords tops with suppliers

12. Two-Vehicle Cost Comparison
         2010 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS vs.
       2010 Mazda CX-7 iSV crossover

June 2010    Volume 31, Number 6

1. Crash Avoidance Technologies
 • Forward collision warning
 • Lane departure warning
 • Side view assist
 • Adaptive headlights

4. Costs, Benefits of Improving Fuel Economy of HD Vehicles

5. Fleet Industry Notes
 • Used-vehicle prices keep climbing
 • Latest vehicle incentives
 • Top-10 EPA-rated fuel sippers
 • Highlights of ALG residual report

7. Fleet Safety Update
 • Safety of low-speed vehicles
 • GM recalls vehicles for fire risk

10. Alternative Fuel Update
 • Nissan, Ford launch EV initiatives
 • Managing used Li-ion batteries
 • Average alternative fuel prices

11. News at a Glance
 • Chrysler recalls
 • Leaf sold out
 • Summer gas prices
 • VW employee fitness

12. Two-Vehicle Cost Comparison
         2011 Toyota Avalon sedan vs.
         2011 Ford Taurus SEL sedan

March 2010   Volume 31, Number 3

1. UA Not Just a Toyota Problem
 • Nearly every automaker affected
 • Cause of UA often difficult to pinpoint

3. Newest Airbags May Be a Risk Specifically to Drivers

6. Fleet Industry Notes
 • New vehicle incentives jump 10%
 • Complaints per carmaker

7. Fleet Safety Update
 • Link to cellphone use in car crashes is vastly underreported
 • High-tech options to curb phone related driver distraction
 • Vehicle recalls and investigations

9. Alternative Fuel Update
 • BEV and plug-in EV market growth
 • Hybrid Scorecard online

11. News at a Glance
 • Small pickup safety
 • Dealer service volume
 • Best all-around vehicles
 • Used car prices up

12. Two-Vehicle Cost Comparison
         2010 Kia Sedona minivan vs.
         2011 Toyota Sienna minivan

April 2010   Volume 31, Number 4

1. Fleet Managers Hold the Line on Vehicle Operating Costs
 • Annual fleetwide increase is 1.84%
 • Light-duty truck costs set new high

3. Fleet Industry Notes
 • DOT, EPA fuel economy standards
 • Imports push incentives skyward
 • Summer fuel price projections
 • Manheim Index hits record high
 • Vehicle dependability improves
 • Average car life now 10.6 years

7. Fleet Safety Update
 • Study debunks driver multitasking
 • GM embraces brake override
 • Latest vehicle recalls
 • Survey: most companies enforce total cellphone ban

9. Alternative Fuel Update
 • Nissan pure-electric LEAF
 • Federal tax credits for qualified EVs
 • Hybrid tax credits nearing end
 • GSA adding more hybrid vehicles
 • Electric vehicle technologies compete

11. News at a Glance
 • Trucker texting rule
 • Ethanol production
 • Toyota image woes

12. Two-Vehicle Cost Comparison
           2010 Infiniti G37 sedan vs.
           2010 Hyundai Genesis sedan

January 2010   Volume 31, Number 1

1. Implementing a Policy to Limit Cellphone Use While Driving
 • NSC step-by-step policy guide
 • Sample written policies
 • Corporate liability
 • Facts about distracted driving

5. Fleet Industry Notes
 • Consumers focus on resale value
 • Vehicle incentives turn lower
 • Ford residuals surge

7. Fleet Safety Update
 • Reducing fetal deaths in car crashes
 • Pedestrians at risk from quiet hybrids
 • U.S. vehicle recalls nearly doubled in 2009

9. Alternative Fuel Update
 • Price will drive PHEV sales levels
 • Fuel economy of ethanol blends
 • UPS hybrid diesel test results
 • Weather may affect Li-ion batteries
 • Taking the long view on gas prices and price volatility

11. News at a Glance
 • EPA ethanol rules
 • Vehicle deaths decline
 • 2009 auto sales tally

12. Two-Vehicle  Cost Comparison
         2010 Ford Ranger XLT pickup vs.
         2010 Chevrolet Colorado LT1 pickup

February 2010    Volume 31, Number 2

1. EV Revolution: Little Help to Fleets
 • Weak economy stifles AFV programs
 • Fleet managers speak out

3. Fleet Industry Notes
 • Used vehicle price trends
 • Poor economy leading to more uninsured motorists
 • Vehicle incentives keep falling
 • Car brand perception survey
 • Compulsory liability insurance

6. Fleet Safety Update
 • How to identify defective Toyota gas pedals
 • DOT bans texting for drivers of buses, large trucks
 • Florida dangerous for pedestrians
 • 28% of crashes linked to cellphones

8. Alternative Fuel Update
 • GHC calculator for HD vehicles
 • Market penetration for EVs, PHEVs
 • Li-ion battery safety and recycling
 • Fleet propane cost calculator

11. News at a Glance
 • 2011 Ford Explorer
 • Chrysler brake recall
 • Toyota recalls hit 8.1 million
 • GM, Ford riding high

12. Two-Vehicle Cost Comparison
         2010 Ford E-250 2WD cargo van vs.
         2010 Chevrolet Express 2500 cargo van

November 2009    Volume 30, Number 11

1. Fleet Vehicle Residual Value and Resale Practices
 • Residual values soar in 2009
 • Auctions, employee sales are tops

3. Fleet Industry Notes
 • Medium-duty truck satisfaction
 • Auto affordability index
 • Texting while driving
 • Carmakers pare unsold inventory

