Friday, February 24, 2023

Five Reasons Why Fleet Maintenance Costs Have Experienced Double Digit Price Increases


The 133rd  State of the Fleet Industry video produced by Automotive Fleet offers insights into the state of the fleet market as presented by AF Editor Mike Antich.

🎙Today's topics include:
- The increase in fleet maintenance costs have been substantial, in some cases experiencing percentage increases that are double digit.
- Increased vehicle complexity has exerted increased maintenance costs through the increased volume of vehicle diagnostic fees, increased labor hours to identify intermittent issues, and recalibration expenses for ADAS-equipped vehicles.
- Increase in unscheduled repairs are more fleet vehicles are having their service lives extended due to difficulty in sourcing replacement vehicles.
- Part shortages are lengthening repair times for vehicles increasing vehicle and driver downtime.
- Inflationary pressures are increasing labor rates, parts prices, and pass-along costs from increased raw material prices used to manufacture replacement parts. 
- Increased labor rates primarily driven by the shortage of skilled automotive technicians. 

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Work Truck Wednesday Shows Off Unique Contractor Body

 





Carrying heavy things from one place to another is only part of the story of this unique Royal Contractor Body. The chassis is the Silverado Medium-Duty 4500 with a 16,500 lbs. gross vehicle weight rating. Yes, it has the legendary 6.6 Duramax diesel and Allison automatic and great comfort too. Plus, it is a looker! Check out the aluminum wheels!

Then, we add a 12' Royal Contractor Body. This unique combination is minus the rack, as is so common on these units, but check out the upper toolboxes and how useful they could be. Add underbed boxes, a tapered headboard, and a light bar, and then make it easy on the back with a tuck-away style liftgate!

Get it while you can!

See more about this truck here.

See all of our ready to go to work right now truck inventory at ParadiseFleet.com

Monday, February 20, 2023

Saturday, February 18, 2023

Silverado - #1 Best-Selling Retail Full-Size Pickups | Chevrolet


Chevy trucks take their owners just about anywhere. And now, their owners have taken Chevy Silverado to #1. Thank you for making Silverado the #1 best-selling retail full-size pickups.

Friday, February 17, 2023

Fleet Truck Friday: IRA EV Tax Credits for Fleets: Calculating $7,500 to $40,000 Eligibility


In episode 27 of the Fast Forward video series, Bobit Fleet Group Editor Chris Brown, interviews David Schwietert, chief policy officer for the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act’s electric vehicle tax credits and how fleets can calculate eligibility by purchaser and vehicle type and class.  

The cost differentials and BEV premiums demonstrated in the video are from this U.S. Department of Energy Analysis. For 2023, the Treasury Department has effectively granted eligible taxpayers safe harbor regarding calculations of those differentials, premiums, and credits. Calculations are subject to change after 2023. The Treasury notice on 45W can be accessed here.  

The Fast Forward video series connects leaders in fleet, tech, and automotive to show what the future holds for fleets of all types. 

🎙Topics & Timestamps
0:00 Intro
1:00 About the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.
2:00 What’s the difference between Section 30D, the credit for consumers, and Section 45W, the credit for commercial vehicle operators?
3:50 Explanation of 45W qualifications for vehicle types and purchasers, including slide.
4:52 Slide depiction of representative average vehicle costs and representative incremental EV costs by vehicle class.
6:03 Slide depiction of per-vehicle credit calculation. 
8:34 Slide: Credit calculation example for Class 4-6 box truck, Class 8 tractor.
11:10 Explanation of Treasury’s revised guidance on certain SUV model classifications to obtain the $7,500 credit under 30D based on MSRP cap.  
13:15 Explanation of content provision thresholds for critical minerals and battery components coming in March for Section 30D eligibility. 

This video segment represents an overview of certain provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, and it should not be construed as legal advice. Individuals and companies are encouraged to review the Act with their tax counsel and/or accountants. 

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Work Truck Wednesday Taking It To The Limit

 







Carrying a heavy load and having the flexibility of going off the beaten path are two of the best assets of this great rig. The chassis is the Silverado 4500 regular cab with 19,500 lbs. gross vehicle weight rating to carry the weight. It is powered by the legendary 6.6 Duramax diesel mated to the famous Allison heavy-duty automatic to pull the load up the hill as needed. You'll enjoy the right because of the creature comforts you've become used to. Of course, this is also a 4-wheel drive model to go off the beaten track as well. 

