| Video News & Views
PEOPLE & IDEAS TO WATCH | What's Next? | | Helping the PHH client dramatically improve the efficiency of their fleet takes an enormous investment in technology |
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July 29, 2010
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| Fleet Trends & Issues |
Opportunities & Successful Fleet Management |
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Got 30 Seconds? Corporate Claims Management conducted a corporate sales and marketing meeting at its Ivyland, Pennsylvania corporate offices the week of July 5, 2010. The agenda developed by Robert Martines, CCM President, and Rich Tillotson, Vice President of Sales and Business Development, was focused on the current state of the Fleet industry and the impact of the current economic conditions that all fleet operators must deal with on a daily basis. In an effort to heighten the fleet market’s awareness of CCM products and services and the positive impact that CCM can provide to the customer’s bottom line savings, the CCM sales and marketing team has developed a "Guaranteed Savings" approach to the cost of operating a fleet. It has long been the experience of CCM clients that the utilization of any of the CCM products or services resulted in often substantial cost savings. The CCM team has been challenged with getting that savings message out to the fleet industry in a way that allows companies the ability to calculate those savings and benchmark their current vendor’s efforts. Toward this effort, CCM is announcing a national marketing campaign that will stress the "30 second audit" feature of CCM’s "Guaranteed Savings" approach. The first examples of this campaign can be viewed at a CCM’s web-based landing page: http://corporateclaimsmanagement.com/30secs/ Here, fleet personnel can conduct an audit in the comfort of their office in less than 30 seconds.
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| Managing Your Fleet Selector |
OEM & Equipment Manufacturer
Products & Services |
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2011 GMC Sierra HD The GMC Sierra HD line of heavy duty trucks has been reengineered from the ground up for 2011, with a new frame, new front and rear suspensions, bigger brakes, and a new, more powerful Duramax 6.6-liter turbo diesel. At the same time, a luxurious new Denali model brings premium features and styling to the heavy-duty line. The Sierra Denali HD is a 2500HD Crew Cab with a choice of Vortec 6.0-liter V8 or the Duramax diesel with the latest Allison six-speed automatic. GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickups are well-suited for real-world use and abuse. Read more
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2011 Nissan Juke The 2011 Nissan Juke will be smallest so-called crossover vehicle to date, promising both fun and utility in an economical package. Nissan calls the all-new Juke a sport cross, and it should hit dealerships in the United States by the end of September 2010. The Juke looks something like a sport-utility vehicle, or at least a ruggedly funky wagon, and it will offer up-market features and optional all-wheel drive. Yet the Juke is substantially smaller on
the outside than Nissan's compact Rogue crossover, much less the midsize Murano.
Juke occupies less floor space than some subcompact sedans.Read more
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2011 Toyota Sienna Minivans have always been superior as people movers. They're easier to park and drive than SUVs, have a low step-in height for easy access, plus comfortable seating and cushy ride characteristics. The 2011 Toyota Sienna, now in its fifth generation, has been designed for those reasons since the beginning. But for 2011, as transportation needs change, so does the Sienna. The all-new 2011 Sienna is still very much a transportation solution for moving up to eight people. But it is now more versatile, with more flexible interior configurations, and available in a broader range of models. Read more
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| Association News & Views |
Activities, Events & Success Stories |
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Help Improve Your Business with FREE NTEA Webinar With less than a week left, be sure to register NOW to attend a FREE Webinar open to NTEA members and nonmembers. Hear valuable tips on business diversification and how to grow your market share. Plus, learn how you can use NTEA SMART Online Training to increase your expertise in Sales, Management, Applications and Resources Training. Date: August 3, 2010 Time: 10:00 AM-11:30 AM (EDT)
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Janice Sutton, Editor
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We recently talked with Jack Hanley, executive director of Network of Employers for Traffic Safety , and were so impressed with what that organization is doing to promote traffic safety in the workplace. Since 1996, each year the organization has sponsored a campaign to remind employees about safe driving practices. This year, October 4-8 has been designated "Drive Safely Work Week." The 2010 campaign focuses on the dangers of distracted driving, particularly as related to the use of cell phones and texting while driving. For more information about Drive Safely Work Week, click here. The 2010 tool kit to help you launch a successful campaign for your fleet can be downloaded free until September 20th. Click here to download the kit. Are you ready to Turn Change Into Opportunity? Register now for AFLA's 2010 Conference - September 8-10, JW Marriott Las Vegas. They have a terrific line-up of speakers and sessions that you will not want to miss. Plus, there's all that great networking and the Pete Z Memorial Golf Scramble on September 9. What's not to like? Click here to for more information. Janice Sutton
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| Places, Sites, and People for New Ideas
& Applications |
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Upstream Remarketing With the rising costs of vehicle ownership, upstream remarketing has proven to be an effective tool in minimizing overall lifecycle costs and vehicle depreciation. Click here to read the White Paper.
