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MARCH 2019 Archive

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 MARCH 2019 utilityfleetprofessional.com

If it’s Not About Trucks, Does it Concern Me?

| Jim Vaughn, CUSP |
If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you work in a fleet management role. Your mechanics and drivers don’t do line work, install phone lines, bury gas lines or dig up high-pressure water lines. But what if they service equipment in the vicinity of craft workers who do perform those tasks? Are they exposed to […]
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New Truck and Van Upfits for Utility Fleets in 2019

| Sean M. Lyden |
As you review the current specs for your truck and van fleet, where are your best opportunities for improvement? Could you decrease the size of your fleet vehicles while improving functionality and usability? Could you upgrade your service bodies for enhanced fuel efficiency and more eco-friendly operations? Or, could you add more versatile service tool […]
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Budget Talks: Why Fleet Needs a Seat at the Table – And How You Can Earn It

| Sean M. Lyden |
When it comes to fleet, senior leadership may not fully appreciate all that the job entails. “What I would often hear from folks either in finance or in the senior leadership groups was something along the lines of, ‘Every year, fleet costs go up. But I have a 2004 Honda with 300,000 miles on it. […]
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Work Truck Week Keeps Growing

| Kate Wade |
Over the years, Work Truck Week has grown bigger and more robust, providing those in the vocational truck industry with more and more opportunities to discover new products, attend industry-focused educational courses and gain access to professionals who can help them answer pressing questions. 2019 is proving to be no exception. This year’s Work Truck […]
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Making the 5G Connection

| Fiona Soltes |
In late 2018, AT&T announced a standards-based, mobile 5G network in parts of 12 U.S. cities, with seven more areas to follow. The company also said it was on the verge of bringing 5G Evolution technologies to 400 markets, enabling faster speeds, wider coverage and lower latency, which improves streaming capabilities. Verizon, meanwhile, has been […]
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What to Consider When Spec’ing Onboard Scales

| Grace Suizo | ,
Operating an overloaded truck is categorized as a misdemeanor in most U.S. states. Aside from putting the safety of the operator and the public at risk, overloading also can increase fines and lead to premature vehicle wear and tear. Fortunately, the availability of today’s onboard scale technology can help utility fleet managers ensure trucks operate […]
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Where are EVs Headed in 2019?

| Sandy Smith |
Even if you closely follow the news, it’s difficult to pin down which direction electric vehicles (EVs) will be heading over the coming year. Production of certain hybrid models is ending, while other OEMs have promised to roll out more all-electric vehicles. Some car enthusiasts have proclaimed 2019 as the “year of the electric.” Scott […]
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To Lease or Not to Lease

| Sean M. Lyden |
The conventional wisdom for most utility companies is to purchase their fleet assets outright. And there are some advantages to that approach: potentially lower vehicle acquisition costs, no debt added to the balance sheet, and greater control over resale timing and pricing. But as utilities see their profit margins getting squeezed, their fleet departments are […]
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ADAS May Be a Mixed Bag in Your Shop

| Jim Galligan |
More vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are showing up in utility fleet maintenance shops as vehicle manufacturers accelerate the introduction of these safety technologies into new models. While there is little doubt that ADAS features – such as adaptive cruise control, radar-based collision avoidance systems and other technologies – can lower fleet costs […]
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Your Job Title Says ‘Fleet,’ But You’re Actually in Sales

| Sean M. Lyden |
Whatever position we’re in, we’re all selling something – an idea, a point of view or a proposal – whether we want to call it “sales” or not. That goes for fleet professionals as well. In his book “To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others,” best-selling author Daniel H. Pink put it […]
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Chicago Auto Show 2019 in Chicago, IL

| Kurt Moreland | ,
Chicago Auto Show | February 9-18, 2019 in Chicago, IL First staged in 1901, the Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America and has been held more times than any other auto exposition on the continent. This year marks the 111th edition of the Chicago Auto Show. The Chicago Auto Show […]
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