The strong Scelzi 11' service body is mounted on this massive chassis with deep compartments, an HD forklift-loadable material rack, and a trailer receiver. There is plenty of room for tools, parts, and other equipment in the compartments and bed area.

This won't last, so call us today at 951-364-2499.

See more about this truck here.

See all of our ready-to-go-to-work truck inventory at ParadiseFleet.com

Monday, February 13, 2023

Holy Cow: The 2023 Chevy Colorado Is ACTUALLY An Affordable Work Truck (By Today's Standards)!


The 2023 Chevy Colorado kicks off a new generation, and Andre gives us a look at the most affordable version you're able to buy: an entry-level WT (Work Truck) trim for just over $35,000. Full driving impressions on the new Colorado are coming later this week! 

Saturday, February 11, 2023

2023 Chevrolet Colorado: Injecting Life into the Midsize Pickup Truck Segment, AGAIN!


Chevrolet has now shown us this 2023 model of the Colorado. Riding on a heavily modified and updated version of the old pickup's frame, this 2023 version says goodbye to multiple cab/bed configurations in favor of a simplified approach of the crew cab being the only variant offered. 

Trims range from the base work truck, or WT, trim to the Everyman LT, up to the near luxurious Z71. Off-road fans rejoice with an improved version of the ZR2 with its segment-exclusive DSSV spool-valve dampers that are essentially F1 tech in an off-road pickup. New for 2023 is a Trail Boss model that copies the playbook of the larger Silverado, adding a 2-inch lift versus a standard Z71 off road model. Trail Boss also gets a wider track giving it a more sure-fitted approach. Trail Boss has the best approach, departure, and break over angles as well as the most ground clearance of the model line (outside of the ZR2). 

All models will receive some variant of the same 2.7 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that is also used in the larger Silverado. No more V6 option for this platform, though it is not really needed with the 2.7 offering up to 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. Max tow ratings top out at 7,700, a competitive number for the segment. 

Updated styling outside, 3.1 inches of increased wheelbase, and a much improved modern interior round out the big reasons to shop the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado. Available heated, ventilated, leather-wrapped front seats with a driver seat memory function make this Z71 a strong contender for many looking for a premium experience in a midsize pickup. The Colorado also offers a segment-leading 11.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system paired with a standard 8-inch or optional 11-inch digital gauge cluster. 

All seats were comfortable and supportive with the back seat having enough room for my 5'10" frame to fit nicely behind my normal driving position. The rear seat does fold up with the use of a lever revealing underwear storage while not giving rear passengers a thinly padded and uncomfortable seating surface. I was actually surprised at how cushioned the rear seat was for a pickup. 

The tailgate wars have made their way down to the midsize segment. The Colorado makes its tailgate stand apart from the rest with an industry-first in-tailgate storage solution. Hidden under a flap inside the tailgate, this storage cubbie is large enough for essential tools, jumper cables, or a tailgate cooler thanks to its drain plug. 

Modern amenities abound in the Colorado making it and the GMC Canyons market disrupters yet again. We are already seeing Toyota readying their first all-new Tacoma in almost 2 decades while Ford readies their next Ranger. Nissan just updated their Frontier and the Jeep Gladiator was all new just 3 short years ago. 

2023 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 Specs:
* 2.7-liter 4-cylinder Turbo Plus Engine
* 310 Horsepower
* 390 lb.-ft. of Torque
* 8-speed Automatic Transmission
* Autotrac® 2-speed Transfer Case with Push Button Controls
* Hill Descent Control
* Automatic Locking Rear Differential
* Drive Mode Selector
* 18-inch Android Dark Full-Gloss Aluminum Wheels (standard)
* 265/65R18 R18 32-inch All-Terrain Tires (standard)
* 20-inch Dark Android Aluminum Wheels
* 20-inch 255/55 R20 All-Terrain Tires
* Red Tow Hooks
* Power Adjustable Driver's Seat with 2-person Memory Function
* Heated and Ventilated Front Seats
* Leather Seating Surfaces
* Dual-zone Climate Control
* 8-inch Driver Information Digital Cluster Display
* 11.3-inch Touchscreen Infotainment
* Proximity Key with Push Button Start
* EPA Fuel Economy TBD (city/hwy/cmb)
* Starting Price: $41,395
* Price as tested: $45,730 (est)

Friday, February 10, 2023

Model Availability Derails Fleet Standardization but Signs Emerge that Sourcing is Improving


The 131st State of the Fleet Industry video produced by Automotive Fleet offers insights into the state of the fleet market as presented by AF Editor Mike Antich. 

