business fleet july/august 2011

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A BOBIT PUBLICATION : JULY/AUGUST 2011

MANAGING 10-50 COMPANY VEHICLES : WWW.BUSINESSFLEET.COM

HOW TO LOWER EMISSIONS AND LIFECYCLE COSTS

FREE TOOLS!

2012-MY

BY OEM

BF GOES TOE-TO-TOW WITH THE 2011 RAM 5500 WRECKER

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fl eet.ford.com

HIGHER QUALITY.At Ford Fleet, we believe higher quality is in the details. When your employees are in our vehicles, you can be confi dent we’ve left no stone unturned to ensure those vehicles are reliable, durable and sustainable. We’re committed to continuous improvement and dedicate ourselves every day to creating cars and trucks that are greener, safer and smarter. When it comes to quality, hard work and higher standards are all we know. Because our fl eet is your fl eet. Ford Fleet. Get More.

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12 The Green Fleet Price TagTaking a hard-numbers approach to your vehicles’ tailpipe emissions and lifecycle cost data will help you improve your ecological footprint without breaking the bank.

20 Budget-Savvy Routing SolutionsFrom 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.

22 Real-World RollbackBusiness Fleet catches up with old friends to put a 2011 Ram 5500 Chassis Cab with a rollback wrecker package through its paces.

INTERIOR

ON THE COVER

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES VOL. 12, NO. 5

With a 6.7-liter, 305-horsepower Cummins Turbo Diesel engine and a maximum towing capac-ity of 22,300 lbs., there’s no doubt the 2011 Ram 5500 packs a punch. But how did the rollback wrecker version fare in our real-world road test? Turn to Page 22 to fi nd out!

For weekly updates, visitwww.businessfl eet.com

4 ExhaustManufacturers’ 2012-MYFleet Incentives

10 Road Signs■ Survey Shows Cell Phone Crash Statistics

■ New Stickers Chart Annual Fuel Costs

■ Commercial Tire Costs Are on the Rise

28 Executive Showroom■ 2012 Ford Focus

■ 2011 BMW 5 Series

■ 2011 Chrysler 300

30 Selector Index

34 WEX Index

36 Revving UpReplacing work vehicles from dealer stock will be diffi cult — unless you’re looking for pickups.

ON THE WEB

20

10

28

36

WWW.BUSINESSFLEET.COM2 BUSINESS FLEET JULY/AUGUST 2011

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Choose the Sears Blue Automotive Crew for professional fleet maintenance. We offer competitive pricing and over 800 convenient locations. Plus, drive-in service and evening and weekend appointments allow drivers to schedule maintenance during down time.

We accept most national fleets.

Are you spending too much on fleet maintenance?

The Sears Blue Automotive Crew can save your company money

Learn more about Sears Fleet Maintenance Call 1-877-NOW-AUTO or visit SEARSAUTOCOMMERCIAL.COM

BRAKES

OIL CHANGES

TIRES

BATTERIES

SHOCKS & STRUTS

SUSPENSION REPAIR

COOLING SYSTEM

ALIGNMENTS

FLUID EXCHANGES

Our ASE-certified mechanical technicians average over 12 years under the hood, and our industry leading training programs mean

service and support you can count on.

VALVOLINE® OIL CHANGE ONLY

$2099Most vehicles, up to 5 quarts

Tax not included

BF0711toc.indd 3BF0711toc.indd 3 7/14/11 8:54:28 AM7/14/11 8:54:28 AM

EXHAUST


2012-MY MANUFACTURERS’ NATIONAL FLEET INCENTIVES

AUDI (AUDICORPORATESALES.COM)

A3 $1,000

A4 SEDAN (INCL. S4) & AVANT $1,000

A5 COUPE / A5 CABRIOLET $500

A6 SEDAN $1,000

A8 AND A8L $1,000

TT COUPE & ROADSTER $1,000

Q5 $500

Q7 $1,500

CHRYSLER(800-999-FLEET)

CHRYSLER 200 CONVERTIBLE $1,000

CHRYSLER 200 SEDAN $1,000

CHRYSLER 300 $1,000

CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY $1,500

DODGE AVENGER SEDAN $1,000

DODGE CALIBER $1,000

DODGE CHALLENGER (EXCL. SRT) $500

DODGE CHARGER (EXCL. SRT) $1,000

DODGE DURANGO $1,000

DODGE GRAND CARAVAN $1,500

DODGE JOURNEY $1,500

FIAT 500 $0

JEEP COMPASS $1,500

JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE (EXCL. SRT) $1,000

JEEP LIBERTY $2,500

JEEP PATRIOT $1,500

JEEP WRANGLER $1,000

RAM 1500 REGULAR CAB/ QUAD CAB/CREW CAB $2,000

RAM 2500/3500 REGULAR CAB/ QUAD CAB/MEGA CAB $2,000

RAM 3500 CHASSIS CAB (SLT & LARAMIE) $2,500

RAM 3500 CHASSIS CAB (ST) $1,000





RAM CARGO VAN $1,000

FORD(FLEET.FORD.COM)

FORD EDGE $1,500

FORD FIESTA $0

FORD FLEX $2,000

FORD FOCUS $1,000

FORD FUSION (EXCL. HYBRID) B/ $1,000

FORD MUSTANG (EXCL. GT & SHELBY) B/ $1,500

FORD TAURUS (EXCL. SHO) B/ $2,000

FORD E-SERIES - ALL ENGINES C/ D/ E/ $1,500

FORD ESCAPE (EXCL. HYBRID) B/ $1,500

FORD EXPEDITION (INCL. EL) C/ $2,500

FORD EXPLORER $1,500

FORD F-SERIES (UNDER 8,500-LBS. GVWR - EXCL. RAPTOR) B/ T.B.D.

FORD F-SERIES SUPER DUTY (OVER 8,500-LBS. GVWR) GAS ENGINE D/ $2,000

F-SERIES SUPER DUTY (OVER 8,500-LBS. GVWR) DIESEL ENGINE D/ $3,000

FORD MEDIUM TRUCK F-650/F-750 D/ T.B.D.

FORD TRANSIT CONNECT (LESS TAXI PACKAGE) $500

FORD TRANSIT CONNECT (WITH 86T TAXI PACKAGE) $1,000

LINCOLN MKS $2,500

LINCOLN MKT C/ $2,000

LINCOLN MKX $2,000

LINCOLN MKZ (EXCL. HYBRID) B/ C/ $2,000

LINCOLN NAVIGATOR (INCL. L) C/ $3,500

GENERAL MOTORS

BUICK ENCLAVE $1,000

BUICK LACROSSE $500

BUICK REGAL $250

CADILLAC CTS COUPE $1,000

CADILLAC CTS SEDAN $1,000

CADILLAC CTS WAGON $1,000

CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV $2,000

CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT $2,000

CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID $2,000

CADILLAC ESCALADE SUV (EXCL. HYBRID) $2,000

BUICK SRX $750

CHEVROLET AVALANCHE $2,000

CHEVROLET CAPRICE POLICE PATROL VEHICLE $2,500

CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT $1,000

CHEVROLET COLORADO CREW $1,500

CHEVROLET COLORADO EXTENDED CAB $1,500

CHEVROLET COLORADO REGULAR CAB $1,000

CHEVROLET CRUZE $250

CHEVROLET EQUINOX $500

CHEVROLET EXPRESS $1,500

CHEVROLET IMPALA $2,000

CHEVROLET MALIBU $1,000

CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 (EXCL. HYBRID) $2,500

CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 HYBRID $2,500

CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD GAS $2,500

CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD DIESEL $3,000

CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500HD GAS $2,500

CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500HD DIESEL $3,000

CHEVROLET SONIC $250

CHEVROLET SUBURBAN $2,000

CHEVROLET TAHOE $2,000

CHEVROLET TRAVERSE $1,000

GMC ACADIA $1,000

GMC CANYON CREW $1,500

GMC CANYON EXTENDED $1,500

GMC CANYON REGULAR $1,000

GMC SAVANA $1,500

GMC SIERRA 1500 (EXCL. HYBRID) $2,500

GMC SIERRA 1500 HYBRID $2,500

GMC SIERRA 2500HD GAS $2,500

GMC SIERRA 2500HD DIESEL $3,000

GMC SIERRA 3500HD GAS $2,500

GMC SIERRA 3500HD DIESEL $3,000

GMC TERRAIN $500

GMC YUKON $2,000

GMC YUKON XL $2,000

HYUNDAI

ACCENT (FOUR-DOOR) $750

SONATA $2,000

ELANTRA $1,000

ELANTRA TOURING $1,000

TUCSON (FWD & AWD) $1,000

SANTA FE (FWD & AWD 2.4L & 3.5L) $1,500

GENESIS $2,000

KIA(KIA.COM)

FORTE $750

FORTE KOUP $750

SPORTAGE $500

SEDONA $1,000

SORENTO $750

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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Visit fl eet-central.com to fi nd out more, or contact a Subaru fl eet professional at 1-800-879-8233.

*EPA-estimated hwy fuel economy for 2011 Forester 2.5X and Outback 2.5i CVT models. †Based on ALG’s 2011 Residual Value Awards for Compact Utility Vehicles and Midsize Utility Vehicles.

The Subaru Forester and Outback, with Symmetrical All-Wheel

Drive standard, get 27 MPG and 29 MPG* respectively, have

been awarded ALG Residual Value Awards† and are 2011 IIHS

Top Safety Picks. They’re the smart, safe, long-term investment.

Love. It’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.

Should I offer Subaru as my fl eet vehicle?

