Cost Savings Is Top 2012 Focus for U.S. Commercial Fleets, According to GE Capital Fleet Services Survey

Forty-six percent of fleet managers cite cost savings as the primary focus of executive management as it relates to their company’s fleet operations, according to a recent survey conducted by GE Capital Fleet Services. This was followed by on-time delivery and service, driver safety and resource productivity (all 15 percent).

Accordingly, when fleet managers cited their greatest concerns for 2012, 26 percent said meeting their organizations’ cost-savings goals was their greatest concern, an increase of three percent since last year’s survey, followed by driver safety (23 percent) and workforce productivity (19 percent).

The GE Capital Fleet Services’ survey of fleet managers was recently conducted at the 2012 NAFA Institute & Expo in St. Louis.

“Whether identifying ways to reduce maintenance spend or fine-tune vehicle replacement strategies, we continue to experience a high demand from customers on how best to optimize their fleets and drive out cost,” said Mark Hayes, chief marketing officer of GE Capital Fleet Services. “We specialize in working closely with customers to make them successful based on the demands of today’s business environment and the future goals of their organizations.”

According to the survey, in the next 12 months fifty-seven percent of fleet managers will have incorporated alternative fuel vehicles into their fleets. Fewer fleet managers than a year ago said they do not currently have plans to incorporate alternative fuel vehicles over the next 12 months (30 percent today down from 34 percent).

Other key findings from the survey include:

• Analytics: Thirty-eight percent use analytics tools to identify ways to improve operational efficiencies and 24 percent note analytics have assisted their purchasing decisions.
• Vehicle replacement: Only 7 percent of respondents do not have plans to pursue a vehicle replacement program in the next 12 months.
• Leasing versus owning: Forty-eight percent said the majority of the fleet they manage is leased, equal to the percentage whose fleets are owned by their company.

For more information about GE Capital, Fleet Services, visit: www.gefleet.com.

About GE Capital, Fleet Services

GE Capital, Fleet Services, based in Eden Prairie, Minn., is a global fleet management company with operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Visit the Web site at gefleet.com or follow the company’s eco news and updates via Twitter (@GEFleetSvcs)

GE Capital offers consumers and businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services. For more information, visit www.gecapital.com or follow company news via Twitter (@GECapital). GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.