Over 100 Fleet Managers and Fleet Directors in North America participated in this survey effort. In total, they manage about 470,000 vehicles with an estimated capital budget of $710 million.

• 69% of respondents intend to purchase their equipment in 2012 compared to lease and both.
• 37% of utility professionals intend to replace over 150 units. 31% of municipal/government professionals intend to replace 51 – 100 units. 55% of private vertical professionals intend to replace 1-25 units.
• 58% of respondents intend to purchase alternative fuel vehicles

More in the 2012 Vehicle Acquisition Survey Report

• Replacement plan by fleet size
• Purchase plan in 2012 and beyond
• Alternative fuel vehicle (Electric & Natural Gas) acquisition plans
• Types of Electric and Natural Gas vehicles that will play a bigger role in fleet
• Manufacturer choice for light, medium and heavy-duty trucks

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“NAFA has a need to provide access to benchmarking data for its members,” said Phillip E. Russo, CAE, NAFA’s Executive Director. “To date, we have accomplished this via surveys, but fleet managers are requesting more specific and complex data. Utilimarc’s^® in-depth benchmarking databases and services are outstanding and one-of-a-kind.”

Benchmarking is a key to maximizing revenues while reducing costs. Utilimarc’s^® data analysis helps fleet managers develop fleet performance awareness and validate fleet effectiveness.

Available in electronic online formats (making information available to the professional 24/7), the Utilimarc^® methodology may enhance fleet operations by allowing the user to:

• Compare fleet performance internally between departments or agencies or externally to your peers by measuring important fleet data such as equipment age, mechanic wages, vehicle utilization, and more.
• Develop electronic reports such as cost per mile, underutilized equipment, and operating costs.
• Through electronic analysis, fleet managers can develop the ideal lifecycle modeling using the Utilimarc^®, lifecycle model and information.

NAFA Members and other fleet professionals who become a Utilimarc^® client are provided a tutorial on how to access the data immediately. Clients are also assigned a personal analyst, who can help you extract the data remotely.

To learn more about Utilimarc^®, visit www.utilimarc.com. You can also contact one of their representatives via phone or email for a personal demo of the benchmarking, reporting and analytics software by contacting Utilimarc^® at: 952.417.0186, toll-free 888.857.0844, or sales@utilimarc.com.

Jeffrey A. Miller, PhD, is the CEO of Gas-Lock Advisors and our new fuel expert. Gas-Lock Advisors provides solutions for businesses and government agencies that need more predictability in their fuel budget. Their programs, which include bulk and retail, offer unlimited protection at the lowest possible cost. The advisors at Gas-Lock provide key information on fuel prices and trends, helping fleet managers find a price that best fits their budget.

The Gas-Lock team conducts research on energy prices and trends while Jeff takes the lead in designing programs that meet specific business needs. A former political science and public policy college professor at the University of Wisconsin, Jeff served as a consultant to local governments including the City of Milwaukee. Since 1987, he has used his quantitative and modeling skills in analyzing financial markets, trading options and futures, and providing consulting services to trading clients at the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the CME Group, and the Chicago Board of Traders.

Submit your fuel questions to Gas-Lock Advisors by commenting below or on FleetAnswers