Short answer: yeah

Long answer: heck yeah


BF0711morse.indd 1 7/7/11 8:38:12 AM

EXHAUST

STAFF

PublisherEdward J. Bobit

Group PublisherSherb Brown

Executive EditorChris Brown310-533-2499

[email protected]

Managing Editor/Art DirectorTariq Kamal310-533-2470

[email protected]

Editorial ConsultantHoward Rauch

Production DirectorKelly Bracken

eMedia and PrintProduction Manager

Brian Peach310-533-2548

Great Lakes Sales Manager Robert Brown, Jr.

[email protected]

Sales ManagerEric Bearly310-533-2579

[email protected]

Sales & Marketing Coordinator

Tracey Tremblay

Business and Editorial Offi ceBobit Business Media

3520 Challenger St.Torrance, CA 90503Phone: 310-533-2400

Fax: 310-533-2503E-mail: info@

businessfl eet.com

Subscription Inquiries888-239-2455

[email protected]

Chairman Edward J. Bobit

President & CEOTy F. Bobit

Chief Financial Offi cerRichard E. Johnson

Printed in U.S.A.


SELECTED VEHICLES ONLY. SEE WEBSITES AND FLEET ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES FOR PROGRAM DETAILS AND RESTRICTIONS.

2012-MY MANUFACTURERS’ NATIONAL FLEET INCENTIVES

MAZDA(MAZDAUSA.COM/FLEET)

CX-7 $1,000

CX-9 $1,500

MAZDA2 $500

MAZDA3 $500

MAZDA5 $800

MAZDA6 $750

MX-5 MIATA $1,000

MERCEDES-BENZ(FLEET.MBUSA.COM)

C-CLASS $1,500

E-CLASS $2,000

S-CLASS $4,000

CLS-CLASS $3,000

CL-CLASS $4,000

SLK-CLASS $2,000

SL-CLASS $3,000

R-CLASS $1,000

GLK-CLASS $1,500

M-CLASS $3,000

GL-CLASS $3,000

G-CLASS $3,000

NISSAN(NISSANUSA.COM/BUYING)

CUBE $500

VERSA $500

SENTRA $500

ALTIMA SEDAN $1,000

ALTIMA COUPE $0

LEAF $0

MAXIMA $1,000

QUEST $0

FRONTIER $1,000

PATHFINDER $1,000

XTERRA $1,000

JUKE $0

ROGUE $500

MURANO $1,000

MURANO CC $0

TITAN $1,000

ARMADA $1,000

SAAB(248-581-0855)

9-3 SEDAN & WAGON $4,000

9-3 CONVERTIBLE $4,000

9-5 SEDAN $3,000

9-4X CROSSOVER $3,000

TOYOTA(FLEET.TOYOTA.COM)

4RUNNER TBD

AVALON $1,000

CAMRY (GAS) $400

CAMRY (HYBRID) $0

COROLLA $1,000

HIGHLANDER (GAS) TBD

HIGHLANDER (HYBRID) $0

FJ $0

LANDCRUISER $0

MATRIX $1,000

PRIUS TBD

PRIUS V TBD

PRIUS C TBD

PRIUS PLUG-IN TBD

RAV4 $800

SEQUOIA $1,000

SIENNA $1,000

TACOMA $750

TUNDA (DOUBLE/CREWMAX) $2,500

VENZA $400

YARIS L/B (EXCL. ALL-NEW-GENERATION SEDANS) $200

VOLVO

C30 $1,000

C70 $0

S60 $500

S80 $1,500

XC60 $1,000

XC70 $1,500

XC90 $1,500


BF0711morse.indd 1 7/7/11 8:38:12 AMBF0711exhaust.indd 7BF0711exhaust.indd 7 7/14/11 8:48:08 AM7/14/11 8:48:08 AM

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ZoomSafer re-

leased a survey

showing that 32

percent of companies

have knowledge or

evidence of on-the-job

crashes that occurred

as a result of distrac-

tions stemming from

employee use of cell

phones while driving.

The fi rst annual

survey polled 500

business managers in

North America from

sales and service

(sedan) fl eets, truck-

ing (local and long

haul), construction,

public sector, utilities

(telecommunications,

cable, etc.), home and

business services and

chauffeured transpor-

tation (taxi, limousine,

and bus).

Overall fi ndings

indicate rapidly grow-

ing concern among

corporate managers

about distracted driv-

ing risks and liability.

Results show that 62

percent of companies

have adopted written

policies prohibiting

employees from using

a mobile phone while

driving for company

business; however,

only a little more than

half make any attempt

to enforce compliance.

Some fi ndings

include:

■ 32 percent of

companies have

knowledge or

evidence of vehicle

crashes that occurred

as a result of distrac-

tions stemming from

employee use of cell

Survey Shows On-t Stats From Cell-

RAM UNVEILS CLASS 5 ‘LONG HAULER’ CONCEPT

Chrysler’s Ram brand

has introduced a new

concept truck, the Ram

“Long Hauler,” which is

based on a Class 5 Ram

5500 Chassis Cab, that’s

designed for towing heavy

trailers, long-distance

driving and for use at a

work site.

Starting with a Class

5 Ram 5500 Crew Cab,

Ram designers added

a Mega Cab passenger

compartment, an eight-

foot box and a midship

fuel tank. The extra tank

helps increase the range

between refueling stops.

Combined with a second

frame-mounted tank and

an optional third bed-

mounted auxiliary tank,

total fuel capacity is

170 gallons.

The powertrain for the

concept truck includes an

inline six-cylinder 6.7-liter

Cummins Turbo Diesel

engine rated at 800 lb.-

ft. of torque. The Ram’s

diesel engine is mated to

a six-speed, Aisin AS68RC

automatic transmission

with a four-wheel-drive

transfer case coupled to a

4.88 Dana 110 axle with

dual rear wheels.

ROADSIGNS


The U.S. Department

of Transportation

(DOT) and the Environ-

mental Protection Agency

(EPA) unveiled new fuel

economy labels, appearing

in 2013. This is the fi rst

overhaul of the labels

since the program began

30 years ago.

Some of the key data points on

the label include annual fuel cost,

mpg equivalents for non-gasoline

or diesel-powered vehicles, a

tailpipe emissions ratings, a smog

check rating, fuel savings over a

fi ve-year period and even

a QR code.

The QR code (bottom right) allows users to get more information about the vehicle by taking a photo with a web-enabled smartphone.

EPA AND DOT UNVEIL NEW FUEL ECONOMY LABELS

oints on The QR code (bottom right)

BF0711roadsigns.indd 10BF0711roadsigns.indd 10 7/14/11 8:53:25 AM7/14/11 8:53:25 AM

The Insurance Institute for

Highway Safety (IIHS) evalu-

ated 13 small cars, in which

six earned the organi-

zation’s Top Safety

Pick award. None

of the vehicles

earned a “poor”

rating in any of the

agency’s four tests.

The IIHS said it

rates safety per-

formance on results

from front, side, rollover

and rear impact tests. Cars that

earn the top rating of “good” in

these tests, and are equipped with

electronic stability control (ESC),

qualify for the Top Safety

Pick award.

The six Top Safety

Pick award winners

are:

■ 2012 Ford Focus

■ 2012 Honda

Civic

■ 2011 Hyundai

Elantra

■ 2011 Lexus CT 200h

hybrid

■ 2011 Nissan Juke

■ 2011 Toyota Prius hybrid

SIX SMALL CARS EARN IIHS ‘TOP SAFETY PICK’ HONOR

Modern Tire Dealer

magazine reports the

following price increases,

all in effect as of July 5:

■ Falken Tire Corp.

commercial truck tire

prices by up to 10 percent.

■ Hankook Tire America

Corp. commercial tires,

including Hankook and

Aurora, up to 9 percent.

■ Double Coin Hold-

ings Ltd. radial truck, OTR,

crane and industrial tires

up to 6 percent.

■ Yokohama Tire Corp.

medium truck and com-

mercial light truck tires,

up to 8 percent.

■ Continental, Gen-

eral and AmeriSteel brand

replacement commercial

truck tires sold in the U.S.

by 11 percent.

■ Michelin and BF-

Goodrich replacement

commercial truck tires by

an average of 12 percent;

Michelin brand replacement

tires in the U.S. and Canada

up to 6 percent.

■ Dealer base price list

on Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.

commercial truck tires up

to an average of 9 percent.

-the-Job Crashl-Phone Use

phones while driv-

ing; 50 percent of

companies with more

than 500 drivers have

knowledge or evi-

dence of such crashes.

■ 7.6 percent of

companies have faced

plaintiff’s litigation re-

sulting from damages

allegedly occurring as

a result of employee

use of cell phones

while driving. For

companies with more

than 5,000 drivers the

same statistic is 37

percent.

■ Long haul truck-

ing and local trucking

were the most likely

to have a written cell

phone policy (71 per-

cent and 83 percent,

respectively) while

home and business

services were least

likely (less than 50

percent).

■ 53 percent of

companies with a de-

fi ned cell phone policy

claim to enforce the

policy in some man-

ner. Interestingly, 25

percent of respondents

who claimed to have

a policy declined to

answer how such poli-

cies were enforced.

For companies that

did answer the policy

enforcement ques-

tion, 61 percent said

they utilized “post-

incident” employee

discipline to enforce

compliance.

ROADSIGNS

WWW.BUSINESSFLEET.COM JULY/AUGUST 2011 11BUSINESS FLEET

ZoomSafer’s study revealed that more than half of all large fl eets surveyed had recorded a crash resulting from cell phone use while driving.

COMMERCIAL TIRE PRICES INCREASE MIDYEAR

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BF0711roadsigns.indd 11BF0711roadsigns.indd 11 7/14/11 8:53:26 AM7/14/11 8:53:26 AM

FFLEET VEHICLES ARE A FINANCIAL

asset and an environmental liability.

