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March 2012, Business Fleet - Department

Showroom - BMW 3 Series: The Look Is Under the Hood

<p>Specs for the 2012-MY BMW 3-Series.</p>

By Tariq Kamal

The most noticeable changes for the 3 Series are under the shell, where the 328i’s I-6 has been replaced by a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder.

Tags: 3 Series, BMW, BMW 3-Series

March 2012, Business Fleet - Department

Showroom - Honda Civic: Still Tough to Beat

<p>The 2012-MY Honda Civic</p>

By Tariq Kamal

Redesigned for 2012, the ninth-generation Civic seeks to set itself apart with across-the-board improvements in mileage, power and onboard technology.

Tags: 2012-MY, Honda Civic, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Civic Natural Gas

March 2012, Business Fleet - Department

Showroom - Volkswagen Passat: A Mid-Size Domestic Import

<p>The 2012-MY VW Passat</p>

By Tariq Kamal

As a company car, the new Passat offers style, craftsmanship and room for four adults of executive height and carriage. It’s not technically an American car, but it’s close.

Tags: 2012-MY, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Passat

March 2012, Business Fleet - Cover Story

Where's My Spare Tire?

<p>The tire sealant and inflator kit for the 2012-MY Chevrolet Silverado 1500. <em>Photo Courtesy of PacePerformance.com</em></p>

By Joanne M. Tucker

More manufacturers are turning to run-flat tires or giving buyers the option to replace the spare with a sealant and inflator kit. What’s the best option for your fleet?

March 2012, Business Fleet - Feature

Which Hybrids Have the Lowest Cost of Ownership?

<p>&copy;iStockphoto.com/Firstsignal</p>

By Chris Brown

After five years and 15,000 miles of driving per year, are there any hybrids that actually have a lower cost of ownership than their gas-engine counterparts? One unexpected vehicle takes the prize.

Tags: cost of ownership, Honda Insight, hybrid vehicles, Lincoln MKZ, Mercury Milan, total cost of ownership, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Vincentric

March 2012, Business Fleet - Feature

How Fleets Are Reacting to the Cell Phone Ban

<p>Respondents' reported enforcement methods.</p>

By Chris Brown

A new survey gauges reaction to the FMCSA’s ban on hand-held use of mobile phones while driving. Where do you stand, and how will you act?

Tags: CDL, cell phone laws, cell phone use, commercial driver's license, commercial fleets, driver screening, fleet policies, FMCSA, ZoomSafer

January 2012, Business Fleet - Department

Toolbox - Route and Fuel Management Products for Small Fleets

By Staff

Check out these three tools that can help you with route and fuel management, from an integrated small business card to routing software.

Tags: fleet management, fuel cards, OnTerra, route management, TomTom, TomTom PRO 7150 TRUCK, Wright Express

January 2012, Business Fleet - Department

Showroom - Toyota Camry Gets Lighter, Roomier, Angrier

By Tariq Kamal

The Camry is known for its spacious interior, and the 2012 edition is the roomiest yet. As well, the Camry Hybrid, also new for 2012, boasts a 30% improvement in fuel efficiency, now earning up to 43 mpg.

Tags: 2012-MY, hybrid electric vehicles, Toyota Camry, Toyota Camry Hybrid

January 2012, Business Fleet - Department

Showroom - Ford Transit Connect Electric: Plug and Work

By Tariq Kamal

In its initial run of up to 1,000 units a year, Ford will sell the van almost exclusively to fleet and for other commercial uses that will limit its use to regular, predetermined routes from a central location.

Tags: 2012-MY, Azure Dynamics, electric van, electric vehicle, Ford Transit Connect Electric

January 2012, Business Fleet - Department

Showroom - Buick Verano Brings Luxury, Detroit Style

By Tariq Kamal

Fleet buyers tasked with finding a luxury compact for less will be compelled to take a hard look at the Verano.

Tags: 2012-MY, Buick, Buick Verano, luxury vehicle

January 2012, Business Fleet - Feature

How to Remarket Fleet Vehicles on eBay Motors

<p>Photos by Tariq Kamal</p>

By Tim Yopp and Marck Eckhaus

Are you getting the most out of your vehicle remarketing strategy? EBay Motors serves as both a classified ad site and an auction site — combing the powers of websites like AutoTrader and Manheim into one.

Tags: eBay, eBay Motors, Eckhaus Fleet, online auctions, used cars

January 2012, Business Fleet - Feature

Efficient Driving Equals Fleet Savings

<p>Photo: &copy;istockphoto.com/MCCAIG</p>

By Joanne M. Tucker

We all know that idling and running the air conditioner can negatively affect a vehicle’s fuel economy, but a new study backs those claims with hard numbers.

