Category: Fleet Management News

495 posts
High Gas Prices Cause IRS to Increase Mileage Deduction Rates

Gas prices have caused the IRS to make an unusual mid-year hike to the standard mileage rate used to deduct the cost of business-related driving. The mileage hike, linked to rising fuel prices, will begin July 1 and increases to 55.5 cents a mile. The current reimbursement rate is 51 cents a mile.

“This year’s increased gas prices are having a major impact on individual Americans. The IRS is adjusting the standard mileage rates to better reflect the recent increase in gas prices,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman in a press release. “We are taking this step so the reimbursement rate will be fair to taxpayers.”

The standard mileage deduction is limited to companies using four or fewer vehicles. For larger companies ineligible to take the deduction, the IRS standard mileage figure is widely used as a benchmark in setting reimbursement rates for employees’ driving expenses.

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Gas Prices Expected to Continue Decreasing

Gas prices have continued to decrease this week. Many experts are expecting prices to continue fluctuating with an overall downward trend.

Drivers and businesses affected by gas prices have been pleasantly surprised because gas prices typically rise during the month of May. The current peak national average price for this year was $3.98 on May 5th, 2011.

In mid-May, Neil Gamson, an analyst for the Energy Information Administration, said “It is possible we have reached our peak.” However, that could change if the violence in the Middle East gets worse or if there is a bad hurricane season.

Currently the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.78, down 3 cents from last week and 18 cents from one month ago according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Although this month’s decreases are good news, prices are still up over $1.00 from one year ago. Diesel fuel is currently averaging $4.00 per gallon, down 16 cents from one month ago.

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DHL Launches Green Fleet Vehicles in Manhattan

Last month DHL, one of the world’s largest logistics companies, launched a fleet of environmentally-friendly delivery trucks in Manhattan. Launching the new fleet of vehicles is an integral part of the DHL’s global Go Green strategy. DHL’s all-new Green Fleet is an important part of the company’s overall mission to reduce their environmental impact.

DHL’s goal is to improve the company’s carbon efficiency worldwide by 30 percent by 2020, compared to 2007 base levels. In addition to developing a greener fleet, the key components of DHL’s Go Green program includes the improvement of the energy efficiency in buildings, the implementation of innovative technologies, the mobilization of employees and the involvement of subcontractors and customers.

The company’s Green Fleet Initiative was launched in New York by Frank Appel, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL. According to Appel, “ Customers worldwide are increasingly demanding greener logistics, sustainable business procedures and initiatives like the one we are launching today will – at the same time – also enhance the profitability of our business. Sustainability, especially the reduction of carbon emissions, is a central aspect of our business and an integral part of our corporate strategy. As the global leader in logistics we are ideally positioned to foster climate protection in order to save our environment for future generations.”

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Electric Vehicles Drive Green Fleet Growth By 2015

Managing a fleet used to be much more simple. Nobody bothered much about carbon emissions or the environment, or even fuel efficiency or leasing costs. It was all about status or, at best, about getting the job done, rather than any consideration for the environment.

Fast forward to 2011 and things have definitely changed. Environmental considerations are now at the top of the agenda for any corporate or government fleet manager. Creating a green fleet is not only good for the environment, but it is good fro the bottom line as well. Reducing fleet emissions typically means burning less fuel and running the most efficient fleet possible.

Traditionally hybrid electric vehicles have played an important role in creating a greener fleet. But more and more fleet managers are turning to plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) as a solution. A recent report from Pike Research titled “Hybrid Electric Vehicles for Fleet Markets” forecasts that between 2010 and 2015, more than 1.3 million PEVs will be purchased for use in fleet operations, with nearly 400,000 vehicles being sold annually by the end of the forecast period.

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AT&T Launches New Fleet Tracking Solutions To Help With CSA Compliance

AT&T (NYSE: T) recently announced the launch of three new dispatch management and mobile transportation applications from Complete Innovations and Xata Corporation (NASDAQ: XATA). Designed to streamline operations, optimize fleet and mobile workforce performance and facilitate fleet manager’s adherence with the CSA 2010 initiative, these new features will enhance AT&T’s portfolio of fleet tracking solutions.

Businesses that use these new fleet tracking features can get valuable insight into fuel consumption, vehicle maintenance needs, asset location and more, while drivers can find destinations more easily to deliver products on time. Over the last several years, the number of companies using fleet management solutions has grown substantially, fueled by advanced technologies such as powerful smartphones, GPS location services and machine-to-machine solutions. Frost & Sullivan industry analysts noted in a 2010 report that the subscriber base for Field Asset Management has increased from 1.4 million subscribers in 2008 to 2.4 million in 2010.

Xata Turnpike from AT&T helps private and for-hire fleets and owner-operators to comply with CSA 2010, a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative intended to reduce commercial motor vehicle-related accidents. Xata Turnpike makes it easy for businesses to abide by hours of service (HOS) and International Fuel Tax (IFTA) reporting requirements, while simultaneously helping them to optimize their fleets’ performances. Users can install Xata Turnpike from AT&T in just minutes and then run the application on their existing mobile devices.

