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Happy Thanksgiving from FleetCardsUSA!

Chris Jones — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:02:00 GMT

Whether you’re spending time with family over the next few days, preparing for the holiday business rush or just taking a couple of well-deserved days off, we hope that your Thanksgiving is as wonderful as it can be.

As for us, we’re thankful for all of you that have read the blog and continue to be valued friends and partners. Thank you for your support, and we will continue to bring you the latest from the fleet industry and the world of automotive events as soon as we’re done eating!

Photo courtesy of Dinner Series and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

Fleet Safety Tip - Snow Driving

Chris Jones — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:52:00 GMT

With the Thanksgiving travel crunch coming, take a moment to look at this week’s Automotive Fleet Safety Tip, which give you some tips for driving in the snow. Keep these in mind as you drive for business or personal reasons over the holidays and keep them in mind all winter!

Streets and highways covered with snow, snowpack or ice are extremely hazardous. Overpasses, bridges, shaded areas and snow-packed portions of the road can be icy even when other pavement is not. If you begin to skid, let up on the accelerator and turn the front wheels in the direction of the skid. Here are a few simple precautions that you can follow:

Make sure your tires have good tread for adequate traction. In winter, chains or snow tires are certainly preferable. However, remember that even chains and snow tires will slip on slick pavement.
Make sure your brakes are in good condition and properly adjusted so that the braking power of each wheel is uniform.
Anti-Lock Brakes -- Apply the brakes with hard, firm pressure from the start of the skid and maintain this pressure until you have stopped. You may feel or hear vibrations and/or pulsations. This is normal.
No Anti-Lock Brakes -- Threshold breaking: Apply the brakes just hard enough to not lock the wheels, release and apply the brakes the same way again.
Keep the windows clear by making certain the defrosters and windshield wipers are working properly. Use a good window scraper to remove all ice, snow and frost even if you are just traveling a short distance. Fogging or condensation of moisture on the inside of the windshield can quickly be removed by opening the side vent windows.
Be alert for snowplows and sanding trucks. They use flashing yellow and blue lights as a warning for you to use extreme caution when approaching or passing them.
Maintain an extra large space between you and the car ahead.
Start gradually by using a low gear and accelerating gently.

Photo courtesy of paumurp and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

Hybrids are Safer For Drivers, More Dangerous for Pedestrians

Chris Jones — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:45:00 GMT

We talk a lot here about the benefits of adopting efficiency-boosting technology, but here’s a little reminder that there are two sides to every coin, courtesy of The Detroit News:

A new study has concluded that hybrid vehicle owners are 25 percent less likely to be injured in a crash than their conventional counterparts. However, this does not make these the safest vehicles on the road: hybrids are 20 percent more likely to be in a crash with a pedestrian because they can be harder to hear.

The Virginia-based Highway Loss Data Institute said the fact that hybrids are 10 percent heavier than traditionally powered vehicles is a big factor. Other factors, such as how, when and by whom hybrids are driven, also may contribute to the findings. Hybrid injury odds were 25-27 percent lower for collision claims.

But the study found that hybrids may be as much as 20 percent more likely to be in a crash with a pedestrian.

"When hybrids operate in electric-only mode, pedestrians can't hear them approaching," said Matt Moore, HLDI vice president and an author of the report, "so they might step out into the roadway without checking first to see what's coming."

The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to ensure that electric and hybrid car manufacturers add noises that alert the blind and other pedestrians to the presence of these vehicles.

"For years customers wanted quieter cars, but now we face the challenge of keeping visually impaired pedestrians safe among quieter cars… now DOT is working to establish a sound standard to provide audible cues for pedestrians," said Gloria Bergquist, a spokeswoman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

So if you’re adopting hybrid vehicles as a part of your fleet strategy, make sure you’re extra careful wherever people are around. Keeping your drivers and the people around them safe should be your top priority.

