Wheels Used Vehicle Market Report available on FleetView
Wheels has released the latest edition of our Used Vehicle Market Report, currently viewable in the Reference section of FleetView. The report provides information on the auto industry and economic events and their impact on the used vehicle market. It includes graphs depicting sedan and light-duty truck sale results, as well as current market performance versus historical trends.
Additionally, the current report includes supply and demand analyses, future market indicators like the housing market and fuel prices, and new features of the Wheels remarketing program. The report also features an article that offers tips on ways you can continue to manage your depreciation costs.
If you have any questions about the report, please contact a member of your account team.
Back to topWheels Account Manager Wamboldt discusses clean fleet initiatives in Automotive Digest
Herb Wamboldt, a Wheels Account Manager and practice leader for our EcoWheels environmental fleet program, was featured in a video interview in the July 31 issue of Automotive Digest's Fleet Weekly online publication.
In the interview, Wamboldt discusses ways that environmental issues have evolved to take a more prevalent role in companies' fleet decisions. He further discusses strategies companies can undertake in order to successfully implement green policies, and set and accomplish environmental fleet goals.
Complete footage of the interview is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M15LlK1SsSQ. If you would like to discuss ways in which EcoWheels can help you meet your fleet's environmental objectives, please contact a member of your account team.
Back to topNHTSA to upgrade vehicle safety rating program
The National Highway Traffic Safety Association recently announced plans to strengthen its "five-star" vehicle safety rating system.
Each year, NHTSA performs rollover and crash tests on new cars and trucks and assigns them a safety rating available on the window label of new vehicles.
Under the new rating system, which will be applied starting in model year 2010, vehicles will be given an overall safety rating that combines results from frontal, side and rollover tests. The upgraded system also will include new frontal and side crash tests, including a test designed to simulate wrapping a vehicle around a tree.
More anatomically advanced dummies will allow researchers to better understand how men, women and children are each affected by crashes. The dummies will also allow for advanced testing of leg injuries.
A new rating on emerging advanced technologies will also be added so consumers will know whether specific crash avoidance technologies are optional or standard features on new vehicles.
Back to topManaging your fleet with FleetView reports
The FleetView report schedule gives fleets tools to help monitor activity and assist in making key strategic and tactical decisions. Based on the schedule, FleetView offers a number of reports we recommend reviewing in the month of August. These reports are listed below. For a copy of the complete report schedule, please contact a member of your account team.
Reports to run if you are on Wheels' services
Claim Activity Detail: Use as required to monitor collision claim activity (e.g. weekly or monthly).
Non-Fuel Usage: Run twice yearly to identify non-fuel purchases.
Fuel Purchases by Brand: Run quarterly to advise drivers on vendor cost.
In/Out of Network Repairs: Run twice a year to ensure proper network utilization.
Fleet management reports to run
Combined Billing: Run each month to audit and monitor expenses.
Fleet Expense Comparison: Use this report quarterly to view expense data on significant categories comparing this quarter of last year to this quarter of this year. The report also shows year-to-date sums for each category.
Vehicle Sale Billing: Run three times per year. This is an electronic version of the Vehicle Sale Invoice for the selected billing period.
Violations Detail: Run quarterly to review vehicle violation history and charges.
Back to topManufacturers to temporarily shut down some plants
Domestic manufacturers recently announced that some manufacturing plants will be closed for upwards of six-to-eight weeks. The temporary closures come as the manufacturers consolidate model production duties to account for decreased retail consumer demand for large vehicles like trucks, SUVs and minivans.
Conversely, manufacturers are reporting a boost in production of several small cars and crossovers - including 4-cylinder and hybrid vehicles - to meet increased demand.
We encourage you to place all orders as early as possible to avoid being affected by any unexpected changes in production schedules.
Please contact a member of your account team to discuss specific production schedules affecting your vehicle models.
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