They keep businesses running, but

they’re often a company’s No. 1 source

of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs)

and smog-forming pollutants. Clean-

er-running vehicles represent a great

opportunity to reduce one’s ecologi-

cal footprint. But becoming a better

environmental steward comes with a

price tag, which is especially tough

in a down economy.

Business Fleet asked the lifecy-

cle experts at Vincentric to provide

cost data for popular fl eet sedan and

crossover models along with their

outputs of smog-forming pollutants

and greenhouse gases. We wanted

to see which models offer the best

combination of lifecycle cost and

environmental benefi t.

Vincentric weighed eight cost

factors for confi gurations in the

2011 model year to determine over-

all lifecycle costs for three years and

60,000 miles. The eight factors are

depreciation, fuel, insurance, oppor-

tunity cost, fi nancing, maintenance,

taxes, and state fees and repairs.

These costs were integrated with the

Vincentric Fleet Price, which esti-

mates the acquisition cost for each

vehicle in the study.

Using data from the Environ-

mental Protection Agency, Vincen-

tric then calculated GHGs (tons per

year) and smog (pounds per year)

emissions for the 60,000-mile/

three-year period.

THE WINNER

After weighing GHGs and smog

outputs against total lifecycle cost,

Toyota Prius won hands down. The

nation’s best-selling hybrid fi nished

fi rst in the lifecycle cost and GHG

categories and second in the smog

category.

While the Prius has higher acqui-

sition costs than many models, much

of those costs are recouped in fuel

savings and higher residual values.

The other hybrids in the analysis

reaped similar fuel and residual val-

ue payback, though to a lesser extent.

As to be expected, all six of the hy-

brid models in the analysis ranked in

the Top 10 in lowest levels of GHG

and smog output.

The Ford Focus S and Chevrolet

Cruze Eco also placed in the Top 10

in all three categories, proving that

vehicles with traditional internal

combustion engines (ICEs) also can

be cost-effective and environmen-

tally friendly. Two more models, the

non-Eco Chevrolet Cruze and Volks-

wagen’s Jetta SE, fi nished just out-

side the Top 10.

CYLINDER SAVINGS

Where can fl eets look for a combina-

tion of cost savings and environmen-

tal improvement?

The engine analysis chart calcu-

lates examples of possible cost sav-

ings and GHG savings within the

same model, when looking at six-

and four-cylinder ICE versions com-

pared to their hybrid counterparts.

For instance, moving from the

Toyota Camry V-6 to its four-cylin-

der Base counterpart will save 11.5

percent in GHG output and $2,446 in

cost over the three-year and 60,000-

mile lifecycle. Moving from Camry

V-6 to the hybrid version saves 30.7

percent — a much greater percent-

age of GHG output — and puts

$2,026 back in your pocket.

Moving from Camry Base to Cam-

ry Hybrid will still save 21.2 percent

in GHG, though at a cost premium

of $879.

Looking at Ford Fusion, moving

from the six-cylinder Fusion SEL to

the four-cylinder Fusion S model will

reap 29.6 percent GHG savings and

also save a whopping $8,565 in total

cost. Switching from the six-cylinder

SEL to Fusion Hybrid results in an

impressive 51.3 percent GHG sav-

ings and $7,440 in cost.

Similar to Camry, moving from the

four-cylinder Fusion S to Fusion Hy-

brid will yield an impressive 30.8 per-

cent in GHG savings, though at a cost

premium of $1,125 over the lifecycle.

Regarding Honda Civic, moving

from the four-cylinder Civic DX to

Civic hybrid results in 29.3 percent

GHG savings, though it will cost you

$1,193 over the lifecycle to make

that switch.

We included Chevrolet Malibu

with six- to four-cylinder engines

to further demonstrate that simply

moving down in cylinders results in

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. BY CHRIS BROWN

GREEN FLEETPRICE TAG

PROCUREMENT


THE

BF0711vincentric.indd 12BF0711vincentric.indd 12 7/20/11 4:43:30 PM7/20/11 4:43:30 PM

substantial GHGs and cost savings.

Analyzing current model-year

SUVs and crossovers produced a

similar result. Vincentric found that

switching from the six-cylinder mod-

els to their hybrid versions shows

signifi cant GHG savings as well,

though the cost component varies.

Moving from the Toyota High-

lander Base V-6 to Highlander Hy-

brid saves 28.6 percent in GHGs

and $1,001. The move from Ford

Escape Limited 3.0-liter V-6 to Es-

cape Hybrid cuts GHGs by 36.4 per-

cent — though at a slight $432 cost

premium.

On both models, switching from

six- to four-cylinder engines offers

GHG savings — albeit a smaller

amount than going to the hybrid

model — along with a cost savings.

We also asked for an analysis of

savings on two luxury models, Audi

A6 and BMW 5 Series, when mov-

ing from eight to six cylinders. In

both instances, stepping down in en-

gine size reaps substantial savings in

both GHGs and cost.

SMART DECISION MAKING

This analysis is only a small sample of

models and is intended to provide a ba-

sis for your own cost analysis, minus


FLEET MODEL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND COST ANALYSISSHOWING LIFECYCLE COSTS WITH SMOG-FORMING POLLUTANTS AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, (THREE YEARS, 60,000 MILES) SORTED BY LIFECYCLE COST WITHIN SEGMENT

VEHICLE COMBINED MPG TOTAL LIFECYCLE COST

SMOG(LBS., 60,000 MILES)

GHG(TONS, 60,000 MILES)

COMPACT CARS

TOYOTA PRIUS I 50 17248 11.25 11.73

TOYOTA COROLLA BASE 29 18809 21.15 20.25

HONDA CIVIC DX 29 19229 21.15 20.25

FORD FOCUS S 28 19565 11.25 20.97

CHEVROLET CRUZE 1FL 28 19739 14.55 20.93

CHEVROLET CRUZE ECO 30 20206 14.55 19.56

HONDA CIVIC HYBRID 41 20422 3.96 14.31

INTERMEDIATE CARS

VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SE PZEV 27 20667 11.25 21.75

TOYOTA CAMRY BASE 26 21149 21.15 22.59

FORD FUSION S 27 21247 21.15 21.75

TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID 33 21569 11.25 17.79

FORD FUSION HYBRID 39 22372 11.25 15.06

VOLKSWAGEN JETTA DIESEL TDI 34 22377 21.15 19.62

CHEVROLET MALIBU LS FLEET 26 23554 21.15 22.59

TOYOTA CAMRY LE V6 23 23595 21.15 25.53

FORD TAURUS SE 21 24043 21.15 27.96

CHRYSLER 300 C 19 24786 14.55 30.90

CHRYSLER 200 LX 24 24846 14.55 24.45

CHEVROLET IMPALA LS FLEET 22 27195 14.55 26.70

DODGE CHARGER BASE 21 27941 14.55 27.96

CHEVROLET MALIBU 2LT 3.6L 20 28609 21.15 29.37

CHRYSLER 200 S 22 29069 14.55 26.70

CHRYSLER 300 BASE 21 29627 14.55 27.96

FORD FUSION SEL AWD 19 29812 21.15 30.90

SUVS/CROSSOVERS

FORD ESCAPE XLS 24 21862 21.15 24.45

CHEVROLET EQUINOX LS 26 22203 14.55 22.59

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BASE 4 CYL 22 22573 21.15 26.70

SUBARU OUTBACK BASE PZEV 25 22777 14.55 23.49

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 4WD 28 22907 11.25 20.97

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BASE 20 23908 21.15 29.37

FORD ESCAPE LIMITED 3.0L 21 23997 14.55 27.96

FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 33 24429 11.25 17.79

CHEVROLET EQUINOX LT 3.0L 20 25671 14.55 29.37

FORD EDGE SE 21 25762 21.15 27.96

LUXURY (ENTRY/PRESTIGE)

VOLVO S40 T5 24 25169 21.15 24.45

AUDI A4 2.0T PREMIUM 25 26979 21.15 23.49

MERCEDES-BENZ C300 21 28210 21.15 27.96

BMW 528i 26 31385 21.15 22.59

VOLVO S60 T6 AWD 21 32745 21.15 27.96

AUDI A6 3.2 PREMIUM 24 32987 21.15 24.45

BMW 535i 22 35835 21.15 26.70

BMW 550i 18 43542 21.15 32.61

AUDI A6 4.2 PRESTIGE 19 43915 21.15 30.90

LIFECYCLE DATA ©2011 VINCENTRIC LLC


many other important factors such as

driver preference and vehicle utility.

While alternatively fueled and

powered vehicles grab the spotlight,

a more complete view of your own

company’s environmental impact re-

quires a measurement of your fl eet’s

total emissions of greenhouse gas

and smog-forming pollutants. By

doing this, less dramatic changes —

such as merely switching cylinders

on similar models — will show their

impact. BF

NOTES■ Smog-forming pollution is created by two types of vehicle emissions: hydrocarbons (including non-methane organic compounds, or NMOG) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). When combined with sunlight, they create smog.

■ Greenhouse gas emissions are a function of fuel combustion. Such gases trap heat in the atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases emitted from vehicles include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and ni-trous oxide (N2O), and relatively small amounts of hydrofl uorocarbons (HFCs) and black carbon.

■ BF used federal emissions (rather than Cali-fornia-based) standards to simplify comparisons.

■ This analysis used models with automatic transmissions or fl eet model designations.

■ Two-wheel-drive only versions were includ-ed, unless model or engine level is exclusively four-wheel drive.