Photo courtesy of PEDS and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

Are Higher Speed Limits Worth The Risk?

Chris Jones — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:43:00 GMT

A proposal currently underway to raise freeway speed limits in Great Britain has generated a lot of argument over whether raising the maximum allowed speed would be more dangerous for motorists than it is worth. US speed limits have remained fairly stable recently but in some cases have begun to inch their way up; some businesses see this as a good thing, but the risks just may outweigh the rewards.

Increased speed limits are supported by freight companies because of the overall reduction in trip times they generate. While it is true that the time of the trip may be faster, there are some problems that make the change in schedule far less beneficial.

First, vehicles begin to lose fuel efficiency as they cross a certain speed threshold (about 60 miles per hour). After that, more energy is required to overcome wind resistance and the vehicle’s fuel efficiency dips exponentially. In addition, higher speed limits are the number one contributor to the increased fatality rate of freeway accidents. While it is true that a lower percentage of accidents happen on highways than on other roads, the higher speeds involved make them far more dangerous.

These factors combined make raising speed limits a pretty low-benefit scenario for everyone, but being safe on the roads doesn’t have to be made into law. Make sure your drivers know the appropriate speed along their routes and encourage safe driving behavior instead of shorter deadlines!

(Tags: Speed Limit, Safety, Statistics, News)

Photo courtesy of S.A. Hooper and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

Court Rules Against Cell Use at Red Light

Chris Jones — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:40:00 GMT

With distracted driving such a focus in legislation and more and more cell phone bans taking effect, it is important to know what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

Many drivers find it acceptable to make a call or view a text message when their vehicle is not in motion, such as at a stop light. However, a California court recently ruled to uphold a fine against a Richmond driver who was caught using his phone at a traffic light.

Current cell bans generally ban the use of devices while the vehicle is in motion, which the defendant claims does not apply to a stopped vehicle. But Justice James Lambden feels that momentary stops to not apply.

The law was intended to cover "persons driving on our public roadways, who, like (Nelson), may pause momentarily while doing so in order to comply with the rules of the road," said Justice Lambden, noting that allowing drivers to use their phones in stop-and-go traffic could still pose a threat to pedestrians and other motorists.

Until the laws are made clearer, incidents like these will be left up to offenders vs. the courts. Do you think cell phone use while stopped is an acceptable policy? Leave us a comment below and let us know.

Photo courtesy of Mike Fisher and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

With Higher Tire Prices, Fleets Turn to Retreading

Chris Jones — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:36:00 GMT

As the economy continues to be a pressing issue for many commercial fleets, businesses are doing everything they can to save money on their operating expenses. Since the price of new tires began steadily rising, more and more customers are looking to retreaded tires as a cheaper alternative:

“I can tell you that retreaders are just booming,” Marvin Bozarth, president of Bozarth Tire Industry Consultants, Shelbyville, Ky., and senior technical consultant to the Tire Industry Association told Light & Medium Truck.

“A truck tire that may have cost $275 a few years ago may now sell up to $400 a piece,” Bozarth said. “That is a big, difficult hike for smaller operations.” About half of all commercial tires currently in use are retreaded.

Despite the demand for these refurbished tires, it is important to remember that they are not always the right choice, as wear and tear still makes tires unrecoverable later on.

“If it’s a light-duty commercial vehicle tire, our position is that if it’s been used on a dual rear wheel drive, we will retread it once,” said Scott Perry, group director of vehicle supply management for Ryder System, Miami. “If the tire has been on a vehicle with a single axle on either side, we’ll stay with buying original tires,” he added.

If your fleet is looking to cut costs, retreaded tires can be part of the solution. Just make sure you’re not sacrificing quality or safety.

Photo courtesy of The Tire Zoo and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

Customers Think Fuel Efficiency Is Worth Higher Price

Chris Jones — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:31:00 GMT

A poll conducted by Consumer Reports in late October showed that an overwhelming majority of American consumers would support higher fuel-economy standards and would be willing to pay a premium for high-efficiency vehicles. Take a look at some of the figures from the study and see if you feel the same way about your fleet vehicles:

-93 percent of respondents supported an overall increase in fuel efficiency.