🎙Today's topics include:
- Ongoing sourcing constraints have disrupted fleet standardization strategies.
- When businesses are forced to source different models, it creates inefficiencies by operating an irregular fleet of service vehicles.
- Multiple signs are emerging that sourcing constraints are receding – increased dealership inventories, dramatic decrease in “build shy” units, and OEMs are increasing new-vehicle production.
- Headwinds include an ongoing limited availability of vans and full-size pickups and huge pent-up need to extended life vehicles when companies were unable to source replacement units. 

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Work Truck Wednesday: Hard To Find Truck Available At Paradise Fleet!

 




Happy Wednesday to you all as we show off one of the excellent truck body combinations in the work truck world. This is a Chevrolet 2500HD with a 6.6 gas V8, Automatic, A/C, and much more. It is also a crew cab with plenty of legroom in the rear, bucket seats and console in front, and enough room for five comfortably. This is great, but now we add the Royal 8' open-top service body with tons of storage, an HD material rack, and more. To add massive value to this combination, we've added the raised cargo bed enclosure with barn-style doors on the rear. This allows whatever is being carried inside to be out of sight and out of the weather and is lockable too. But there is more! The top of the cargo bed enclosure has a 3-piece enclosure that opens up two-thirds of the bed area for ease of loading and unloading and allows taller items to be carried as needed. What a fantastic combination of truck and truck body, ready to go to work for you!

See more about this truck while it lasts here.

See all of our ready to go to work right now truck inventory at ParadiseFleet.com

Monday, February 6, 2023

NAHB IBS 2023 – Las Vegas, NV | Adrian Steel


We had a great time this week in Las Vegas at the NAHB International Builder Show. We joined Chevrolet Commercial Vehicles in their booth and featured some of our hottest cargo management solutions, including the ProLift™ Ladder Rack. Thank you to all who stopped by! 

Saturday, February 4, 2023

Why Attending the Global Fleet Conference Is Well Worth Your Time


Register today for Global Fleet Conference 2023! See you in Miami! https://www.globalfleetconference.com...

Hans Damen, Partner at Fleet360, Fleet Insurance Plus, and Fleet & Driver Care, speaks on why he is attending Global Fleet Conference 2023 in Miami, Fl, from June 5-7.

Friday, February 3, 2023

Fleet Truck Friday: Fleet Costs are at Record Levels But the Full Impact has Yet to be Felt


The 130th State of the Fleet Industry video produced by Automotive Fleet offers insights into the state of the fleet market as presented by AF Editor Mike Antich.

Today's topics include:
- Across-the-board fleet costs increases have hit record levels and promise to increase after sourcing availability increases.
- There are nine fleet costs at elevated levels. They are fuel, higher acquisition costs, interest rates, upfitting commodity volatility, unscheduled maintenance, collision repairs, higher maintenance/parts/ labor rates, short-term rental fees, and all incidental fleet costs.
- Today’s fleet dollars do not stretch as far as yesterday’s fleet dollars. 
- With increased sourcing availability will come higher per unit expenditures, in addition to higher volumes currently restricted by an allocation system. 

Thursday, February 2, 2023

2023 Chevy Malibu RS: Standard Technology | Chevrolet


Malibu RS comes with three years of Chevrolet Remote Access. You can lock/unlock your Malibu, check your fuel level and tire pressure, and more — all from your smartphone. 

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Work Truck Wednesday: When Only A 4x4, Space For A Team, And Lockable Storage For Tools & Parts Will Do

 






There are times when only a 4-wheel drive will do. Sometimes, a regular cab just doesn't cut it, and you need to take a team to the job site. You sometimes need to take tools, parts, and other items to get the job done too. To have all of this in one truck is the best of all.

This 2500 HD crew cab truck chassis has room for six inside and is powered by a gas V8, automatic transmission, AC, and many other creature comforts. The body is a Harbor 8' Tradesmaster service body with stainless steel open-top lids, a master locking system to keep your tools safe, and a trailer receiver,

These are rare, so get it while the getting is good.

See more about this rig here.

See all of our ready to go to work right now truck inventory at ParadiseFleet.com