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Gas Prices Continue to Decline

Gas prices are currently averaging $3.78 per gallon of regular unleaded fuel in the US, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. One week ago, gasoline prices were averaging 4 cents more than today at $3.82 a gallon.

Gas prices in Los Angeles County continued to decline over the Memorial Day weekend, decreasing a half-cent Monday to $4.06 per gallon. The average price, which has fallen nearly 23 cents since the streak of decreases began May 7, is 7.2 cents less than it was last week and nearly 20 cents lower than it was last month; however, it’s still $1.042 higher than it was last year at this time, according to the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. Before the 24-day streak of decreases, the average price rose 43 times in 45 days.

Most analysts are saying that the recent decreases in gas prices are due to two reasons. First, gas prices are tied to oil prices which have been declining over the past several weeks. A barrel of benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange has fallen 11.7 percent to $100.59 from its two-year high of $113.93 on April 29.

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GPS Fleet Tracking Lowers Fuel Costs By 20% Says Network Fleet

Network Fleet, a leading GPS fleet tracking system, recently published a paper titled, “Don’t Sit Idle While Fuel Costs Rise,” that shows how fleets can use GPS fleet tracking and engine diagnostics to lower fuel costs by as much as 20%.

The Network Fleet paper offers specific actions managers can take to analyze fleet operations and reduce costs. Fleets that begin using a GPS fleet tracking system report a quick, positive ROI primarily due to significant savings in fuel and other operating costs.

The paper uses several different fleets as an example, such as the Eastern Municipal Water District of Riverside, CA. Using the Network Fleet GPS fleet tracking system, the water district managed to reduce fuel costs by $79,000 in the first six months.

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Fleet Tracking System Saves Company Hundreds Each Month

One of the UK’s largest providers of port-a-potties, Toilets+, recently installed a GPS-based fleet tracking system in all 32 of the company’s vehicles. The real-time fleet tracking system is saving Toilets+ as much as £400 ($650 USD) per month in fuel costs, cutting engine-idling times throughout its entire fleet.

According to Toilets+ managing director, Mick Bowman, “Through the fleet tracking system, we discovered some staff were reaching a site and leaving their vehicle’s engine running, often for very long periods. Now drivers are required to switch off and remove the ignition key on arrival….We also use the fleet tracking service to check drivers’ start and finish times to aid the monthly payroll.”

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Gas Prices Driving Businesses to Fleet Tracking

Fleet tracking system sales appear to be increasing this year, mostly due to this year’s recent surges in gas prices. When gas prices top $4 per gallon, companies start looking for ways to save money. Managers start paying attention to how their employees are driving, and for ways to increase operating efficiencies.

Small changes can have a big impact on a large scale, and the cost savings can really start add up. Many are surprised to find out that a fleet tracking system can help them to see immediate results and cut costs across the board. In today’s challenging economic climate, profit margins are slim and companies must implement as many cost-saving initiatives as possible.

In order to remain competitive, companies have to look very closely at every penny spent. Because a fleet tracking system can provide an ROI in less than six months and immediately reduce fuel consumption, plus produce ecological benefits, companies both large and small are utilizing them to create profitable, sustainable fleets.

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High Gas Prices Affecting Businesses Large and Small

For many businesses, this year’s increases in gas prices are taking its toll on profitability. Corporate giants such as Walmart all the way down to family owned flower shops are dealing with the consequences of $4 a gallon gasoline.

Today’s high gas prices are also especially hard for those who rely on commercial vehicles as a large part of their business. For these companies, even a small increase in gas costs can be detrimental. Many are absorbing the costs and carrying on business as usual, hoping that the reports saying gas prices will drop again this summer are true. Other companies have been forced to raise prices.

Companies that rely on house calls or deliveries have been affected more than most. Pizza delivery, flower delivery, plumbers, HVAC – anything you can think of that has to be there in person to complete a transaction.

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Fleet Management Biggest Concern is Volatile Gas Prices

Recent increases in gas prices over the past 6 – 12 months are taking its toll on the fleet management industry. According to a recent survey conducted by GE Capital Fleet Services, 29% of respondents said the recent surge in fuel prices is their number one concern, up 12 percent from one year ago. The other two major concerns for fleet management was driver safety and cost savings.

Concern for driver safety increased in 2011 to 28 percent from 21 percent in 2010, while cost savings fell as a priority but remained important at 23 percent, down from 36 percent in 2010. cost savings are now a bigger focus for executive management according to fleet managers. Sixty-four percent of those surveyed indicated that executive management’s main focus for fleets is cost savings, up from 48 percent in 2010.

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Teletrac Fleet Tracking System Chosen by Isuzu Trucks

Teletrac, an industry leading fleet tracking system, recently announced that it has been selected by Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc., distributor of America’s best-selling low-cab-forward trucks, for its 2011 and 2012 model year N-Series customers.