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NADA Used Car Guide Industry Update - July 2010 Guidelines July should see minor (0-to-2%) value depreciation in most sub-segments, with the greatest depreciation coming on 2009MY and 2010MY vehicles. Much of this value loss is due to pricing and financing pressure from new vehicles forcing down the value of their near-new counterparts. This being said, depreciation is tracking lower than seasonal expectations as constricted supply has helped values remain relatively strong compared to historical norms. The large van segment is one notable exception bucking the value depreciation trend. Almost all model years have experienced little if any value depreciation for the month and will help solidify the year-to-date appreciation the segment has experienced. Read more
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Tom Keilty
PHH Arval
Chief Operating Officer
The Transformation
PHH is going through a transformation effort designed to significantly improve the way they deliver long term, best-in-class service to their clients and their drivers. When we talked with Tom at NAFA I&E, we wanted to hear more about this.
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Anthony Del Guercio
SkyGuard, LLC
Senior VP of National Sales
Slashing Fuel Costs
Monitoring a driver's behavior can result in huge savings in fuel costs. Anthony told us of one customer whose fuel bills dropped by $3 million. That enormous sum got our attention and we were eager to hear how they did it.
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Lt. Col. Katherine Vigneau, CAFM
NATO
Logistics Section Chief
Professional Dedication
In addition to her duties at NATO, Kate is also a NAFA Vice President for Canada. She was honored with NAFA's Excellence in Education Award at the recent I&E. She is dedicated to education and talks with us about NAFA's CAFM/CAFS programs.
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AFLA 2010 Conference
JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa at Summerlin
Las Vegas, NV
September 8-10, 2010
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NTEA New Model Truck Product Conference
Hyatt Regency Dearborn
Dearborn, MI
September 13-15, 2010
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NTEA Business and Market Planning Summit
Hyatt Regency Dearborn
Dearborn, MI
September 16, 2010
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The National Safety Council 2010 Congress & Exposition
San Diego Convention Center
San Diego, CA
October 3-8, 2010
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2010 Green Fleet Conference
Towne & Country Resort and Convention Center
San Diego, CA
October 18-19, 2010
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| Conference Planning Guide |
Exhibitors, Educational Sessions, & Events |
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2010 AFLA Conference Turn Change Into Opportunity
Don’t miss Friday’s breakfast at this year’s AFLA conference. Breakfast on Friday morning will feature the recently-retired General Motors vice chairman and former executive at Chrysler and Ford, Bob Lutz. AFLA is presenting Bob with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his role and influences in the automotive industry followed by a question and answer session. Bob is probably the foremost expert opinion about the strengths and weaknesses of the industry, the players, the global automotive market and much more. His perspective is unique, his opinions are quote-worthy, and his remarks for AFLA attendees will be memorable. You don’t want to miss it! Don’t forget to sign up for this year’s conference. The AFLA Conference is September 8-10 at the JW Marriot Las Vegas. To register on line, please visit www.aflaonline.com.
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Stats and Smart Charts
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J.D. Power Initial Quality Scores – 2005 Vs. 2010
[Click to enlarge graphic]
 - Comparison of JD Power’s Initial Quality Score (IQS) results from 2005 versus recently released 2010 results highlights quality parity
- More than 50% of brands included in 2010 survey have scores between 111 and 130, compared to only 40% in the 2005 survey
- When outliers removed, overall distribution for 2005 was much more dispersed than it is for 2010
- Also bears noting that for 2010 there is global representation by brands with scores below 110
- As Ford, Lincoln, Volvo, and Hyundai co-mingle w/ mainstays Porsche, Acura, Lexus, and Honda
- Reported in Guidelines – NADA’s used car industry update
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Last Minute News
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GM Volt's price induces some sticker shock The long-anticipated Chevrolet Volt, General Motors' electric car, will cost $41,000, the company announced Tuesday, leaving consumers to decide whether its environmental appeal is worth a price far above that of similarly sized conventional autos. Nissan, the only other major manufacturer expected to bring such a vehicle to market this year, said the Leaf will cost $32,780. Read more Enterprise to buy 500 Nissan Leafs for rental Nissan said it will sell 500 Leaf electric cars to Enterprise Rent-A-Car starting in January, as the Japanese automaker aims to put more drivers behind the wheel of its battery-powered vehicle. Enterprise said Tuesday it will make the Leaf available to customers in eight cities starting next year. Charging stations are to be installed at 100 different Enterprise rental locations beginning in November. Read more More roadside chargers needed for electric cars The auto industry calls it range anxiety: Drivers want electric cars but worry they won't have enough juice to make long trips. After all, what good is going green if you get stranded with a dead battery? It's a fear that automakers must overcome as they push to sell more battery-powered cars. So government and business are taking steps to reassure drivers by building up the nation's network of electric charging stations. Read more
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Fleet People Going Places
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Scott E. Sasser
PALFINGER North America
Sales & Product Manager
PALFINGER North America, a global leader in truck-mounted material handling equipment, has named Scott E. Sasser as the new Sales & Product Manager for PALFINGER’s large aerial platforms. Scott has had a very successful career with leading manufacturers in the truck and construction equipment industries such as IMT and JCB and more recently with Frontier Pro Services/Precision Wind as Director of Business Development and Client Services. In his new position, Scott will be responsible for analyzing and understanding the aerial platform market needs, oversee product development, pursue opportunities in the market and develop new sales strategies.
