Posts Tagged ‘fleet’
NYPD to Add 200 Hybrids to Fleet
Thursday, May 27th, 2010
The New York City Police Department plans to add 200 hybrid vehicles to its fleet 2010, according to the New York Times.
The department’s new vehicles will be hybrid Ford Fusions and Escapes and will be integrated into the fleet after they are modified for law enforcement use. Last year, officers began testing a fleet of hybrid Nissan Altimas that have better fuel efficiency than standard police cars.
“These were the first hybrids outfitted with a police package being used for patrol,” said John McCarthy, a spokesman for the department. “We wanted to see how they held up after being subjected to use on patrol. After a year of use, the feedback has been positive.”
The new purchases will double the NYPD’s pool of hybrid vehicles to more than 400. The hybrid Ford Fusions and Escapes will be used on patrol, just like the Altima fleet.
[via Government Fleet]
Photo courtesy of Joi under the Creative Commons License
Tags: Escapes, fleet, Ford Fusions, hybrids, John McCarthy, Nissan Altimas, NYPD
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Donlen Up for “Most Innovative” Award
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Donlen, North America’s fastest growing fleet leasing and management company, was named a finalist today in the Most Innovative Company of the Year category in the 2010 American Business Awards.
The American Business Awards are the nation’s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit entries – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. More than 2,700 entries from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted for consideration in more than 40 categories.
“We’re very proud to be named a finalist in this category,” said Gary Rappeport, Donlen’s Chief Executive Officer. “To be recognized for our innovation is validation of Donlen’s commitment to developing industry-leading programs and tools, but also of the hard work that our people do to ensure we’re meeting the changing needs of our customers and the industry.”
Members of the Awards’ Board of Distinguished Judges & Advisors and specialized final judging committees will select Stevie Award winners from among Finalists in final judging that will continue through May 28. Finalists were chosen by business professionals nationwide during preliminary judging in April and May.
[via Automotive Fleet]
Photo courtesy of notsogoodphotography under the Creative Commons License
Tags: American Business Awards, award, Donlen, fleet, Gary Rappeport, Leasing, management, Most Innovative
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Auto Fleet Sales on the Rise
Monday, May 3rd, 2010
Perhaps a sign that the economy may suddenly be turning around for the fleet sector,
U.S. fleet sales rallied in the first quarter of 2010, increasing by 47 percent over Q4 2009.
As the economy improves across the board, money is finally beginning to find its way back to large fleet purchasers such as rental car fleets, government agencies, and construction companies. Now these businesses are getting back on their feet and purchasing new fleet vehicles.
And the news gets even better from there; automakers are expecting sales figures to continue rising. Ford Motor Company America President Mark Fields said that his company expects a continued increase in fleet sales, though government fleet spending will probably level off long before any other areas.
J.D. Power analyst Jeff Schuster commented that poor sales figures last year are driving this year’s increased income.
More importantly, this positive change in sales numbers reveals that the fleet industry is dedicated to stimulating their own businesses as well as keeping their vehicles up-to-date and more efficient. While the hard economic times may not fully pass for years to come, fleets can remain confident that their hard work is being rewarded.
Photo courtesy of borman818 under the Creative Commons License
Tags: economy, fleet, Ford Motor Company, J.D. Power, Jeff Schuster, sales
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Fleet Tip of the Week: Don’t Get Hypnotized!
Friday, April 23rd, 2010
It’s Friday, and you know what that means: another edition of Automotive Fleet’s Fleet Safety tip of the week. This week, we take a look at how to avoid becoming distracted by the monotony of driving long distances:
On a long and uneventful drive, it’s sometimes easy to find yourself staring down the middle of the road, as if you’re in a trance. In such times, it’s important to remind yourself to keep your eyes moving and scan the scene. You may want to pass this along to your fleet drivers as a friendly reminder.
- Take in the whole scene: If you only look at the middle of the road, you will miss what is happening on the side of the road and behind you. Scanning helps you to see:
– Cars and people that may be in the road by the time you reach them.
– Signs warning of problems ahead.
– Signs giving you directions.
- Watch for hazards: Look beyond the car ahead of you. Don’t develop a “fixed stare.” Keep scanning. Check your rear-view mirrors every two to five seconds so you know the position of vehicles near you.