Tags: driver behavior, eco driving, fuel efficiency, idling, route management, tire pressure

January 2012, Business Fleet - Feature

Ford Fusion and F-150 Remain Fleet Favorites

<p>2012-MY Ford F-150</p>

By By Grace Suizo and Chris Wolski

Ford captured our Car and Truck of the Year awards for the Fusion/Fusion Hybrid and the F-150 pickup for the second year in a row.

Tags: Automotive Fleet, Fleet Car of the Year, Fleet Truck of the Year, Ford F-150, Ford Fusion, Ford Fusion Hybrid

January 2012, Business Fleet - Cover Story

The Juggler: How a Fleet Manager Moves a Circus

<p><em>Photo by Jason Rhee</em></p>
<p>The Big Apple Circus' Tom Larson manages a fleet that includes 10 Ford F-350 pickups.</p>

By Tariq Kamal

For the Big Apple Circus, transporting this small fleet requires a big top’s worth of planning. Learn how Tom Larson and his crew take the circus on the road, where the fleet manager becomes the ringmaster.

Tags: company profiles, Department of Transportation, managing small fleets, nonprofit fleets, truck drivers

November 2011, Business Fleet - Cover Story

EVs Meet the Real World

<p>Jim Ruby of the University of California, San Diego charges one of the school&rsquo;s five Nissan Leafs, acquired as part of the university&rsquo;s &ldquo;Tailpipe Endgame&rdquo; sustainability initiative.</p>

By Chris Brown

Five Nissan Leaf users share their driving experiences. Is reality matching expectations?

Tags: electric vehicle, EV charging station, Nissan Leaf

November 2011, Business Fleet - Department

Toolbox - Free to Low-Cost Mobile Apps to Boost Fuel Savings

By Joanne M. Tucker

Here are six mobile apps that can help your fleet save on fuel.

Tags: mobile application

November 2011, Business Fleet - Department

Showroom - Volkswagen Beetle: Squishing the New Beetle

By Tariq Kamal

The 2012 Beetle (it’s new but no longer “New”) may not have been designed with commercial applications in mind, but it’s certainly a more viable fleet option than any of its predecessors.

Tags: 2012-MY, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Beetle

November 2011, Business Fleet - Department

Showroom - Suburu Impreza: MPG from an AWD

By Tariq Kamal

The new-for-2012 Subaru Impreza maintains its distinction as an all-wheel drive compact, but it’s more fuel-efficient than the third-generation model.

Tags: 2012-MY, Subaru, Subaru Impreza

November 2011, Business Fleet - Department

Showroom - Audi A6: New Four-Cyclinder Offers 28 MPG

By Tariq Kamal

The Audi A6 competes in the mid-size sport sedan category with worthy rivals such as the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Tags: 2012-MY, Audi A6

November 2011, Business Fleet - Department

Exhaust - 2011 Green Fleet Conference Proves 'Going Green Just Makes More Cents'

<p>Green Fleet attendees had the opportunity to test drive more than 35 vehicles, including this CNG-converted Ford F-250 from Venchurs Vehicle Systems.</p>

By Staff

Attendees at the 2011 Green Fleet Conference (GFC) helped make the fourth annual event the largest, best attended and most dynamic yet.

Tags: Green Fleet Conference

November 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

Telematics Drives Big Savings on Commercial Auto Insurance

<p>Eagle Medical, which estimates a telematics insurance savings of $20,000-$30,000 this year, has 32 vehicles ranging from Ford F-350s (pictured) to six executive vehicles.</p>

By Joanne M. Tucker

Small fleets are cutting costs by supplying their insurance companies with driving data gathered through telematics. Some have enjoyed savings of 15 percent or more. Are you asking for your discount?

Tags: FleetAhead, insurance, inthinc Technology Solutions, Onboard Advisor, safety-driven insurance, telematics, telematics insurance, telematics service provider, Travelers Insurance, Zurich Fleet Intelligence

November 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

Creative Fuel-Saving Strategies

<p>Vision Restoration and Building Co. uses Fleetmatics to manage vehicle location, which integrates with the company&rsquo;s Wright Express fuel cards, allowing managers to track exactly when, where and which vehicle was actually at the tank.</p>

By Joanne M. Tucker

Learn how four fleets use driver input — and driver accountability — along with rightsizing, route optimization and new technology to achieve fuel savings of 10-20 percent.

Tags: driver behavior, Employee Incentives, FleetMatics, load management, right-sizing, route management, SCT Fleet Solutions, telematics, Wright Express

November 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

An Entrepreneurs' Company: Payless Turns 40

<p>Fred Lin, CEO (left) and Rick Stevens, president, have steered Payless Car Rental through acquisitions, overseas growth, airport expansion and into a "preferred" online presence.</p>

By Chris Brown

Payless Car Rental has reached its 40th birthday with a singular focus on a business niche and the vision of entrepreneurs.

