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Automotive Fleet's former editor, Mike Antich, shared his opinions and ideas on the overall commercial fleet industry and draws interesting comments from fleet managers and other industry professionals from across the country. Mike was inducted in the Fleet Hall of Fame in 2010.

Using Performance-Based Incentives to Optimize the Cost-Effectiveness of Fleet Operations

A fleet cost reduction program goes straight to the corporate bottom line. If a company operates at a 10% annual net profit margin, reducing annual fleet expenses by $100,000 is the equivalent of generating $1 million in sales. Although fleet managers manage hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars in corporate assets, only half are incentivized to achieve targeted performance goals. I advocate incentivization should be a universal best practice extended to all fleet managers.

End-User Input Is the Key Factor to a Successful Upfit

The key objective of end-user discussions is to match the truck with the fleet application. Once you have completed your discussions, make sure the completed upfit specs have been reviewed and approved by all parties prior to order placement. It is critical to have a documented sign-off to avoid misunderstandings that result in after-the-fact upfitting modifications.

How to Minimize Unauthorized Use of Corporate Assets

A growing number of employees are using their company vehicles as a tool to generate supplemental personal income for themselves. Unscrupulous service technicians are known to use company vans to moonlight for their personal business. Fleet managers must be vigilant about the unauthorized use of corporate assets and aggressively implement preventive measures.

Why Competent Fleet Managers Are Terminated

Over the years, I have known many competent fleet managers. But, like salmons swimming upstream, not every promising fleet manager survives the challenges and rigors of day-to-day fleet management. It is understandable when fleet managers are fired for making expensive mistakes or when caught engaging in ethical transgressions, but, sadly, many more are terminated for circumstances that are entirely avoidable.

Optimized Truck TCO Starts with the Right Specs

Vehicle specifications should be defined by the fleet application and mission requirements. A truism in truck fleet management is to design a truck that will accommodate your operational requirements rather than trying to make your operation conform to the truck. Here's how you do it.

Don't Underutilize the Expertise of Your Suppliers

For many managers responsible for vehicle operations, fleet management is often one of several job responsibilities. These managers acknowledge that it is difficult to stay on top of changes in vehicle design, powertrains, onboard safety technology, telematics capabilities, and regulatory changes that impact fleet operations. Despite this recognition, a common mistake made by many of these managers is underutilizing the subject-matter expertise of current and/or prospective suppliers.

The Future of Fleet Is Managing the Connected Vehicle Ecosystem

In the next decade, the term "fleet management" will soon become inadequate to fully define the scope of our industry and it will be viewed as an anachronistic label. Today's vehicle connectivity megatrend will be the catalyst of an expanded fleet business model focused on managing a new connected vehicle ecosystem. This fleet ecosystem will encompass not only the vehicle, but also the mobile workers and, more importantly, the work they performed and the tools they use.

Fleet Will Need to Reinvent Itself as a New Vision of Fleet Management Emerges

Over the past several decades, the purchasing managers of yesteryear reinvented themselves into procurement professionals whose function is now viewed as a strategic asset that provides a competitive advantage to a corporation. Can fleet management, likewise, elevate its perceived value to a corporation, especially in the eyes of its senior management? I say yes, and the timing is right to do so.

Deciphering the DNA of Award-Winning Fleet Professionals

During my tenure in fleet, I have had the privilege of meeting all 32 fleet manager who won the AF Fleet Manager of the Year Award and the 12 executives who won the FF Fleet Executive of the Year Award. Although each managed different types and sizes of fleets, there were common traits found among these award-winning fleet professionals.Based on my observations, here’s what they had in common:

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