- On the freeway, be ready for changes in traffic conditions. Watch for signals from other drivers. Expect merging vehicles at on-ramps and interchanges. Be prepared for rapid changes in road conditions and traffic flow. Know which lanes are clear so you can use them if necessary.
Photo courtesy of Cory Leopold under the Creative Commons License.
Tags: distracted, driving, fleet, hazards, safety, scanning, tip, traffic
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Hero Truck Driver Saves Girl’s Life
Friday, April 16th, 2010
Here’s a little feel-good story from the fleet world!
When Werner Enterprises truck driver Dave Nelson decided to help a stranded motorist on Feb. 10, he saved the life of a seven-year-old girl.
Vicki Carter and her mother, Pam, were traveling along I-20 near Birmingham, Ala., on the way to pick up father and husband Air Force Capt. Ryan Carter in Texas when their car ran off the road and hit a sign. Pam jumped out of the car and tried to flag down help for her daughter. Only Nelson stopped.
“She was literally out in the road,” Nelson recalled. He moved Pam Carter to safety as she explained that her daughter was still in the car and needed help.
Vicki was not breathing and had no pulse. Nelson asked permission from her mother to begin CPR, then swiftly pulled Vicki from the car and laid her on the ground on top of his coat. While performing the lifesaving steps, Nelson conversed with Pam Carter to keep her calm. He learned that Vicki had a heart murmur, just like his own daughter. Nelson performed CPR until paramedics arrived.
“It was so amazing to see this big trucker hold my little girl and do CPR. He kept me calm the whole time and the kindness he showed me really kept me together,” Pam recalled.
“It seemed like forever,” Nelson said, “but they told me it was only about five minutes.” Once Vicki was safe with the rescue squad, he continued on his route toward Dallas.
“Werner Enterprises is proud of Dave Nelson’s willingness to help others,” said Greg Werner, Werner Enterprises’ president and CEO. “His quick action and determination are very admirable and we couldn’t be more proud to have him on our team.”
“Dave Nelson is the reason my baby is alive,” said Pam Carter. “He is a hero and a wonderful man whom we love and admire.”
Photo courtesy of altheengineer under the Creative Commons License
Tags: CPR, Dave Nelson, fleet, HERO, truck driver, Vicki Carter, Werner Enterprizes
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Verizon Expands Fleet with Alternative Energy
Friday, April 16th, 2010
Verizon’s fleet will continue to expand this year as part of the company’s new comprehensive sustainability program, which contains several new initiatives and enhances existing efforts, according to Automotive Fleet.
Verizon plans to add 1,600 alternative energy vehicles to the company fleet, purchasing more than 1,100 alternative energy vehicles (including hybrid and compressed natural gas-powered aerial bucket trucks and vans) and hybrid pickup trucks and sedans. Verizon will also increase its use of biodiesel and flex-fuel (E-85) to power 470 vehicles. New hybrid aerial bucket trucks replace the diesel generators used in conventional trucks of this type with batteries that can be recharged by the vehicle.
These initiatives are in addition to a number of sustainability initiatives announced last year. In 2009, the company reduced its CO2 emissions by more than 793 million lbs., while improving its rate of emissions per million dollars in revenue to 60.2 metric tons of CO2 in 2009, from 64.4 metric tons in 2008.
Drivers of Verizon vehicles conserved 1.7 million gallons of fuel in 2009 as part of the company’s continuing efforts to reduce engine idling, the equivalent of taking 2,800 cars off the road for a year.
Verizon also operates a fuel cell-powered switching center in Garden City, Long Island, which saves energy and also improves network reliability in the event of a utility blackout. The facility earned the DOE Energy Star Award in 2008.
Photo courtesy of Eric Hauser under the Creative Commons License
Tags: alternative energy, biodiesel, DOE Energy Star, expand, fleet, Garden City, hybrid, Long Island, Verizon
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GM Recalls Fleet Vans Due to Fire Risk
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
General Motors Co. is recalling about 5,000 heavy-duty vans and stopping production and sales because of alternators that could cause engine fires.