-77 percent agreed that automakers should produce more fuel-efficient vehicles and that the government should increase and enforce efficiency standards.

-81 percent of respondents said they were willing to pay more for a fuel-efficient vehicle if it would lower their operating costs.

-79 percent said the price of gasoline was their biggest concern moving forward.

-56 percent said they would consider alternative-power vehicles like hybrids or electric cars as their next vehicle.

-89 percent said new lower costs were their primary motivation for considering these vehicles.

-80 percent agreed that consumers should receive incentives in the form of rebates or tax credits to buy fuel-efficient or alternative-fuel vehicles.

-80 percent agreed that fuel-economy standards should require automakers to increase the overall fleet average to the White House’s proposed 55 miles per gallon by 2025.

Remember, better fuel efficiency is just one way to save on fuel. Managing your purchasing and avoiding unnecessary expense should be a large part of your fueling strategy.

(Tags: Fuel Efficiency, Study, Statistics)
Photo courtesy of Justin Taylor and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

Poor Driver Behaviors Lead to Collisions

Chris Jones — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:26:00 GMT

A new study by DriveCam shows that two of the most common causes of collisions by fleet drivers are drivers failing to maintain reasonable space around their vehicle and following too closely.

Drivers with companies in the distribution market involved in a collision were 4.68 times more likely to maintain less than a 1 second following distance. They were 2.93 times more likely to maintain less than 2 seconds of following distance. In addition, drivers involved in one or more collisions are 6.41 times more likely to fail to keep sufficient space around their vehicle.

Take a moment to review some basic rules of the road and help to avoid costly accidents:

Always leave at least 4 seconds of distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you
Check blind spots before any lane changes
Engage turn signals 2-3 seconds before making turns or lane shifts
Do not spend time driving directly next to another vehicle; this reduces the chance to turn to avoid a collision

Simply paying greater attention to your surroundings can help to prevent accidents. Take care and keep your mind on your business, not repairs!

Photo courtesy of Robert Couse-Baker and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

Study Shows Drowsy Driving is a Major Issue

Chris Jones — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:14:32 GMT

We’ve talked about drowsy driving on the blog before, but take a look at some rather shocking new data from a recent study!

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s 2011 safety culture survey shows that almost 32 percent of drivers admitted to driving when they were so tired that they had difficulty keeping their eyes open in the past month.

This result is somewhat surprising, considering that 96 percent of drivers responded that drowsy driving is an unacceptable behavior.

A previous study by the AAA Foundation found that one of every six deadly crashes and one in eight crashes causing serious injury involved a drowsy driver.

"Although the vast majority of drivers recognize the serious threat of drowsy driving, a ‘Do as I Say, Not as I Do’ attitude exists when getting behind the wheel. Drowsy driving kills, just as sure as drunk, drugged and distracted driving does," said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. "Drivers have a tendency to underestimate the impact being tired has on their driving ability, which puts themselves and others at risk."
"What's so alarming is that over half of these drivers reported having fallen asleep while driving on high‐speed roads," said Jake Nelson, AAA's director of traffic safety advocacy and research. "These data underscore the importance of educating drivers about the dangers of drowsy driving."

AAA offers some tips to help deal with fatigue and driving:

Get plenty of sleep (at least seven hours) the night before a long trip.
Stop driving if you become sleepy; someone who is tired could fall asleep at any time – fatigue impacts reaction time, judgment and vision, causing people who are very sleepy to behave in similar ways to those who are drunk.
Travel at times when you are normally awake, and stay overnight rather than driving straight through.
Schedule a break every two hours or every 100 miles.
Drink a caffeinated beverage. Since it takes about 30 minutes for caffeine to enter the bloodstream, find a safe place to take a 20 to 30-minute nap while you’re waiting for the caffeine to take effect.
Travel with a passenger who can take over if necessary.