PROCUREMENT


GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS (TONS, 60,000 MILES)

VEHICLECOMBINED

MPG

TOTAL LIFECYCLE

COSTGHG

TOYOTA PRIUS I 50 17248 11.73

HONDA CIVIC HYBRID 41 20422 14.31

FORD FUSION HYBRID 39 22372 15.06

TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID 33 21569 17.79

FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 33 24429 17.79

CHEVROLET CRUZE ECO 30 20206 19.56

VOLKSWAGEN JETTA DIESEL TDI 34 22377 19.62

HONDA CIVIC DX 29 19229 20.25

TOYOTA COROLLA BASE 29 18809 20.25

CHEVROLET CRUZE 1FL 28 19739 20.93

FORD FOCUS S 28 19565 20.97

SMOG-FORMING POLLUTANTS (LBS, 60,000 MILES)

VEHICLECOMBINED

MPG

TOTAL LIFECYCLE

COSTSMOG

HONDA CIVIC HYBRID 41 20422 3.96

TOYOTA PRIUS I 50 17248 11.25

FORD FUSION HYBRID 39 22372 11.25

TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID 33 21569 11.25

FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 33 24429 11.25

FORD FOCUS S 28 19565 11.25

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 4WD 28 22907 11.25

VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SE PZEV 27 20667 11.25

CHEVROLET CRUZE ECO 30 20206 14.55

CHEVROLET CRUZE 1FL 28 19739 14.55

TENTH PLACE IS OCCUPIED BY 11 VEHICLES WITH 14.55 POUNDS OF OUTPUT. CRUZE WAS RANKED HIGHER DUE TO COMBINED GHG AND SMOG SCORE.

GREENHOUSE GAS AND LIFECYCLE COST SAVINGS WHEN CHANGING ENGINES AND CYLINDERS

VEHICLECOMBINED

MPG

TOTAL LIFECYCLE

COSTSMOG GHG

% GHG SAVINGS

LIFECYCLE SAVINGS

TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID 33 21569 11.25 17.79 30.3% 2,026

TOYOTA CAMRY BASE 26 21149 21.15 22.59 11.5% 2,446

TOYOTA CAMRY LE V6 23 23595 21.15 25.53

FORD FUSION HYBRID 39 22372 11.25 15.06 51.3% 7,440

FORD FUSION S 27 21247 21.15 21.75 29.6% 8,565

FORD FUSION SEL AWD V6 19 29812 21.15 30.90

HONDA CIVIC HYBRID 41 20422 3.96 14.31 29.3% -1,193

HONDA CIVIC DX 29 19229 21.15 20.25

FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 33 24429 11.25 17.79 36.4% -432

FORD ESCAPE XLS 24 21862 21.15 24.45 12.6% 2,135

FORD ESCAPE LIMITED 3.0L V6 21 23997 14.55 27.96

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 28 22907 11.25 20.97 28.6% 1,001

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BASE 22 22573 21.15 26.70 9.1% 1,335

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BASE V6 20 23908 21.15 29.37

CHEVROLET MALIBU LS FLEET 26 23554 21.15 22.59 23.1% 5,055

CHEVROLET MALIBU 2LT 3.6L V6 20 28609 21.15 29.37

AUDI A6 3.2 PREMIUM 24 32987 21.15 24.45 20.9% 10,928

AUDI A6 4.2 PRESTIGE V8 19 43915 21.15 30.90

BMW 528i 26 31385 21.15 22.59 30.7% 12,157

BMW 535i 22 35835 21.15 26.70 18.1% 7,707

BMW 550i V8 18 43542 21.15 32.61

GHG SAVINGS AND LIFECYCLE SAVINGS ARE CALCULATED FROM THE LARGEST ENGINE (IN GREEN).


In his waste management business, Darin Coats uses his trucks for everything from pumping septic tanks to pulling his backhoe. “Mike, my BusinessLink dealer, said they’d put a new front end on my truck and I’d be on the road the next day. And they did their darnedest to do that. He knows my trucks can’t be down. They just can’t.”

Darin’s free BusinessLink membership provides him with priority services for his Dodge and Ram trucks, even his 4500 and 5500 chassis cabs. “It’s amazing to me because West Motor Company is a small dealership, but they treat me like a big dealership would,” Darin says. “They help me in whatever I do. They’ll pick up my truck when it needs service, give me a loaner, take me wherever I need to go.” And when it comes to fi nancing, “It seems like I can get a truck really easily.” Darin relies on Mike to take care of things. “I trust him, it’s been an earned relationship.”

See why businesses choose BusinessLink.

Watch a BusinessLink video

featuring Darin on your smartphone.

Download the Microsoft Tag Reader

app at http://gettag.mobi and capture

a photo of this tag.

Got a BusinessLink story of your own? Send it to facebook.com/ramtrucks and you may be featured in our next ad!

The fast lane for small business.

chryslerbusinesslink.com . 877-2THELINK

“Small businesses are going to run the country because we take care of each other. My BusinessLink dealer took an interest in my business. It’s like an unoffi cial partnership — and that’s the best kind.”

Darin Coats, President

Coats & Coats LLC, Preston, ID

2011 Ram Chassis Cab

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BusinessLink Commercial Finance Provider


Get to Know the All-New Volvo S60 With City

You Know It’s Luxurious and Safe.

Volvo XC60 Volvo S80

AF03-45.11

AF03-45volvo.indd 8-9 5/12/11 12:47:57 PM


For more information, visitwww.volvocars.us/fleet or calltoll-free 1 877 283-5338

y SafetyTM Forward Collision Warning System.

Did You Know It Starts Under $30,000?

Introducing the 2012 Volvo S60 — uncompromised performance, technology and legendary Volvo safety in the body of a European sports sedan. Boasting a highway fuel economy of 30 mpg, the all-new Volvo S60 comes standard with City Safety,TM a forward collision warning system with full auto brake. With cutting-edge technology and timeless styling, the S60 is an indulgence that’s easy to justify.

Volvo’s aggressive fleet program includes incentives, impressive lifecycle costs,

factory scheduled maintenance, a 4-year, 50,000-mile warranty

and roadside assistance.

AF03-45volvo.indd 8-9 5/12/11 12:47:57 PM


AA WE LL-TA ILORE D MAPP ING

solution can help make any business

driver more effi cient, and making

sure the tool is modifi ed to fi t certain

needs doesn’t have to be expensive.

Most web-based map services offer

many of the same advanced features

as highly customized solutions, mi-

nus the giant price tag.

NAVIGATING ON A DIME

With a $40 installation cost and a $40

renewal fee every other year, Micro-

soft Streets and Trips has become the

go-to resource for Ron Day’s Fibre-

new franchise, a leather repair busi-

ness based in Southside Atlanta.

With his laptop and separately

purchased USB GPS receiver in tow,

Day uses the software’s routing capa-

bility to plan a week’s worth of trips

or to update directions as needed

during a route. Day says Streets and

Trips’ turn-by-turn voice navigation

also has proved to be a valuable ben-

efi t while he’s on the road.

Users can plug in an entire

day’s worth of addresses and

click on the “Maximize Route”

button. The software provides

a plan that includes estimated

times of arrival and distance

and can take into account

parameters such as driving

speeds, road types, and start

and stop times.

Streets and Trips also allows users

to view and print street view maps

that show side streets in detail or

wide view maps that show interstates

and freeway exit locations.

“I can call the night before I route

every [customer] and say, ‘I’m going

to be there at this time,’” Day says.

“It really helps cut down on time.”

FREE AND FUNCTIONAL: GOOGLE, BING AND MAPQUEST

A variety of free, web-based tools are

available on the Internet for anyone to

use, each packed with useful features

like road, street and satellite views,

simple route planners, live traffi c

updates or parameter settings to help

create custom routes off the cuff.

While charting a route with a free

map tool can be as simple as entering

in a starting and ending address and

clicking on “Get Directions,” Micro-

soft’s free Bing Maps tool incorpo-

rates results from the parent search

engine. Google Maps does the same,

typically including contact informa-

tion and hours of business.

Other free mapping services such

as MapQuest incorporate a toolbar

with options for toggling views of

local businesses like gas stations,

ATMs, lodging and airports. Us-

ers can also type in their own terms

to fi nd locations by category (e.g.,

“post offi ce” or “airport”). Unleaded

regular fuel prices are also available

and are updated daily.

In place of a map toolbar or tool

tabs, Bing Maps offers more than 60

“Map Apps” that include distance

calculators, parking fi nders, traffi c

camera views, dataset displays and

weather updates. RouteSavvy, a Bing

Map App created by third-party pub-

lisher OnTerra, allows users to enter

up to 100 addresses and receive an

optimized route between their desti-

nations, according to Microsoft.

In addition, map tools often

have route planners integrated

into the main tool or in separate

browsing windows. Google’s

multiple-stop route options, for

example, are part of the stan-

dard map, while MapQuest and

Bing Maps offer separate route

planning tools that offer more

customizability.

MapQuest’s free Route Plan-

ner, available as its own website, can

calculate routes with up to 26 stops.

The Route Planner offers parameter

selections that include choosing be-

tween the shortest time and the short-

est distance or allowing the map to

effi ciently re-order stops. Business

drivers are using the tool for mileage

BUDGET-SAVVY ROUTING

TECHNOLOGY


Google Maps’ now-famous Street View can be incorporated into driving directions.

BF0711mapapps.indd 20BF0711mapapps.indd 20 7/14/11 8:49:26 AM7/14/11 8:49:26 AM

SOLUTIONSreimbursement, says Anke Corbin,

vice president of marketing and dis-

tribution at MapQuest.

THREE MORE FREE MAP TOOLS

Among typical map services,

NAVTEQ Map24 has a customiz-

able route confi gurator that allows

users to select type of vehicle, means

of travel (interstate, road, or minor

road) and amount of highway use

and road type.

