Automotive Fleet views itself as a facilitator to offer completely different voices from the trade to debate at present’s challenges. This common column is designed to offer a platform for fleet professionals to let their voices be heard to their friends and different trade professionals.
Here’s what is prime of thoughts for fleet professionals at present.
The State of the Upfit Marketplace for Business Fleets
Mike [Antich, AF editor], thanks, as at all times, on your clear and concise presentation of the present points. As a producer and provider of aftermarket gear, inconsistent chassis supply and elevated uncooked materials prices are 2 of our greatest challenges. Discovering the proper steadiness between sufficient product for the upfitters after they want it, however not holding an excessive amount of stock in inventory has positively develop into a guessing sport.
— Nancy Wunderlich, President – Co-owner Ergonomic Options, Mundelein, Illinois
We Have to Work Collectively
Wonderful factors have been made within the State of the Fleet Business video on the state of the upfit market! As an upfitter, we would like your upfit accomplished simply as unhealthy, if not worse, as you need it accomplished. Collectively, we will overcome these obstacles and prevail, however all of us have to work collectively.
— Jim Kraffert, Common Supervisor/Accomplice ABG Fabrication, LLC, Naples, Florida
It is By no means Been Tougher
I learn the article on “The State of the Upfit Marketplace for Business Fleets” and need to thanks for explaining what’s going on within the upfit world. As a big truck supplier that sells largely upfitted autos, I really feel you defined the present state of affairs very properly. It’s by no means been more durable to provide buyer data on after we will get their truck and what it is going to price. In my 40 years within the enterprise, we have now by no means seen something like this. And the inflation on upfitted vans is at an all-time excessive.
— Dan McDonough, Director of Operations Auto Park Fleet, Bristol, Indiana
It Actually Makes You Assume
I watched the State of the Fleet Business video entitled “Affect of EV Manufacturing Mandates on Commodity Availability and Pricing.” It was an amazing dialogue between Mike Butsch and Mike Antich. It actually makes you consider how provide and demand for EVs will ever be balanced with provide chain that goes into producing EV autos, if it even will get to that time! One thing to positively keep watch over.
— Joe LaRosa. CPA, MBA International Fleet Guide, Glen Burnie, Maryland
Educate Drivers on EV Security
The problem with EVs is numerous fleet managers don’t understand how these items works. My background of going to high school and studying easy methods to repair these autos has taught me easy methods to inform my drivers easy methods to drive these autos the proper manner. Moreover, I even have automotive scan instruments supplier stage ones that I pay for out of my pocket to repair and program points in home.
I’ve had drivers who ran the EV lifeless, and it’s a ache to maneuver them round and get the charging and rebooting the community on a lot of these automobiles. Not enjoyable. Plenty of time wasted. There are going to be extra points displaying up as we maintain going into the long run as a result of most car fleet managers have by no means touched a wrench of their life.
Submitted by way of E-mail
Recharging Time Obstacle
Automobile rental poses a selected concern for using EVs in that rental corporations want to show round an incoming unit in a short time. Charging a depleted EV doesn’t enable for that. And the wanted infrastructure on the rental web site is gentle years behind the retail market.
Writer Wished to Stay Nameless