5. Fleet Safety Update
 • Feds push Toyota on floormats, uncontrolled acceleration risk
 • U.S. House testimony: cellphones
 • Avoiding deer-related accidents
 • Volvo fully autonomous braking
 • More Toyota woes: class action

9. Driver Conduct at the Scene of an Accident

10. Alternative Fuel Update
 • U.S. CO2 emissions may drop 5.9%
 • 2010 Fuel Economy Guide online
 • Fuel economy and vehicle speed

11. News at a Glance
 • Li-ion focus on cost
 • Used vehicle market
 • Incentives edge lower

12. Two-Vehicle Cost Comparison
         2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid vs.
         2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid

December 2009    Volume 30, Number 12

1. Fleet Accident Costs and Prevention
 • Vehicle accident cost categories
 • Minimizing crash risk

3. Fleet Industry Notes
 • Vehicle incentives head back up
 • IRS cuts standard mileage rate
 • No-fault auto insurance
 • Enterprise rated tops in satisfaction
 • CR rates large sedans
 • U.S. petroleum product prices
 • Tire manufacturers raise prices
 • Choosing vehicles with lower carbon footprints

7. Fleet Safety Update
 • Toyota gas pedal recall is huge, costly
 • Recall: Toyota Tundra pickups
 • Online tool for senior drivers
 • Median age of cars and trucks is rising

10. Alternative Fuel Update
 • Hybrid market share: 2.8%
 • Toyota debuts plug-in hybrid Prius
 • EPA studies increase in allowable ethanol content

11. News at a Glance
 • Ford to build Li-ion batteries
 • Honda will pass Chrysler
 • Chevrolet Volt launch
 • Michigan brand loyalty

12. Two-Vehicle Cost Comparison
         2010 Chevrolet Malibu LS sedan vs.
         2010 Nissan Altima S sedan

September 2009   Volume 30, Number 9

1. U.S. Biofuel Boom Running on Empty
 • Wall Street Journal examines decline

3. Fleet Industry Notes
 • Auto theft: one every 30 seconds
 • Auto incentives fall for fifth month
 • Most-stolen vehicles list
 • Truck buyer preferences
 • Wholesale prices rise in August
 • Declining oil consumption
 • Insurance company satisfaction jumps

7. Fleet Safety Update
 • Electronics taking over safety
 • Negligent entrustment

9. Alternative Fuel Update
 • Hybrid electrocution risks
 • Hybrid repair shop selection

10. 11 Gas Saving Tips

11. News at a Glance
 • Last California auto plant
 • Ford production boost
 • GM white collar pay

12. Two-Vehicle Cost Comparison
         2010 Cadillac SRX crossover vs.
         2010 Lincoln MKX crossover

October 2009   Volume 30, Number 10

2009 Fleet Manager Salary Survey Results
 • National average fleet manager pay
 • Salary distribution by type of fleet
 • Profile of “typical” fleet manager

7. Fleet Industry Notes
 • Tire rolling resistance concerns: more hype than substance
 • Projected Q4 gas and diesel prices
 • 2009 vehicle insurance premiums

9. Fleet Safety Update
 • Amber turn signals prevent crashes better than red
 • Cell phone prohibitions

10. Alternative Fuel Update
 • Li-ion battery technology slowly approaches mass production

11. News at a Glance
 • Buy American trends
 • Feds to push automakers
 • Used car resale values
 • New vehicle incentives

12. Two-Vehicle Cost Comparison
         2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid vs.
         2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid

July 2009    Volume 30, Number 7

1. Roadside Survey: Alcohol Levels Decline, Drug Use 16%

2. Interlock Laws Now Cover More DUI Offenders

4. Fleet Industry Notes
 • Used car reports flawed
 • Most/ least expensive SUVs and minivans to insure
 • Manheim used vehicle report
 • Q&A: Cash for Clunkers program

9. Fleet Safety Update
 • Traffic fatalities reach record low
 • Vehicle recalls and investigations
 

10. Alternative Fuel Update
 • Bill to expand incentives for natural gas vehicles
 • Motor fuel CO2 emissions

11. News at a Glance
 • Economy affects car color popularity
 • UAW weakness
 • Higher diesel prices
 • CAFE spurs innovation

12. Two-Vehicle Cost Comparison
         2010 Ford Edge SEL vs.
         2010 GMC Terrain SLE

August 2009    Volume 30, Number 8

1. Fleet Mechanic Pay Falls 1.6%, Workload Jumps 6.9%
 • Weekly salary paid to mechanics
 • Fleets with in-house repair shops
 • Vehicle-to-mechanic ratios
 • Preventive maintenance intervals

3. Fleet Industry Notes
 • Vehicle repair costs: new car dealers vs. independent shops
 • Drivers feel less safe
 • 2009 tire shipments plummet
 • Used car prices soar, but could collapse after cash-for-clunkers
 • New vehicle incentives tighten
 • 2009-2010 infrastructure spending

7. Fleet Safety Update
 • Bumpers on 4 of 6 midsize sedans improve; none rate good
 • Study tracks prescription drug use among senior drivers
 • New braking rules for large trucks

10. Alternative Fuel Update
 • Toyota advanced fuel cell hybrid vehicle field evaluation
 • AAA objects to E15 gasoline

11. News at a Glance
 • Fuel cell research
 • Chrysler residual values
 • Petroleum CO2 emissions

12. Two-Vehicle Cost Comparison
         2010 Ford F-150 XL 2WD pickup vs.
         2010 Toyota Tundra 2WD pickup