Tags: company anniversaries, franchises, Payless Car Rentals, Thrifty

September 2011, Business Fleet - Cover Story

Getting into Vans

<p align="left">Photo by AlanWeinerPhotography.com</p>
<p align="left">Kim Foren is able to fit six-foot-tall floral arrangements in her Sprinter, which runs on biodiesel. She says her young drivers handle the van just fine.</p>

By Chris Brown

The action in the commercial van market is getting hot and heavy. With pickup truck-like capabilities, improved fuel economy and white space for branding, new and updated van offerings are attracting a new breed of small business entrepreneurs.

Tags: 2012 Ram CV Cargo Van, Cargo Vans, commercial van, Duramax, Ford Transit Connect Electric, Nissan NV, Sprinter Van, Transit Connect

September 2011, Business Fleet - Department

Smartphone Technology Keeps Eyes on the Road

By Joanne M. Tucker

In preventing distracted driving in your workplace, these companies have fleet-specific software for your cell phone policy needs.

Tags: Got2bWireless, iZup, ZoomSafer

September 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

6 Keys to an Effective Cell Phone Policy

By Joanne M. Tucker

Just having a policy against distracted driving isn’t enough — your company could still be considered negligent if the policy isn’t enforced. Employee education and managerial support are vital steps toward preventing this dangerous practice.

Tags: cell phone use, distracted driving, GPS, National Safety Council, Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, ZoomSafer

September 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

BMW Expands U.S. Fleet Presence

<p>
<p align="left">BMW's i-Series sub-brand ushers in a new era of urban mobility. The all-electric i3 (right) launches in 2013, while the i8 plug-in hybrid arrives in 2014.</p>
</p>

By Chris Wolski and Mike Antich

BMW’s i-Series sub-brand ushers in a new era of urban mobility.

Tags: BMW, MINI E

July 2011, Business Fleet - Cover Story

Real-World Rollback

By Chris Brown and Tariq Kamal

Business Fleet catches up with old friends to put a 2011 Ram 5500 Chassis Cab with a rollback wrecker package through its paces.

Tags: Chassis Cab, Cummins, DEF, Ram, Ram 5500

July 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

The Green Fleet Price Tag

By Chris Brown

Taking a hard-numbers approach to your vehicles’ tailpipe emissions and lifecycle cost data will help you improve your ecological footprint without breaking the bank.

Tags: GHG, green fleets, greenhouse gases, hybrid, lifecycle costs, smog-forming pollutants, Toyota Prius, Vincentric

July 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

Budget-Savvy Routing Solutions

By Jennifer Washington

From route optimization to voice navigation, mobile phone mapping and search engine integration, these familiar software and web-based mapping tools offer enhanced trip planning for little to no cost.

Tags: Bing Maps, Google Maps, Mapquest, Microsoft Streets and Trips, navigation system, Navigon, routing, technology

May 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

Best Fleet Value in America

By Chris Brown

Toyota and General Motors shine in Vincentric’s sixth annual fleet awards.

May 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

Propane-Powered and Profitable

By Greg Basich

Austin Gutter King is realizing reduced fuel and maintenance costs after converting four vehicles to run on propane.

May 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

Mobile Mavericks

By Jennifer Washington

Thinking of joining the food truck revolution? Mix great cuisine with the right vehicle, then throw in long order-to-delivery times, severe-duty maintenance, DIY repairs and ever-changing regulations.

May 2011, Business Fleet - Cover Story

Routing Revolution

By Tariq Kamal

Learn how three service fleets are responding to high fuel costs by using available technology to route drivers and rethinking the old rules of sales and service calls.

March 2011, Business Fleet - Cover Story

The Science of Rightsizing

By Tariq Kamal

Steve Fisher uses a proactive approach to fleet cycling and procurement to rein in fleet costs for Communications International.

March 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

2012 Nissan NV Raises the Roof

By Chris Brown

Nissan’s first entry into the CV segment was designed to turn heads.

March 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

7 Tenets of a Good Fleet Dealer

By Chris Brown

The best fleet dealers offer fair pricing, dedicated staff and multiple options for selection, trade-in and upfitting. Does your dealership make the grade?

March 2011, Business Fleet - Department

Toolbox: TomTom Offers Custom Solutions

<p>JC Towing can send drivers turn-by-turn directions directly to the TomTom portable navigation device in the cab. The driver simply accepts the job and starts the journey.</p>

By Jennifer Washington

New systems combine TomTom’s driver-friendly navigation tools with robust fleet tracking.