Free Map Tools offers more

than 30 tools for creating,

measuring and saving maps to

share with others, including

“How Far Is It In Between?”

for measuring distances, Time

Zone Converter, Radius Around

Point and Area Calculator. The

Meeting COG for ZIP codes

tool offers the closest location

to hold a meeting by processing at-

tendees’ ZIPs.

Rand McNally offers a user-

friendly interface for obtaining di-

rections and maps, as well as useful

travel guides with information, pho-

tos and videos for a large number of

cities across the United States.

MAPPING ON A MOBILE PHONE

Depending on the map tool of

choice, fl eet managers can share fi n-

ished maps and directions with driv-

ers via email, text message, iPad or

a pre-installed navigation device.

Both Google Maps and MapQuest

are available in a mobile application

version, while Bing Maps is avail-

able as part of the Bing mobile app

for phones and the iPad.

Fibrenew Atlanta Northwest fran-

chisee Bill Metropol uses Google

Maps on his BlackBerry phone to set

up destinations the day before and

checks BlackBerry Traffi c en route

to keep his directions updated. By

using a phone cradle in his vehicle,

Metropol can get in, touch the screen

and go, he says.

Metropol uses Google Maps’ re-

routing feature on the fl y. To add a

stop to a route, “You can place your

cursor over the highlighted route on

the Google map and drag that road

in the middle like a rubber band and

stretch it in another direction,” he

adds. “The map will automatically

adjust for you.”

Metropol also uses the Yellow

Pages mobile app to fi nd local busi-

nesses quickly when he’s out on a

call and short on time. The app can

pull up all locations of a certain type

of business — say, dentists who may

be in need of leather repair — then

navigate to those locations and pro-

vide URLs and phone numbers.

Standard GPS services with voice

navigation can be very costly, so the

voice navigation feature on Map-

Quest’s free mobile app has been met

with a warm response, MapQuest’s

Corbin says. To keep drivers on time,

the app also features an estimated

time of arrival function.

Last year, business traveler and IT

professional Paul Braren of Wethers-

fi eld, Conn., decided to replace his

portable GPS device with an iPhone

4. He uses NAVIGON Mobile Navi-

gator software on his phone and

syncs addresses from his computer

using Apple’s MobileMe service.

“Before I head out, I run NAV-

IGON on my phone and I point

it to my address book and the

different places I’m going,”

Braren says. “If I get a busi-

ness-related call, I can take the

call and just keep my hands on

the wheel of the car. As soon as

I hang up, it returns me to the

directions.”

At $49.99, NAVIGON is a bit

pricey for an iPhone app, Braren

says — but well worth the cost. “Dur-

ing 10 to 20 mile trips, I spend half as

much time in the car as I would with-

out NAVIGON,” he says.

Live traffi c updates on the app

that reroute around trouble automat-

ically “have saved my skin,” Braren

says. BF


t

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. BY JENNIFER WASHINGTON

MapQuest’s free Route Planner, available as its own website, can calculate routes with up to 26 stops.

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BF0711mapapps.indd 21BF0711mapapps.indd 21 7/14/11 8:49:27 AM7/14/11 8:49:27 AM

VEHICLE SPOTLIGHT

WBusiness Fleet catches up with old friends to put a 2011 Ram 5500 Chassis Cab with a rollback

wrecker package through its paces. BY CHRIS BROWN AND TARIQ K AMAL

REAL-WORLD ROLLBACK

WHEN WE L AST TR AVELED TO

the San Fernando Valley to meet up

with Steve Heller of Howard Som-

mers Towing and Century Towing’s

Jeff Littman, we tested the 2008

Ram 5500 under real-world tow-

ing conditions (“Towing the Line,”

September 2008). Three years later,

the 2011 edition landed at Business

Fleet’s doorstep, eager to prove

its worth among its medium-duty

competitors.

Heller and Littman were happy to

oblige, and Littman was able to se-

cure a pristine Maserati coupe from

The Auto Gallery Service Center

to add a layer of class to our gritty

road test.

MAX TOW FOR 2012

Coming this fall, the 2012 Ram

4500/5500 Chassis Cab offers a

GCWR upgrade as part of an op-

tional “Max Tow” package, avail-

able on both regular and crew cab

models and in 4x2 and 4x4 confi gu-

rations. The Ram Max Tow package

includes a new transfer case gear

Heller checks under the hood. Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cab

trucks come equipped with the 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel engine that produces 305 hp at 2,900 rpm and

610 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,600 rpm.

The Cummins commercial-grade

DEF system is placed out of the way of upfi t zones.

22 BUSINESS FLEET

▲

▲

▲

JULY/AUGUST 2011

PH

OT

OS

BY

TA

RIQ

KA

MA

L

BF0711ram5500.indd 22BF0711ram5500.indd 22 7/14/11 8:49:59 AM7/14/11 8:49:59 AM

VEHICLE SPOTLIGHT


Littman gave the signal to pull the Maserati onto the 5500’s 19-foot, alu-minum bed. With built-in tan-dem PTO capability, all Ram models feature a heavy-duty cooling system in order to meet additional heat loads that are often generated from PTO upfi ts and/or extreme hauling.

After securing the load and getting behind the wheel, Littman praised the new truck’s drive capabilities — especially in close quarters. “The turning radius is amazing; it’s really tight,” he said. “With the exhaust brake, it’s just awesome. You touch the brakes and you come to a com-plete stop. And it’s got plenty of power and it feels really stable with that car on it. The power and accel-eration is amazing.”

Littman liked the new truck’s built-in upfi tter switches, easy-to-read

gauges and variety of charge points.

The industry-standard 34-inch frame rail spacing and fl at, clean rails on a one-piece C-channel rear-frame rail with a 50,000-psi steel strength allow for easy upfi tting. Heller has his hand on an optional 22-gallon mid-ship fuel tank, which frees up more space behind the rear axle.

Visit www.businessfl eet.com to watch a video of Heller, Littman, the truck and the Maserati in action!

▲

▲▲

▲

set as well as chain and sprocket

upgrades, recalibrated transmission

software and an enhanced collection

of thermal management devices.

The 30,000-lb. GCWR gives the

Ram Chassis Cab a 4,000-lb. in-

crease in trailer-towing capabilities.

That’s good enough for a maximum

of 22,300 lbs. on a Ram 4500 or

5500 Chassis Cab equipped with a

6-speed automatic transmission on

Class 4 Chassis Cab trucks.

Max Tow is available on Ram

Chassis Cab trucks equipped with

the optional commercial-grade Ai-

sin 6-speed automatic transmission

and 4.88 rear-axle ratio. A 4.44 axle

is standard on 4500 models and not

available with the Max Tow pack-

age. A 6-speed manual transmission

is standard on Ram 4500 and 5500

Chassis Cab models.

The 2012 Ram Chassis Cab also

features customer-selectable maxi-

mum speeds of 55, 60, 65, 70, or 75

mph. According to the manufacturer,

Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cab

trucks have a best-in-class standard

87 mph top speed. A fi ve-minute

shutdown timer is also available. BF


EXECUTIVE SHOWROOM

UPGRADES ACROSS THE BOARDFORD FOCUS

The redesigned Focus costs

more than its prior-gener-

ation model, but the 2012

was built to compete with upscale

counterparts such as the Honda

Civic, Mazda3 and VW Golf. That

means more standard features and

across-the-board upgrades in de-

sign, performance and technology.

Available as a four-door sedan or

fi ve-door hatchback, the new Focus

has parted ways with the hyper-

futuristic headlights and fenders

that helped it stand out upon its in-

troduction in 1999. The new, more

understated body sits atop a frame

that has been tuned to deliver bet-

ter turning and traction and reduce

understeer; aided in part by a new,

electric power steering system.

The new Focus’ interior features

upgraded materials throughout and

a cockpit-style dash, gauge cluster

and center console. Each model

is available with the latest edition

of Ford’s SYNC, which replaces

knob-and-button controls with

the MyFord Touch LCD-screen

interface. The cabin’s fi t and fi n-

ish, paired with the new technology,

raises the driver experience to a level

of sophistication approaching near-

luxury brands.

Ford currently offers seven models

ranging from the base “S” sedan to

the “Titanium” hatch, each equipped

with a 2.0-liter I-4 that delivers 155

horsepower at 145 lb.-ft. of torque.

The new Focus actually reaches its

peak fuel effi ciency with an automat-

ic transmission. The new, six-speed

transmission delivers 27 mpg city

and 37 mpg highway, while the S and

SE’s fi ve-speed manual gets 26/36.

That’s good enough for a combined

fuel economy improvement of 10

percent over the 2011 model.

Dual-stage front airbags and side

and canopy airbags come standard,

along with standard electronic sta-

bility control and anti-lock brakes.

Optional added safety features

include active park assist and an

available rearview camera.

Fleet managers may be put off

by the new Focus’ higher price, but

the starting MSRP of $16,500 still

places it below the three competi-

tors listed above.

Ford will launch the Focus Elec-

tric in late 2011, the automaker’s

fi rst all-electric offering and one of

fi ve new electrifi ed vehicles avail-

able by 2013. Ford says the Focus

Electric will offer a mile-per-gallon

equivalent better than Chevrolet

Volt, while a full recharge is ex-

pected to take three to four hours

at home with a 240-volt charge sta-

tion — half the charge time of the

Nissan Leaf.

Standard engine: 2.0L I-4, 140 hp

Transmission/drive: 6-speed automatic,

5-speed manual

Cargo space (cu. ft. max.): 13.2

Fuel tank capacity (gal.): 12.4

EPA fuel economy rating (city/highway mpg): 26/36


BF0711showroom.indd 26BF0711showroom.indd 26 7/14/11 8:53:58 AM7/14/11 8:53:58 AM

EXECUTIVE SHOWROOM


CONSERVATIVE STYLING BELIES POWER, PEPBMW 5 SERIES

Designers of the new-

for-2011 BMW 528i, 535i

and 550i sedans borrowed

several parts — and even some

size — from the full-size 7 Se-

ries. Each edition utilizes the same

eight-speed automatic transmission

(although six-speed stick is still an

option on the 535i and 550i, ex-

cluding their all-wheel “xDrive”

editions), front suspension and

all-electric steering, and is a few

inches longer and wider.

