Although they are not a regular occurrence, travel bans are something that both fleet drivers and managers should anticipate when extreme weather is predicted.  A recent, widely publicized travel ban occurred in early February 2013, when a massive snowstorm was predicted to bring up to three feet of snow to the New England area.  Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts set the tone by declaring a state of emergency and placing a ban on all travel effective at 4 p.m. on Friday, February 8, a few hours ahead of when the storm was expected to hit.  Connecticut and Rhode Island quickly followed suit, in...

In the United States, approximately one third of carbon dioxide emissions come from transportation vehicles, and 62% of those come specifically from cars and trucks.  Therefore, fleet managers are in a unique position to reduce this major factor in global warming.  If you are interested in reducing the carbon footprint of your fleet, the following three tips from the Environmental Defense Fund can get you started. 1)      Measure Emissions and Set Goals-   Gather your fuel consumption data for the last few years and start calculating, with the understanding that each gallon of gasoline your...

Without a doubt, fuel represents a huge chunk of any fleet’s operating expenses.  Therefore it is fiscally sound to do everything possible to minimize fuel expenditures.  The following are some tips for increasing your fleet’s fuel economy. 1)      Your vehicles should always be in top shape.  Make sure they are receiving all necessary preventative maintenance and that their tires are always inflated to correct pressure.  Having just one under-inflated tire can cut fuel economy by 2 percent per pound of pressure below proper inflation. 2)      Encourage your drivers to use cruise...

For fleet managers, a relationship with a reliable roadside assistance program is crucial to your operation.  If a driver is having an issue with his or her vehicle, you need for the driver to be safe, the issue to be fixed, and your company’s vehicle back on the road as soon as possible, preferably all at a reasonable cost. When researching roadside assistance options, here are some things to consider: Do not be afraid to ask about the company’s response time, and see if online customer reviews back up the company’s statements.  This is a critical issue, because it is costing your company...

Fleet owners are increasingly seeing the value of adding truck driving simulators to the training regimen of their employees.  While one full motion simulation system can cost as much as $100,000, the cost is balanced by the many benefits. Truck driving simulators can help a company save money long term in several ways.  First, they assist in reaching training goals faster, and therefore, at a lower cost.  If a trainee is having an issue, they can practice it repeatedly in a simulator in much less time than they would be able to in an actual rig.  Second, one hour of training inside a truck...