March 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

5 Trailering Mistakes to Avoid

By Tariq Kamal

GM’s resident expert outlines five common mistakes fleet operators must avoid to ensure safe and productive trailering.

January 2011, Business Fleet - Cover Story

A Plan for Growth

Smith is able to monitor Vector’s fleet from a custom-built command center in his office.

By Tariq Kamal

Since Will Smith joined Vector Resources, the company has expanded from a cable installation business to a major IT network provider for Fortune 500 companies. Learn how Smith has managed the fleet to keep pace.

Tags: fleet management, fleet manager

January 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

Used Fleet Acquisition Made Easy

Market Direct Fleet in Pocatello, Idaho, provides used fleet acquisition services to small and mid-size fleets, focusing on used passenger cars, light-duty vehicles up to 1-ton trucks and cargo vans and some medium-duty vehicles.

By Justina Ly

Small and mid-size fleets can turn to Market Direct Fleet for procurement services of used cars and light-duty trucks and vans.

Tags: fleet acquisition, used vehicles

January 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

Ford Takes Fleet Vehicle Crown

By Jennifer Washington and Brittany Swanson

Business Fleet readers chose the Ford Fusion/Fusion Hybrid and the F-150 as Fleet Car and Truck of the Year.

Tags: award, Fleet Car of the Year, Fleet Truck of the Year, Ford F-150, Ford Fusion, Ford Fusion Hybrid

January 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

Good Enough to Eat

<p>Owners Candace and Charles Nelson at their upscale cupcake bakery Sprinkles in Beverly Hills, Calif.</p>

By Chris Brown

Owners of an upscale cupcake bakery have transformed their Mercedes Sprinter into a mobile sales center and an extension of their brand.

Tags: fleet management, Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter

January 2011, Business Fleet - Feature

Using GPS to Reduce Payroll Expense

Frank Steinocher, CIO of Shumate Mechanical, says the MARCUS Mobile GPS solution has resulted in a 12-percent reduction in payroll expense.

By Justina Ly

Learn how three fleets are using GPS systems to realize significant reductions in payroll expense.

Tags: fleet management, GPS, HR, telematics

November 2010, Business Fleet - Cover Story

New Strategies for Managing Diesel Fleets

Idaho Youth Ranch’s Gregg Crow says leasing new trucks was the best way to facilitate the nonprofit’s plan to expand its distribution network.

By Chris Brown and Tariq Kamal

Soaring pump prices and new emissions controls have made running trucks and vans on diesel an expensive proposition. Learn how fleet managers and OEMs are responding to the high cost of lower emissions.

Tags: diesel, emissions, fleet management, fuel, fuel economy, leasing

November 2010, Business Fleet - Feature

Fuel Card Program Lowers Diesel Pump Prices

"There's an app for that." Ken Moore, a Fuelman executive, says the company is in the process of building a smartphone application that locates diesel stations in the driver's vicinity that accepts the Diesel Advantage Card.

By Chris Brown

The Fuelman Diesel Advantage FleetCard offers small fleets the ability to purchase diesel fuel at wholesale prices.

Tags: diesel, fuel management

November 2010, Business Fleet - Feature

Cost-Effective Vehicles for C-Level Executives

By Chris Brown

Rewarding your senior managers with a luxury company car doesn’t have to break the bank. Figuring total lifecycle cost into the equation can give you more options than you might expect.

Tags: fuel economy, leasing, operating costs

November 2010, Business Fleet - Feature

GM Lays Out the Plan for Fleet

By Chris Brown

In July 2009, General Motors was reborn with four core brands and an eye toward the future. GM’s fleet chief, Brian Small, discusses how a leaner — and greener — GM plans to meet the needs of commercial buyers in the years to come.

Tags: General Motors Corp., green, telematics

November 2010, Business Fleet - Feature

Maintaining Control

“Specialized” barely begins to describe the needs of the PHS/SPCA fleet, which facilitates the nonprofit’s animal rescue and control efforts and mobile clinics.

By Tariq Kamal

Learn why the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA switched to custom-built vans and open-end leases.

Tags: fleet management, leasing

September 2010, Business Fleet - Cover Story

Leasing and the Price of Risk

By Chris Brown

Open-end leasing comes with residual value risk but no restrictions and greater control. Can it work for your small fleet?

Tags: fleet management, fleet operations, leasing

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During the past decade, we’ve witnessed a steady escalation of fuel prices with forecasters extrapolating these trend lines to predict even higher future prices. What is the “tipping point” for the price of fuel before it starts to have a significant negative impact on senior management’s desire to operate a company-provided fleet?

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Business Fleet - 2011 Buyer's Guide

This Year’s Buyers Guide 2011

  • Manufacturer’s Directory
  • Management/Leasing Directory
  • Fleet Dealers Directory
    And much more…