Perhaps most notably, the 550i

is now driven by the bigger ve-

hicle’s turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8.

The 528i and 535i employ BMW’s

240-horsepower, 3.0-liter straight

six. The manufacturer announced

in July that the 2012 528i, due

to hit showrooms this fall, will

be equipped with a turbocharged

four-cylinder engine. The manu-

facturer says that change will de-

liver a 15 percent boost in fuel

economy without giving away any

horsepower.

The I-6 and V-8 top out at 32

and 22 mpg, better than average for

the class and good enough to earn

the EPA’s “SmartWay” designation

for the 528i. But drivability remains

the paramount concern for 5 Series

buyers, and Business Fleet’s 550i

press vehicle provided an excep-

tionally smooth, quiet ride. The 300

pounds it gained since the 2010-MY

didn’t seem to affect straight-line

speed or cornering.

The prior generation’s much-

discussed “fl ame surfacing” design

concept is gone, as is the wagon

option, at least in the United States.

The new look is more traditional,

but not boxy, and the sedan actual-

ly leans back slightly. That stance,

paired with a smiling façade, sets

the 5 Series apart from its aggres-

sively posed contemporaries.

The 5 Series also gives its com-

petitors a run for their money in

style points. With a clean, sophis-

ticated look and standard leather

throughout, the interior is, in a

word, beautiful. The subdued look

belies a long list of standard and

optional features; among them,

rear- and side-view cameras, auto-

matic parallel parking, eight-way

power seats, rear-seat entertain-

ment, heads-up driver display and

more. One knock is less trunk

space, some of which appears to

have been allocated to the rear-seat

legroom.

Priced between $45,050 and

$62,500, the new 5 Series offers a

wide range of models and options

for the discerning fl eet buyer.

Standard engine: 3.0L I-6, 240 hp (528i, 535i);

4.4L V-8, 400 hp (550i)


6-speed manual, rear- or all-wheel drive



EPA fuel economy rating (city/highway mpg):

22/32 (I-6 max.), 15/22 (V-8 max.)


EXECUTIVE SHOWROOM


MORE POWER, MORE EFFICIENCY, MORE STYLEAUDI A8

For its major overhaul since

2004, Audi rebuilt the A8 to

contend with the demands of

today’s luxury-car driver: plenty

of power, advanced technical inter-

face, good looks and, last but not

least, some semblance of fuel ef-

fi ciency.

Engineers found more mpg with

a lighter curb weight and a new

powerplant. The weight loss is due

in no small part to continued refi ne-

ments to the A8’s aluminum frame,

a feature that remains unique to the

segment since its introduction in the

mid-90s. The 17 percent improve-

ment in fuel effi ciency is thanks

partly to a new engine, which

boasts greater effi ciency despite

increased horsepower and torque

over the prior-generation V-8.

Most of the credit, however,

belongs to a new, fi nely tuned,

eight-speed automatic Tiptronic

transmission. The same tranny is

mated to the stretched-out A8L’s

12-cylinder. The L’s longer wheel-

base managed to improve its own

fuel effi ciency by 12 percent despite

a signifi cant boost in horsepower.

All that drivability would be reck-

less without safety measures, which

the new A8 has in spades. Some, such

as standard all-wheel drive, advanced

electronic stability control and brake-

assisting systems, were designed to

prevent collisions. Others are meant

to mitigate injury when crashes oc-

cur, not the least of which is a frame

designed to channel the forces of im-

pact away from passengers.

Audi’s technicians continue to

refi ne their MMI user interface,

migrating several controls from

the prior generation’s still-present

joystick controller to a series of

touchscreen menus. That change

includes wireless Internet, music

and climate control, etc., as well as

the ability to drive navigation and

other text-dependent applications

by writing on the screen with your

fi nger. Seriously.

The redesigned exterior leans

toward a more aggressive stance

without diverging too wildly from

the prior-generation design. The

fenders are more muscular and the

tail raised, but the new A3’s look is

actually somewhat more subdued

than its predecessor’s, especially

in the more serene expression con-

veyed by the front grille.

Starting at just under $80,000,

this vehicle remains out of reach for

most fl eet managers. But for those

seeking a high-end sedan with all

the extras, the A8 must remain on

the short list of contenders.

Standard engine: 4.2L V-8, 372 hp

Optional engine: 6.3L W-12, 500 hp


all-wheel drive



EPA fuel economy rating (city/highway mpg): 17/27


LIFECYCLE ANALYSIS

MAKE/MODEL ENG

INE

POWERED BY

EPA

MPG

TOTA

L FUEL

CO

ST:

6

0,00

0 M

ILES

TOTA

L ES

T.

M

AIN

TEN

AN

CE

CO

ST

ACQ

UIS

. CO

ST

(I

NCLU

DES

DES

TIN

ATIO

N)

TOTA

L AC

TUAL

D

EPREC

IATI

ON

CO

ST P

ER

M

ILE


COMPACT CARS

2011 FORD FOCUS S 2.0L4 25/34 8166 1490 16158 9908 0.3261

2011 TOYOTA COROLLA BASE 1.8L4 26/34 7970 1481 15458 9358 0.3135

2011 NISSAN SENTRA BASE 2.0L4 27/34 7788 1746 16287 9137 0.3112

2011 HONDA CIVIC DX 1.8L4 25/36 7996 1464 16720 9770 0.3205

2011 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID 1.3L4 40/43 5612 1682 23753 13128 0.3404

2010 HONDA CIVIC CNG GX 1.8L4 24/36 4536 1464 24322 16622 0.3770

2011 TOYOTA MATRIX BASE 1.8L4 25/32 8358 1610 18280 10680 0.3441

2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE 1FL 1.4L4 25/30 8575 1485 17880 9680 0.3290

2011 DODGE CALIBER EXPRESS 2.0L4 23/32 8801 1314 15734 9784 0.3317

2011 MAZDA3 I SPORT 2.0L4 24/33 8472 2145 16738 8488 0.3184

2011 CHEVROLET VOLT 1.4L3 35/40 4012 1894 39388 21938 0.4641

2011 TOYOTA PRIUS I 1.8L4 51/48 4672 1848 21028 10728 0.2875

INTERMEDIATE CARS

2011 DODGE CHARGER RALLYE 3.6L6 18/27 10944 1970 26130 17030 0.4991

2011 SUBARU IMPREZA 2.5I 2.5L4 20/26 10385 3323 18376 9626 0.3889

2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS FLEET 2.4L4 22/33 8954 1888 20712 12712 0.3926

2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA S 2.0L4 23/29 9138 1692 15931 9431 0.3377

2011 CHRYSLER 200 LX 2.4L4 21/30 9546 2064 19735 13235 0.4141

2011 HONDA ACCORD LX 2.4L4 23/34 8610 1674 21297 11497 0.3630

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA BASE 2.5L4 23/32 8801 2423 18828 10328 0.3592

2011 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID 2.5L4 35/33 6802 2352 25866 16291 0.4241

2011 TOYOTA CAMRY LE 2.5L4 22/32 9053 1524 20388 10838 0.3569

2011 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID 2.4L4 31/35 7092 1524 24503 12953 0.3595

2011 FORD FUSION S 2.5L4 23/33 8702 1758 18987 10787 0.3541

2011 MAZDA6 I SPORT 2.5L4 22/31 9158 2256 19450 11250 0.3777

INTERMEDIATE 2

2011 SUBARU LEGACY BASE 2.5L4 23/31 8906 2913 20569 9869 0.3615

2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT KOMFORT 2.0L4 22/31 9832 2404 22476 12926 0.4194

2011 FORD TAURUS SE 3.5L6 18/28 10806 2213 23173 11023 0.4007

2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS FLEET 3.5L6 18/29 10678 1844 21773 14673 0.4532

2011 BUICK LACROSSE CX 2.4L4 19/30 10185 2258 26165 13415 0.4310

2011 TOYOTA AVALON BASE 3.5L6 20/29 9970 1773 29096 14446 0.4365

2011 NISSAN MAXIMA S 3.5L6 19/26 11509 2234 27990 13140 0.4481

2011 CHRYSLER 300 BASE 3.6L6 18/27 10944 1836 26047 16847 0.4938

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK BASE 2.5L4 22/29 9390 2939 23491 10141 0.3745

ENTRY-LEVEL LUXURY CARS

2011 SAAB 9-3 BASE 2.0L4 21/31 9434 1767 30203 21303 0.5417

2011 LEXUS ES 350 3.5L6 19/27 11350 2395 35094 16194 0.4990

2011 LINCOLN MKZ BASE 3.5L6 18/27 10944 1033 30472 18822 0.5133

▲

▲▲

▲

BF0711lifecycle.indd 30BF0711lifecycle.indd 30 7/14/11 8:48:34 AM7/14/11 8:48:34 AM

LIFECYCLE ANALYSIS

MAKE/MODEL ENG

INE

POWERED BY

EPA

MPG

TOTA

L FUEL

CO

ST:

6

0,00

0 M

ILES

TOTA

L ES

T.