Photo courtesy of Timothy Krause and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

Fleet Safety Tip: Large Vehicle Visibility

Chris Jones — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:06:00 GMT

This week’s fleet safety tip from Automotive Fleet and the Tennessee Department of Safety is about the visibility restrictions of large vehicles. These vehicles have different blind spots and clearance than most cars and trucks, and should be treated accordingly. Make sure your drivers know what to do with these tips:

Many motorists falsely assume that drivers of trucks and buses can see the road better because they sit twice as high as the driver of a small vehicle. While trucks and buses do enjoy a better forward view and have bigger mirrors, they have serious blind spots into which a small vehicle can disappear from view.
The “No-Zone” represents danger areas around trucks and buses where crashes are more likely to occur.

1. The area approximately up to 20 feet directly in front of a large vehicle is considered a No-Zone. When small vehicles cut in too soon after passing or changing lanes, then abruptly slow down, trucks and buses are forced to compensate with very little room or time to spare.

2. Unlike small vehicles, trucks and buses have deep blind spots directly behind them. Avoid following too closely in this No-Zone. If you stay in the rear blind spot of a large vehicle, you increase the possibility of a traffic crash. The driver of the bus or truck cannot see your vehicle and your view of the traffic ahead will be severely reduced.

3. Large vehicles have much larger blind spots on both sides than cars do. When you drive in these blind spots for any length of time, the vehicle's driver cannot see you. When passing, even if the vehicle's driver knows you are there, remaining alongside a large vehicle too long makes it impossible for the driver to take evasive action if an obstacle appears in the roadway ahead.

4. Truck and bus drivers often cannot see vehicles directly behind or beside them when they are attempting to safely negotiate a right turn. If you cut in between the truck or bus and the curb or shoulder to the right, this maneuver greatly increases the possibility of a crash in this "right turn squeeze."

If your fleet utilizes any large trucks like the ones mentioned in these tips, make sure that your drivers are aware of their vehicles’ limitations and are trained to drive safely and do their part to avoid these costly accidents.

Photo courtesy of Cliff Cooper and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

The High Cost of Traffic Accidents

Chris Jones — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:21:00 GMT

According to a new report by AAA, traffic crashes are responsible for an annual societal cost of $299.5 billion, more than three times the $97.7 billion cost of traffic congestion.

AAA's report found that crashes cost each person in the US $1,522 annually. The figure is based on the Federal Highway Administration's comprehensive costs for traffic fatalities and injuries that assign a dollar value to a variety of components, including medical and emergency services, lost earnings and household production, property damage, and lost quality of life, among other things.

"This report further underscores the importance of a long-term, multi-year federal transportation bill that will provide the necessary and sustained investments that lead to better and safer roads for all Americans," Jim Lardear, director of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic told Automotive Fleet. Lardear also said funding is needed for safety improvements like guide rails, reflective pavement markers, and improved signs and signals.

"Almost 33,000 people – 635 per week – die on U.S. roadways each year and that's unacceptable," said Lardear. "While the decline in traffic fatalities in recent years signifies a positive trend, our work is far from over. Continued progress will require active and focused leadership, improved communication and collaboration, and an investment in data collection and evaluation to make sure we're addressing the nation's most serious safety challenges."

Do your part for safety by making sure your drivers are well-educated on the rules of the road and have the most up-to-date safety measures available to them. You’ll not only save money, you’ll save lives.

Photo courtesy of Ted Kerwin and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

Analysts: Gas Could Reach Record Highs in 2012

Chris Jones — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:18:00 GMT

Some analysts are saying that gasoline prices could rise to record highs in 2012, as a combination of growing global demand and rising U.S. fuel exports drive the price of crude oil up.