“Safety is no longer just a cost center and compliance issue,” said Teletrac executive vice president, Drew Hamilton. “For many fleets, it’s now a strategic business priority to help trim costs and boost efficiency. For this reason, Teletrac captures the industry’s widest range of safety-related vehicle and driver data, making this information more useful and actionable in real time — to help fleet managers increase bottom-line safety performance, and improve fleet operations overall, ” said Hamilton.

Teletrack’s fleet tracking system is called Fleet Director. Fleet Director locates, tracks and monitors the position and operation of fleet vehicles. This gives fleet management greater visibility into operations to deliver cost saving efficiencies such as lower fuel consumption, real-time tracking of vehicles from the desktop, automatic route guidance, and detailed reporting for advanced decision support and efficient regulatory compliance.

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FieldLogix Launches Fuel Efficiency Driver Training

FieldLogix, an industry leading GPS fleet tracking system, recently launched an online Fuel Efficiency Driver Training Program. Training that targets fuel efficiency can help drivers recognize and change driving habits that waste fuel. Even highly experienced truck drivers can boost their skills and enhance driving performance through fuel efficiency driver training programs.

A few simple changes in driving techniques can produce sizable fuel savings of 5 percent or more, according to the EPA. Fleets that improve fuel economy by at least 5 percent through driver training and monitoring programs can save more than $1,200 per truck each year in fuel costs and eliminate 8 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per truck each year.

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Santa Ana Fleet Plans to Reduce Emissions and Cut Costs

The Fleet Management Department in Santa Ana, CA recently announced plans to create and operate an environmentally responsible fleet, focusing primarily on alternative fuel and fuel efficiency. The City’s Green Fleet will be powered by 75 to 80 percent renewable and sustainable energy within the next five years. There are also plans to reduce the size of the fleet 10-15% over the next 1-2 years.

Santa Ana Fleet Management operates more than 900 vehicles, from fire trucks and police cruisers to riding lawn mowers. Over the past few years, Fleet Managers have added several natural-gas, hybrid and electric vehicles to its fleet, and brought in five hydrogen vehicles and fueling stations. Currently, five percent of the City’s 900 vehicles operate on alternative fuels.

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Gas Prices Drop Eleven Cents in Past Week

For the thousands of drivers getting ready to hit the road for the upcoming Memorial weekend holiday, there is finally good news about gas prices. The current average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gas in the US is currently $3.85, eleven cents less than one week ago. Prices are only one cent higher than they were averaging a month ago, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report.

Diesel fuel prices are also on the decline. Diesel fuel is currently averaging $4.06 a gallon, seven cents less than one month ago. The decrease in diesel fuel prices effects the whole economy because prices of items people consume everyday from food to toilet paper are affected by gas prices.

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Green Fleet GPS Systems – Save Money on Gas and Help The Environment

With regular gas prices averaging more than $3.95 a gallon in the US, drivers will be happy to know there is a GPS system that helps drivers take the “greenest” route which saves the planet and saves money at the pump.

For businesses, the recent increases in gas prices can have a huge impact on the bottom line. A green fleet GPS system can help companies to cut fuel costs while also reducing their environmental impact. Smart driving behavior, including everything from gradual starts to optimal routing with a GPS navigation system, can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 10 percent to 20 percent in some cases.

A Green GPS system can help drivers reduce their fuel costs and their “carbon footprint” as well. More than 1.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide is discharged into the world’s atmosphere each year by the cars that we drive. According to the United Nations, “The transportation sector accounts for 30 percent of greenhouse fuel emissions in developed countries … and that share is rising.”

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Gas Prices Finally Drop, Expected to Keep Decreasing

After months of consecutive price increases, gas prices have finally decreased — slightly. The national average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gas is currently $3.955 per gallon on Monday, down from Sunday’s price of $3.961, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Many experts say the $4 per gallon mark is a tipping point, a price likely to dissuade consumers from driving, lowering demand and keeping pressure on gasoline prices.

The average price of regular gas in the Los Angeles area is currently $4.268 per gallon — 2.1 cents lower than last week, eight cents higher than last month, and $1.13 higher than last year.

Today’s drop in gas prices follows a week where crude oil prices tumbled. Oil prices continued to decline on Monday, dropping under $99 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

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Diesel Gas Prices Cooling Off, Regular Gas Remains High

The price of diesel fuel began to decline across the nation this week, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. The price of a gallon of diesel gas is currently $4.13, a two cent decrease from one week ago. One week ago diesel gas was averaging 4.16 a gallon. However, diesel fuel prices are still up by two cents from one month ago, when it was averaging $4.11 a gallon.

Although the decline in diesel prices aren’t huge, it may be the start of a declining trend. Many businesses and consumer have been hoping for relief at the pumps for months now.

Nationally, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is currently $3.98. One week ago, prices were the same. One month ago, gas prices were 18 cents less, averaging $3.80 per gallon, according to AAA. However, many cities and states have seen gas prices fluctuating. Some cities have broken local records for all-time high prices, while other cities have seen slight decreases in prices at the pump.

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