M

AIN

TEN

AN

CE

CO

ST

ACQ

UIS

. CO

ST

(I

NCLU

DES

DES

TIN

ATIO

N)

TOTA

L AC

TUAL

D

EPREC

IATI

ON

CO

ST P

ER

M

ILE


ENTRY-LEVEL LUXURY CARS

2011 MERCEDES-BENZ C CLASS C300 3.0L6 18/25 12082 2892 30986 13236 0.4702

2011 CADILLAC CTS 3.0 3.0L6 18/27 10944 1166 34249 18549 0.5110

2011 VOLVO S40 T5 2.5L5 21/30 9546 912 25460 14710 0.4195

2011 VOLVO S60 T6 3.0L6 18/26 11093 1039 35813 20613 0.5457

2011 AUDI A4 2.0T PREMIUM 2.0L4 22/30 9953 2938 29588 14088 0.4497

FULL-SIZE LUXURY CARS

2011 LINCOLN TOWN CAR EXECUTIVE 4.6L8 16/24 12312 1087 39084 26984 0.6731

2011 CADILLAC DTS 4.6L8 15/23 13032 1091 42032 25932 0.6676

2011 BUICK LUCERNE CX 3.9L6 17/26 11509 2286 27305 16255 0.5008

PRESTIGE LUXURY CARS

2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E350 3.5L6 17/24 12715 4154 44817 21817 0.6448

2011 CADILLAC STS 3.6L6 18/27 10944 1118 43054 27554 0.6603

2011 VOLVO S80 3.2 3.2L6 18/27 10944 1011 34296 19296 0.5209

2011 BMW 528i 3.0L6 22/32 9720 1705 38860 19960 0.5231

2011 AUDI A6 3.0 PREMIUM 3.0L6 18/26 11909 3192 45561 21611 0.6119

2011 LEXUS GS 450H 3.5L6 22/25 10699 2946 56206 27106 0.6792

ULTRA LUXURY CARS

2011 MERCEDES-BENZ S550 5.5L8 15/23 13992 3516 89350 46250 1.0626

2011 LEXUS LS 460 BASE 4.6L8 16/24 13219 3046 64087 31487 0.7959

2011 AUDI A8 BASE 4.2L8 17/27 12197 3748 72462 35262 0.8535

2011 LEXUS LS 600H L 5.0L8 19/23 12071 2906 107934 54934 1.1652

MEDIUM PICKUPS

2011 FORD RANGER XL 2.3L4 19/24 11054 1645 17130 10480 0.3863

2011 CHEVROLET COLORADO W/T 2.9L4 18/25 11253 1573 16607 9682 0.3751

2011 GMC CANYON W/T 2.9L4 18/25 11253 1518 15673 9848 0.3770

2011 DODGE DAKOTA ST 3.7L6 15/20 13713 1741 19240 10940 0.4399

2011 TOYOTA TACOMA BASE 2.7L4 19/25 10881 1389 16417 7417 0.3281

FULL-SIZE PICKUPS

2011 FORD F150 XL 3.7L6 15/19 13987 2045 19560 9885 0.4319

2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 W/T 4.3L6 15/20 13713 1809 18511 9261 0.4130

2011 DODGE RAM 1500 ST 3.7L6 14/20 14320 2222 18280 9105 0.4274

2011 TOYOTA TUNDRA BASE 4.6L8 15/20 13713 1922 21851 10526 0.4360

2011 GMC SIERRA 1500 W/T 4.3L6 15/20 13713 2207 18511 9261 0.4197

MINIVANS

2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN BASE 3.6L6 17/25 11670 2050 20278 12853 0.4429

2011 CHRYSLER TOWN&COUNTRY TOUR 3.6L6 17/25 11670 2006 27946 17596 0.5212

2011 TOYOTA SIENNA BASE 2.7L4 19/24 11054 2467 23274 12324 0.4308

2010 MAZDA5 2.3L4 21/27 9933 2326 18477 12277 0.4089

▲▲

▲▲

▲

▲▲


BF0511greenflt_conf.indd 1 5/5/11 11:15:59 AM

LIFECYCLE ANALYSIS

MAKE/MODEL ENG

INE

EPA

MPG

TOTA

L FUEL

CO

ST:

6

0,00

0 M

ILES

TOTA

L ES

T.

M

AIN

TEN

AN

CE

CO

ST

ACQ

UIS

. CO

ST

(I

NCLU

DES

DES

TIN

ATIO

N)

TOTA

L AC

TUAL

D

EPREC

IATI

ON

CO

ST P

ER

M

ILE

POWERED BY

■ FUEL EXPENSES CALCULATED AT WEIGHTED AVERAGE FUEL PRICE OF $3.67/GALLON REGULAR UNLEADED AND $3.94/GALLON PREMIUM UNLEADED, AS OF 6/27/11.

■ CNG PRICE CALCULATED AT $2.03/GALLON.

■ ACQUISITION COSTS ARE BASED ON INVOICE LESS FLEET INCENTIVES, IF ANY.

■ DEPRECIATION BASED ON ACQUISITION COST LESS EXPECTED RESALE VALUE AT 36 MONTHS, 60,000 MILES.

■ LIFECYCLE COST DATA ©2011 VINCENTRIC LLC. VINCENTRIC CALCULATES UPDATED LIFECYCLE COST INFORMATION EACH MONTH FOR OVER 1,900 VEHICLE CONFIGURATIONS PER MODEL YEAR.


FULL-SIZE VANS

2011 FORD E-150 CARGO 4.6L8 13/17 15940 2623 23585 14835 0.5566

2011 CHEVROLET EXPRESS G1500 4.3L6 15/20 13713 2150 22599 13799 0.4944

2011 GMC SAVANA G1500 5.3L8 13/17 15940 2284 26180 16555 0.5797

COMPACT SUVS

2011 SUBARU FORESTER X 2.5L4 21/27 9933 2960 21213 10463 0.3893

2011 JEEP LIBERTY SPORT 3.7L6 16/22 12707 1830 20843 10893 0.4238

2011 FORD ESCAPE XLS 2.5L4 21/28 9795 1761 19382 10307 0.3644

2011 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID 2.5L4 34/31 7113 1761 28606 15556 0.4072

2011 JEEP COMPASS BASE 2.0L4 23/29 9138 1574 18162 10262 0.3496

2011 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LS 2.4L4 22/32 9053 1823 21852 11327 0.3700

2011 FORD EDGE SE 3.5L6 18/25 11253 2000 25083 12508 0.4293

2011 MAZDA CX-7 I SV 2.5L4 20/28 10098 2366 20716 10566 0.3838

MID-SIZE SUVS

2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER BASE 3.5L6 18/24 11427 1847 26259 10634 0.3985

2011 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 3.5L6 28/28 8277 1829 34551 12801 0.3818

2011 FORD EXPEDITION XL 5.4L8 14/20 14320 2069 32535 17710 0.5683

2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO 3.6L6 16/23 12501 2142 28491 16091 0.5122

2011 SUBARU TRIBECA PREMIUM 3.6L6 16/21 12933 3462 29360 13260 0.4942

2011 MAZDA CX-9 SPORT 3.7L6 17/24 11844 2432 26278 11278 0.4259

2011 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG SPORT 3.6L6 16/23 13421 3146 39093 20643 0.6202

LARGE SUVS

2011 FORD EXPEDITION XL 5.4L8 14/20 14320 2069 32535 17710 0.5683

2011 CHEVROLET TAHOE COMM 5.3L8 15/21 13464 2267 32794 15219 0.5158

2011 CHEVROLET TAHOE HYBRID 6.0L8 21/22 10810 2123 46894 23494 0.6071

2011 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 COMM 5.3L8 15/21 13464 2267 35914 17839 0.5595

2011 GMC YUKON COMM 5.3L8 14/20 14320 2315 32869 14619 0.5209

2011 GMC YUKON HYBRID 6.0L8 20/23 10908 2211 47334 23984 0.6184

2011 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5 4.6L8 14/19 14594 2092 36404 16054 0.5457

LUXURY SUVS

2011 GMC YUKON HYBRID DENALI 6.0L8 20/23 10908 2487 54246 25571 0.6494

2011 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR 5.4L8 11/16 18106 1347 51074 27499 0.7825

2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE BASE 6.2L8 14/18 14899 1077 58004 26804 0.7130

2011 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 3.5L6 16/21 13885 3763 41111 16211 0.5643

2011 BMW X5 XDRIVE35i 3.0L6 15/21 14455 1981 39010 7910 0.4058

2011 VOLVO XC90 3.2 3.2L6 16/22 12707 1203 35471 15921 0.4972

2011 LEXUS RX 350 3.5L6 18/25 12082 2612 36600 15050 0.4957

2011 AUDI Q7 3.0 PREMIUM 3.0L6 16/22 13643 3648 41877 15477 0.5461

2011 LEXUS RX 450H HYBRID 3.5L6 32/28 8275 2361 42287 17537 0.4696

2011 VOLVO XC60 3.2 3.2L6 18/24 11427 1071 30801 12451 0.4158

2011 VOLVO XC70 3.2 3.2L6 18/25 11253 955 29596 13796 0.4334

▲

▲

▲

▲▲


For more information, please visit us at www.GreenFleetConference.com

or call (800) 576 - 8788.

OCTOBER 3-4, 2011Gaylord Texan • Grapevine, TXThe Green Fleet Conference & Expo is the only event which focuses

exclusively on environmental sustainability for car and truck fl eets. Others may

touch on the subject but Green Fleet Conference & Expo specializes in

it, offering two intense, concentrated days of education, enterprising dialogue

and engaging exhibits. If you are a fl eet manager in either the corporate or

government arena, make room in your calendar for this must-attend event!