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Ethon Stanford
Comdata Corporation
Vice President of Sales
Comdata Corporation, a leader in payment innovation, announces Ethon Stanford as vice president of sales for its national accounts division, which services large, national fleets. Stanford will provide strategic and operational direction for Comdata’s sales efforts in the transportation industry, especially for mid- to large-sized fleets. "With nearly three decades of industry experience, Ethon has a solid understanding of both our fleet customers and the transportation industry overall," said Randy Morgan, executive vice president of sales. Stanford has been with Comdata for 26 years and helped start Comdata’s national accounts division in 1987. During his tenure, he has served in a variety of sales and product management roles.
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| Managing Your FleetTrends, Issues & Opportunities |
2010 Diesels Using Emissions Credits Fine for California Over Long Run
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Some fleets have been concerned that California's requirement that all diesel engines on the road meet 2010 emission standards by 2023 could be a problem for current engines that meet lower standards but use credits. CARB announced they will not distinguish between the engines meeting the 0.20 gram per brake horsepower-hour and those meeting the 0.50 g/bhp-hr of NOx levels with credits.
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Ford Pins Hope and Profits on New Explorer
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Ford CEO Alan Mulally has taken risks to move the company forward all along. With the redesigned Explorer, now built on a car platform, Ford hopes to market a change in buyer thinking from hulking power to fuel efficiency with its 2.0-L, four-cylinder EcoBoost engine.
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| Manufacturer DevelopmentsDesign, Production, & Services |
KBB Top 10 Comfortable Cars Contains Surprises
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A recent KBB study indicates comfort is most the important factor for auto buyers, after reliability. Shoppers picked Buick LaCrosse, Chevy Impala, Chrysler 300, Ford Taurus, and Hyundai Azera as most quiet, comfy seats, ease of handling in the under $30,000 category.
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$30K Electric SUV Coming to U.S. from China This Year
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Rohrman Auto of Lafayette, IN, the 15th largest dealership group by retail unit sales, will be selling Zotye electric SUVs at 10 of its 36 stores starting later this year. Green Automotive, Dallas, TX, imports SUVs from China's Zotye Holding Group, which makes them in Zhejiang, China. The Zotye will have a sticker price of $29,995.
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| Driving Green Initiatives, Actions, & Implementations |
Ford to Offer Hybrid, Gas Model at Same Price
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Automakers are using advanced technology to improve mileage, especially on their sedans, in between model changes as it gets closer to changes in federally mandated standards and to comply with consumer preferences.
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An Epoch Battle, Volt vs. Leaf
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The two electric cars set to hit the market later this year are based on radically different approaches for reducing oil consumption and emissions. The best seller between the two could well determine the source taken by the auto industry in the 21st Century.
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| The Intelligent Vehicle Telematics, Telecommunications, &
Technology |
Ford Fiesta AJ Can Send Twitter Messages
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Ford will add access to third party applications on some smartphones to vehicle entertainment controls and sensors through Sync this year. It has established an always on-line, Internet-connected test bed for further technology leaps in the form of a 2011 Ford Fiesta named AJ who can Twitter on his own and much more.
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Struts Are Important Vehicle Safety Components
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Struts are important vehicle safety components as they affect steering, braking, stability, ride quality and road feel. They are difficult to inspect, but a road test will reveal suspension noises and observation will note fluid leaks and physical damage.
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| Driver Safety Management Practices, Policy, & Training |
FMCSA Program Holds Drivers Accountable for Unsafe Behavior
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FMSCA is rolling out its new Comprehensive Safety Analysis safety program which measures risk factors for unsafe trucking companies and unsafe truck drivers in more dimensions than the current system. It also holds drivers responsible for unsafe behavior and informs prospective employers of the problems.
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Software Blocks Texting, Browsing While Driving
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Laws in 30 states, District of Columbia, and federal government ban texting while driving, but they are difficult to enforce. Software for smartphones disables texting, e-mailing and Web-browsing while the vehicle is moving, taking the driver out of the equation.
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| Fleet Vehicle Remarketing Marketing Strategies, Channels,
& Sales Data |
KBB Says More Buyers Opting for Used Vehicles, Paying Cash
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Research from Kelley Blue Book shows more consumers are opting for used vehicles and paying cash. Basically, shoppers are looking at spending smaller amounts of money, and they may not be influenced by incentives.
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Residual Losses Still Mounting
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A CNW Market Research analysis, based on 36 and 42-month leases, indicates residual value losses between 2005 and 2010 will be greater than $10.4 billion. Lessors began pulling out of the lease market as early as 2000, knowing the meltdown was coming.
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