What can the driver of a vehicle do to reduce the environmental impact of their daily commute? Cars with gas-powered engines, which is still most cars on the road today, emit harmful greenhouse gases (GHG’s) into Earth's atmosphere via their tailpipes. According to a leading organization on climate change, the Union of Concerned Scientists, "...collectively, cars and trucks account for nearly one-fifth of all US emissions, emitting around 24 pounds of carbon dioxide and other global-warming gases for every gallon of gas [consumed]."

Vehicles are particularly delicate instruments of investment that, when owned by a business, should be properly tracked and managed in order to receive the greatest return possible. Thankfully, there are many experts on the topic of vehicle management solutions. One such seasoned veteran of the fleet world is our industry partner, Leaseplan. Their website contains an extensive database of blog articles & resources that are designed to help you maneuver the logistical intricacies of vehicle ownership and fleet management. 

Whether your community has 30, 100 or 500 vehicles, how in the world do you track all the dollars spent to keep each vehicle properly maintained over its lifetime? When a driver takes their vehicle to a shop and is presented with a $1,000 estimate that includes a long list of items, how can the driver possibly know for certain if everything on the list is really necessary? Or, how can you find out which vehicles in your fleet cost the least to maintain and which ones cost the most?

A good teacher can explain complex topics in ways that are clear and concise. And, as anyone who has managed a fleet knows, keeping track of all the tedious details that come along with managing vehicles can be a daunting task. This is why the industry experts at LeasePlan have prepared a useful infographic that exhibits the basic tenets of fleet management in an organized and comprehensible format. For highly advantageous tips, interesting facts and vital insider information: click here! 

Making informed decisions often requires one to ask the right questions. If you are reading this, you are likely already asking yourself this important question: Would it make sense to outsource the management of my fleet?

Here’s the short answer: Enlisting a professional fleet management organization that has an advanced analytical toolkit, close relationships with each auto manufacturer and years of experience can reduce costs in a great many areas, while also allowing your organization to focus on your own core business. However, before deciding whether partnering with a professional fleet manager is the right move for your Community, there are a few more details to consider, and Caritas would like to smooth the decision-making process by asking a few questions of our own...

To help kick-off 2019, Caritas Vehicles Services is pleased to introduce a new series of articles called, “Pocket Protectors." This series will highlight the many ways we help clients to reduce the overall cost of operating their vehicle fleets. Our first article covers one of the key metrics for determining the actual cost to operate each vehicle in a fleet, which is referred to as a vehicle's  total  life-cycle cost. 

Caritas Vehicle Services is proud to introduce our newest blog series, "Our Mission Is To Serve"! Named for our mission statement, this series will provide personal profiles of the unique individuals that keep the Caritas vision alive with hard-work and dedication to the task of serving those who serve the community (religious communities and Congregations of Sisters). 

Great Idea #6 - from RCRI Workshop

"Sustainablity and Transportation?"

 According to our national survey of RCRI members, one of the Top   Challenges in managing Religious Communities' vehicles is not having  the budget to replace all of their old, high-mileage vehicles. This is a  growing problem that requires a creative financial solution. The  following Case Study highlights how one Community devised a  workable  solution for "renewing" their vehicle fleet. 

Are you aware that driving in cold, winter weather conditions can significantly reduce your vehicle's fuel economy by as much as 30%?  Who knew? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, cold air has a chilly effect on a vehicle's mpg, which can drive up the cost of operating a fleet during the winter months. The good news is these costs can be contained by following a few simple tips. To learn why your fuel economy is lower in the winter, and what drivers can do to improve fuel economy in cold weather, read the U.S. Dep't if Energy's tips here.

Great Idea #5 - from RCRI Workshop

"Three Ways To Manage Lifecycle Cost"

 According to our national survey of RCRI members, one of the Top 5 Challenges in managing Religious Communities' vehicles is not knowing how to calculate the Lifecycle Cost of a vehicle and how this information can help identify ways to reduce the operating cost of your fleet.  Our panel of guest speakers offered several Best Practices to consider. Let's take a look . . .