PAST SPONSORS INCLUDE:

Supporting Organization

GFC04-51.11

BF0511greenflt_conf.indd 1 5/5/11 11:15:59 AMBF0711lifecycle.indd 33BF0711lifecycle.indd 33 7/14/11 8:48:41 AM7/14/11 8:48:41 AM

AF1010jobfinder.indd 1 9/21/10 9:04:40 AM

INDEX

CITY GAS DIESEL

ATLANTA, GA $3.601 $3.906

BOSTON, MA $3.778 $4.054

CHICAGO, IL $4.089 $4.068

DALLAS, TX $3.540 $3.836

DENVER, CO $3.614 $3.954

DETROIT, MI $3.844 $4.030

HOUSTON, TX $3.520 $3.772

LOS ANGELES, CA $3.956 $4.334

MEMPHIS, TN $3.467 $3.838

MIAMI, FL $3.748 $3.961

MINNEAPOLIS, MN $3.645 $3.965

NEW ORLEANS, LA $3.461 $3.771

PHILADELPHIA, PA $3.747 $4.117

PHOENIX, AZ $3.549 $3.915

PORTLAND, OR $3.840 $3.910

SAN FRANCISCO, CA $4.020 $4.441

SEATTLE, WA $3.919 $4.282

ST. LOUIS, MO $3.519 $3.782

WASHINGTON, DC $3.973 $4.183

NATIONAL AVERAGE $ 3.653 $3.931

GAS PRICES BREAK TWO-MONTH LOSING STREAK

The spring rally that caused U.S. gasoline prices to peak

at $3.985 per gallon in the fi rst week of May gave way to price levels of $3.54 per gallon in late June; however, strength in Midwestern markets lifted the average toward $3.57 per gallon at press time. Gasoline demand during the fi rst half of 2011 was essentially on par with 2010 levels. However, U.S. consum-ers paid about $50 billion more for their gasoline thanks to the higher prices. Diesel street prices have drifted down to about $3.90 per gallon and is expected to outperform gas in July and August, thanks to a robust export market.

COMPANY PHONE WEB PAGE

Adrian Steel 800-677-2726 adriansteel.com/roadredi 25

BMW 855-273-4802 bmwusa.com/fl eet 8-9

BusinessLink 877-2THELINK dodge.com/businesslink 17

Fleet Job Finder • fl eetjobfi nder.com 35

Ford Customer Service • fordparts.com C3

Ford Motor Co. 800-34-FLEET fl eet.ford.com C2-1

GMAC Smart Auction 877-273-5572 smartauction.biz 23

Green Fleet Conference 2011 800-576-8788 greenfl eetconference.com 33

Mazda • mazdausa.com/fl eet 14-15

Morse Watchmans 800-423-8256 morsewatchmans.com 7

Nissan Fleet Vehicles • nissanfl eetvehicles.com 27

Sears Auto Center 877-NOW-AUTO searsautocommercial.com 3

Subaru 800-879-8233 subaru.com 5

Verizon Wireless 800-VZW-4BIZ verizonwireless.com/transportation C4

Volvo 877-283-5338 volvocars.com 18-19

FUEL REPORT RETAIL FUEL PRICES AS OF JUNE 2011

AVERAGE NATIONALPRICE PER GALLON TREND

SOURCE: WRIGHT EXPRESS, 97 DARLING AVE., SOUTH PORTLAND, ME 04106, WWW.WRIGHTEXPRESS.COM, OR (800) 395-0812

JULY/AUGUST ADVERTISERS


$4.00

$3.75

$3.50

$3.25

$3.00

$2.75

$2.50

$2.25

$2.00

$1.75

$1.50

$1.25

GASDIESEL

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011

$2.97 $3.16 $3.53 $3.78 $3.89 $3.65 $3.24 $3.54 $3.89 $4.07 $4.06 $3.93

BF0711index.indd 34BF0711index.indd 34 7/14/11 8:47:35 AM7/14/11 8:47:35 AM

Think the grass is greener somewhere else?

It just might be

Search for jobs in your fi eld at www.fl eetjobfi nder.com

AF1010jobfinder.indd 1 9/21/10 9:04:40 AMBF0711index.indd 35BF0711index.indd 35 7/14/11 8:47:35 AM7/14/11 8:47:35 AM

FPAR00360_D209891_VINad_R03.indd 1 6/9/11 2:55 PM

WT0711fordparts.indd 1 6/10/11 4:32:15 PM

REVVING UP

Meeting the needs

of small fl eets

that traditionally

buy out of dealer stock

is increasingly becom-

ing a challenge, accord-

ing to the dealers who

service them. “Now that

business is better, there

isn’t any inventory,” says

one multifranchise fl eet

dealer. “We’re going to

have one long, dry sum-

mer when it comes to

new vehicles to sell.”

That dealer used to

carry 1,200 units of total

inventory but is now

down to about 250 new

cars and trucks. “We’d

rather have more inven-

tory, but we can’t get

[the units],” he says.

On the demand side,

this has not been a

problem until recently.

“In the last year or two,

it’s been a very negative

atmosphere going out

and knocking on doors,”

says one Florida Chevro-

let dealer. “The response

was, ‘Look out back, I

have 12 empty trucks.

Can you give me a buy

fi gure on them?’”

A lot of those compa-

nies eventually went out

of business. The ones

that survived cut back

from 10 to 25 trucks to

six or seven, he says.

On the supply side,

manufacturers are work-

ing through the Japan

supply crunch and up-

ping capacity on some

hot vehicles. However,

in the post-recession

economy and with a

smaller factory footprint,

manufacturers are no

longer building an excess

of vehicles and then

fi guring out a way to sell

them. Dealers say that

manufacturers have been

uncharacteristically quiet

about capacities for the

2012 model year.

“Until manufacturers

know for an absolute

fact that business will

be better, they won’t

increase production,”

predicts one dealer. “And

for the dealers who took

their inventories down

to nothing, it’s going to

be a long trip back to a

full lot.”

On top of that, order-

to-delivery times (OTDs)

have been elongated

in the supply shortage.

One large fl eet dealer’s

balance sheet reveals that

OTDs have gone from

eight to 10 weeks to 14

to 18 weeks, which has

only further aggravated

in-stock inventory issues.

Sparse inventories and

long OTDs will be tough

on those companies that

delayed replacements in

the recession. Dealers re-

port that companies, that

were retiring work ve-

hicles at fi ve or six years

and 120,000 to 150,000

miles, are now turning

them at seven or eight

years and 200,000 miles.

It’s becoming a main-

tenance issue. “They’re

learning that they should

have replaced sooner,”

says the Florida dealer.

“They are fi nding out

they need to replace en-

gines and transmissions

that they never had to do

before.”

“One customer told

me if he had just gotten

rid of the two or three

vehicles that cost him

the huge repair bills he

could have gotten two

new vehicles,” says one

dealer.

And now the sup-

ply shortage is coming

face-to-face with a slow,

steady ramp up in small

business demand. Ser-

vice and repair industries

— such as HVAC, pest

control, landscaping and

electrical contractors

— are coming around

as “people are fi nally

having stuff fi xed,” says

one dealer.

New home construc-

tion, however, is lagging,

which has kept a lid on

a key business segment:

pickup truck sales.

Right now, dealers are

reporting 116- to 120-

day supplies of pickup

trucks at the domestic

manufacturers. Pickup

truck plants are being

shut down temporarily

to address the shortage.

Some trucks have rebates

of $4,500 to move them.

It’s a good time to buy

or lease pickups if your

company is in a position

to do so.

The pickup truck mar-

ket may be changing in

this era of austerity, high

fuel prices and utiliza-

tion of vehicles more for

their functionality than

their image. “It’s pretty

obvious that pickup

trucks are becoming a

commercial commodity

and are no longer being

bought by the average

retail buyer,” says one of

our dealers.

Allowing manufac-

turers to focus pickup

specs, options and sales

on the work truck market

is good news. To the

“air haulers” leaving the

market, fl eets say, good

riddance! BF

Need Fleet? Get in LineFor small fl eets ramping up in the recovery, replacing work vehicles will be diffi cult with tight dealer inventories — unless you’re looking for pickups. BY CHRIS BROWN


BF0711revvingup.indd 36BF0711revvingup.indd 36 7/14/11 8:50:39 AM7/14/11 8:50:39 AM

With 24-hour access, FordParts.com allows you to fi nd everything you need, anytime you want. The VIN search feature is a simple solution to fi nding the exact part you need to get the job done right. There’s no better way to order parts than FordParts.com.

ANY FORD PART.ANY TIME.

Let VIN search do the work.

And you can order any time — so there’s less downtime.

FPAR00360_D209891_VINad_R03.indd 1 6/9/11 2:55 PM

WT0711fordparts.indd 1 6/10/11 4:32:15 PMBF0711revvingup.indd 993BF0711revvingup.indd 993 7/14/11 8:50:41 AM7/14/11 8:50:41 AM

Network details and coverage maps at vzw.com. © 2011 Verizon Wireless.

REMOTELY MONITOR FLEET PRODUCTIVITY. Every second a vehicle is off the road is money lost. That’s why

Verizon technology enables you to keep a close eye on your drivers

and improve fl eet maintenance. Remote monitoring keeps you aware

of developing problems and minimizes maintenance costs. With a

suite of transportation solutions and unmatched network coverage

and reliability, Verizon helps keep your vehicles—and your business—

running smoothly.

verizonwireless.com/transportation

ASSET TRACKING

FLEET PRODUCTIVITY & MANAGEMENT

LOGISTICS AUTOMATION

FIELD FORCE MANAGEMENT

TELEMATICS

BFBG11verizon.indd 1 6/14/11 2:34:03 PMBF0711cover.indd 994BF0711cover.indd 994 7/14/11 8:45:41 AM7/14/11 8:45:41 AM

business fleet july/august 2011

Documents

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ford fleet

sears fleet maintenance

professional fleet maintenance

company vehicles