The recall, announced just before midnight Friday, affects some 2010 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana 2500, 3500 and 4500 Series built in February or March. Light-duty versions use a different alternator.
GM says that until it has a fix for the alternators, customers should stop driving the vans; park them outside, away from buildings or other vehicles; and disconnect both battery cables if possible.
Few of the vans are owned by retail customers.
“It’s in the teens,” GM spokesman Alan Adler said. “We’re calling the customers we know who have them.”
About 1,300 of the vans are in fleets, and GM’s stop-sale order prevents people from renting them. Many vans are still on dealer lots or are awaiting export.
GM builds the vans in Wentzville, Mo., where 60 percent of the production is typically devoted to heavy-duty models.
If your fleet operates any of these vehicles, contact GM for further instructions.
Photo courtesy of Newsbie Pix under the Creative Commons License
Tags: Alan Adler, fire risk, fleet, GM, GMC Savana, recall, vans
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Fleet Safety Tip of The Week: High Beams
Friday, April 9th, 2010
Automotive Fleet is back with another Fleet Safety Tip of the week, this time about proper use of high beams. Listen up and keep your drivers safe:
This week’s tip, culled from the California Driver’s Handbook, pertains to the use of high-beam headlights during night driving. You may want to pass this along to your fleet drivers as a friendly reminder.
Use your high beams whenever possible in open country or on dark city streets, as long as it is not illegal. But do not blind other drivers with your high-beam headlights. Dim your lights when necessary. If another driver does not dim his or her lights:
-Don’t look directly into oncoming headlights. If you do, both of you may be blinded.
-Look toward the right edge of your lane.
-Watch the oncoming car out of the corner of your eye.
Photo courtesy of PeterDouglas under the Creative Commons License
Tags: Automotive Fleet, California Driver Handbook, fleet, headlights, high beams, safety tips
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D.C. Police Fleet Plagued by Preventable Accidents
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010
Police officers in the Washington, D.C. area have been involved in hundreds of “vehicular collisions that could have been avoided had the drivers adhered to traffic laws and basic roadway etiquette,” each year, according to a report in the Washington Examiner.
D.C. police officers were involved in 237 accidents last fiscal year and more than 600 others the prior year, according to the Examiner.
“These guys are sometimes the worst drivers out there,” John Townsend, AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman, told the Examiner.
In fiscal 2009, according to D.C. statistics, District police employees sideswiped vehicles in parking lots, reversed into numerous “fixed objects,” and opened their doors into traffic. They passed and backed up without caution, failed to control speed to avoid colliding, made unsafe U-turns, followed too close, drove on sidewalks, changed lanes without caution, and ran red lights. At least three failed to place their cars in park. One failed to “pay full time attention” as he operated his Segway.
Fortunately, no fatalities have resulted from any of the accidents this year, according to the Examiner.
Photo courtesy of cliff1066 under the Creative Commons License
Tags: D.C. Police, employees, fatalities, fleet, laws, preventable accidents, traffic, vehicular collisions
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FedEx Adds All-Electric Vehicles to Fleet
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
FedEx Corp. unveiled plans to expand its alternative-energy vehicle fleet with the company’s first all-electric parcel delivery trucks in the United States.
Four purpose-built electric trucks are slated to hit the road in the Los Angeles area starting in June 2010, joining more than 1,800 alternative-energy vehicles already in service for FedEx around the world.
“In 2004, we were the first global company to invest in hybrid-electric commercial trucks, and now we’re introducing the even cleaner all-electric parcel delivery truck,” said John Formisano, vice president of global vehicles for FedEx Express. “We’re making these investments, and invite others to join us, so that together we can speed the transition to a cleaner transportation system.”
The trucks will be used for deliveries in the Los Angeles area and will help guide future FedEx vehicle purchases.
FedEx currently operates the largest hybrid fleet in the transportation industry, along with one of the largest alternative energy vehicle fleets. The company said it is committed to improving its overall vehicle fuel efficiency 20 percent by 2020.
For the full story on FedEx’s new vehicles, click here.
Photo courtesy of shlala under the Creative Commons License
Tags: all-electric, alternative energy, electric trucks, Fedex, fleet, Los Angeles, vehicles
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