"We are at the highest fuel prices ever for this time of year, even though they have dropped a bit in recent weeks," Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst for the Oil Price Information Service told the Los Angeles Times. "I think we will see prices in 2012 that will break … records."

"We started high on gasoline prices this year and we stayed high, and we are going to go higher next year," said fuel price specialist Bob van der Valk. "We could be as high as $4.50 a gallon in California by Easter. The rest of the country will be above $4 a gallon by then."

The primary reason for the stubbornly high prices is growing demand in Latin and South America, which has also driven U.S. refiners to make more diesel and reduce gasoline production, Kloza said.

Van der Valk added, "Gasoline is being exported to Mexico and diesel is going to Chile, and it's all keeping U.S. refineries huffing and puffing."

It looks like next year could be a tough time for fleets as fuel prices continue to rise. Make sure your business is ready by examining your fuel management strategy!

(Tags: Fuel Prices, Demand, 2012)

Photo courtesy of Mark Tee and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

Gas Dropping, Diesel on the Rise

Chris Jones — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:04:00 GMT

In what may be good news for some fleets and inconvenient for others, gasoline prices are expected to fall in the next several weeks. However, the price of diesel is rapidly rising due to a constricted supply.

Retail gasoline is already dropping in price due to lower demand. But experts expect diesel prices to rise, as supplies for ultra-low sulphur diesel have shrunk. Wholesale diesel prices are rising rapidly and those fleets will likely see higher prices very soon.

If your fleet is using diesel, make sure to take a look at your fuel management practices to be ready for this bump in prices and the associated financial burden. For more information on our fleet fuel management solutions designed to make managing your fuel easy, visit our homepage at www.FleetCardsUSA.com.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Turner and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

Fleet Safety Tip: Medicated Driving

Chris Jones — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:10:00 GMT

With flu season approaching and our recent look at drugged driving policies, this week’s Automotive Fleet safety tip is all about how medication side effects can affect their ability to drive safely. Here are a few medications that can greatly affect driving ability:

Taking sedating antidepressants even 10 hours before driving is equal to driving drunk.
Antihistamines, which block allergic reactions, slow down reaction time and impair coordination.
Common prescription drugs (including medications to treat allergies, pain, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, ulcers, depression, anxiety disorders, and insomnia) can cause drowsiness, affect vision and other skills that can be serious hazards on the road.
Over-the-counter drugs such as cold and cough medicines, antihistamines, drugs to prevent nausea or motion sickness, pain relievers, decongestants and diuretics can cause drowsiness or dizziness that can impair a driver's skills and reflexes.
Drivers should ask their physician and pharmacist all they can about their medication's side effects, and what drugs are usually safe to combine -- especially behind the wheel.

It’s important to make sure your drivers know the risks of taking medications and driving. For more tips on what drugs to avoid and how to use the others responsibly, click here.

Photo courtesy of hermanturnip and re-used under the Creative Commons license.

DOE Releases Vehicle Cost Calculator

Chris Jones — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:05:00 GMT

For fleets looking to see whether alternative fuels are right for their budget or just deciding on new vehicles, a powerful new online tool should make the choice a little bit easier.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has released new vehicle cost calculator on its website and a related widget that allows users to compare emissions and the lifetime operating costs of different conventional vehicles and alternative fuel methods.

The calculator allows users to enter information for existing vehicles or for a “custom vehicle,” where they can input their own vehicle data, and compare that with either other existing vehicles or custom vehicles. Along with data about driving habits, the program gives users the cost-per-mile for operating the vehicle, annual fuel used, annual electricity used (for EVs), a combined annual cost for using electricity and fuel (for plug-in hybrids, for example), and annual CO2 emissions.

The report also shows a graph that charts the annual cost of ownership by year, including fuel, tires, maintenance, registration, license fees, insurance, and a loan payment.

You can try out the cost calculator for yourself by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of David Beyer and re-used under the Creative Commons license.