The Fleet AdvantEDGE

Tips every fleet manager and driver needs to know!

During the winter months when weather takes a turn, ensuring your fleet is prepared is vital for safety and efficiency. Proper winter fleet preparation helps reduce downtime, prevents accidents and protects drivers. Mounting tire chain hangers on your heavy-duty trucks and tractors is a key step in cold weather readiness.

Winter continues to be one of the toughest seasons for the transportation industry. The combination of freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and unpredictable storms creates conditions that challenge even the most experienced drivers. As fleets push for uptime, safety, and reduced operating costs, winter preparation must be more strategic, more disciplined, and more tech-informed than ever before.

Success starts long before a truck hits the road, and it begins with the driver.

Gain valuable insights and practical guidance on maintaining optimal tire conditions for fleet operations.

National Tire Safety Week (NTSW), led annually by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), returns June 30 – July 4, 2025. This nationwide initiative brings attention to the critical role tires play in vehicle safety, especially for heavy-duty trucks and Class 8 fleet operations. And according to the latest TRUST (Truck Reliability Usage Safety Tracker) index when reviewing the CSA scores of the 20 private fleets in the country, tires account for 50% of total vehicle maintenance violations and 83% of out of service vehicle Maintenance violation. This innovative safety index aims to provide benchmarks that address the longstanding issue of safety within transportation, with fleet-specific KPIs to help organizations improve areas of specific operations and elevate their overall CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) scores.

As we kick off June, the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” are officially underway. This period that runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day consistently sees an uptick in serious and fatal crashes nationwide. And while the spike in risk is often associated with younger or distracted drivers, fleet managers and heavy-duty truck drivers face the ripple effects every single day on the road. 

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) International Roadcheck is scheduled for May 13-15, 2025, and this year’s focus is on tire safety and false records of duty status (RODS).

This 72-hour inspection and enforcement blitz aims to strengthen safety compliance across North America by targeting key areas that directly impact vehicle performance and road safety. This emphasizes the need for proper tire maintenance and accurate, honest RODS documentation both crucial in preventing crashes, avoiding costly out-of-service orders, and ensuring smooth operations for carriers and drivers.

Earth Day is a time to reflect on how we can make meaningful environmental progress, not just in the future, but right now.

The transportation industry plays a critical role in sustainability, and while the conversation often focuses on electric and alternative fuels, clean diesel technology remains a powerful and immediate solution for reducing emissions and improving efficiency for corporate transportation fleets. As we face the challenges of climate change, individuals, communities, and various industries must come together and work towards a better future.

In the transportation industry, change is the only constant, and our team is here to help you navigate it!

As regulations shift and new technologies emerge, staying ahead requires expert insights and innovative solutions. That’s why we’re excited to attend and exhibit at several key industry events in the coming months. 

Our team will be diving into the latest industry updates, including tariffs and what the recent EPA regulations changes mean for company’s procurement strategies moving forward. We’ll also be offering a complimentary Unbundled and Maintenance & Repair Solution Analysis and showcasing the success of our Fleet Advantage Maintenance Solution powered by FleetNet America by Cox Automotive, which continues to help provide cost savings to customers nationwide. 

As we reflect on 2024, Fleet Advantage has experienced continued growth, but we also recognize the new challenges our clients and partners face in an evolving transportation landscape. The industry has seen notable shifts this year, with pressure from regulatory changes, assessing alternative fuel options, combatting high Full-Service Lease rates, rising equipment costs, and navigating new equipment and procurement strategies. Companies must adapt to these challenges with forward-thinking approaches to ensure long-term success.