As we prepare for the winter season, it is important to make certain that our vehicles are in good condition. Have the oil changed, refill the window-washing fluid, re-stock your first-aid kit, make sure there are jumper cables in the trunk, and, if you live in an area where it regularly reaches 45 degrees Fahrenheit or below...consider investing in winter tires!

Vehicles are recalled by auto manufacturers for various reasons, usually pertaining to the safety of the driver. When you receive a recall notice for your vehicle, it is recommended that you drive to the nearest dealership, or have your vehicle towed there if it is unsafe to drive. The dealership is then responsible for repair of the vehicle as well as any previous repairs that are related to the recalled part (if you smartly kept your receipts from previous repairs).

Every hero has a support system. Batman would be helpless is Alfred wasn't in the Batcave providing GPS coordinates and mission details. Iron Man would fall out of the sky if the computer that supports his suit were to crash. The Mission Impossible series wouldn't have dragged on for seven movies if Ethan Hunt hadn't been saved countless times by his colleagues. 

All driver-clients of Caritas Vehicle Services benefit from a similar level of back-up when they encounter difficulties on the road. Our drivers may not be masked crusaders, but their safety and satisfaction is paramount to the Caritas operation. So, in August, 2010, Caritas entered into a business partnership with the world's leading fleet management and driver mobility company, LeasePlan USA. 

As the cold of the winter thaws, so do our vehicle and its structural components. The Spring is the perfect time to provide your automobile with a little tender love and care so it may achieve peak performance before hitting the highway.

Caritas Vehicle Services and our partners at LeasePlan USA have come up with a standard Springtime Maintenance Checklist.

The most important job of the Fleet Managers at Caritas Vehicle Services is to ensure the safety of  drivers. And although every manufacturer in the automotive industry now offers advanced safety features in their newer models, cars are still hi-tech machines that do occasionally experience mechanical failures. Fortunately, our Fleet Management program is supported through our affiliation with Network Inc., and everyone who drives a vehicle acquired through Caritas is enrolled in our Emergency Roadside Service (ERS) program, which works the same way as AAA.  So, what should you do you if your vehicle has a mechanical breakdown while you're driving on the highway?  Here are Seven Steps To Follow When Your Car Breaks Down On The Highway

There is a frightening bit of fiction growing around the grapevine of the auto industry, telling us that the only way to drive green is to buy a newer-model hybrid or electric vehicle. Luckily, debunking common myths happens to be a specialty of the fleet management team at Caritas Vehicle Services. In reality, there are a great many steps one may take to become a more eco-friendly driver.

At Caritas Vehicle Services, we pride ourselves in staying ahead of the curve. This we do for our clients as well, by ensuring that you remain aware of the latest auto industry developments. Our newest blog series, Industry Insiders, will run every Friday, providing you with the knowledge needed to cut costs and make fleet management a less cumbersome task. 

We must begin by stating that this is NOT an article with tips on how to do donuts in the snow. It is, in fact, quite the opposite. At Caritas Vehicle Services, we strive to maintain a perfect record when it comes to driver safety. Such is the reason for many of our practices, including the toll-free 1-800 number that drivers can call at any time to speak with an ASE-certified technician. We also make sure our clients are insured and that regular maintenance checks are performed on each vehicle in a fleet. 

I’ll never forget the trips my father and I used to take to the Rockies. We’d fly into Denver International Airport, hop into an SUV with snow tires fastened tight, and begin the often-treacherous journey up the winding mountain roads towards the ski villages. We experienced both calm driving conditions and also those with blizzards and roads of ice, always taking our time and putting safety before speed. I soon learned one important reason we were able to handle the extreme winter conditions and very steep terrain was my father’s dutiful habit of keeping up with our vehicle’s maintenance and making regular service visits.

However, keeping track of a vehicle’s service needs and preparing for the winter months can be a difficult--not to mention expensive--task without the right tools and knowledge. To make things easier for drivers everywhere, Caritas Vehicle Services has relationships with service providers in all 50 states, where clients receive discounts of up to 40% on vehicle maintenance and repairs. Caritas also provides 24/7/365 emergency roadside assistance and a toll-free 800 number where certified ASE technicians are ready at all times to answer your questions and to make specific recommendations for your vehicle’s maintenance needs.

For more information on winter driving safety, please click on the link below to read an excellent article published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In very simple, layman’s terms, it presents helpful information on preparing your vehicle for the snow and ice, highlighting the need to take preventive measures.

https://www.nhtsa.gov/winter-driving-tips

The Takata Airbag Recall is now the LARGEST safety recall in U.S. history!

	Circled in red are metal fragments that can propel into vehicle occupants, causing injuries or deaths.

From an article at caranddriver.com, it states that in April, 2013, when Takata first went public with their admission of having defective airbag inflator devices, there were only six vehicle makes identified in the recall, now there are nearly two dozen.

To date, there are "approximately 34 million vehicles potentially affected in the United States, and another 7 million that have been recalled worldwide."

Also, there have been 10 (possibly 11) deaths as a result of Takata's defective inflator devices, and more than 100 injuries throughout the United States.

This is such a serious issue that Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said, "Folks should not drive these vehicles unless they are going straight to a dealer to have them repaired immediately, free of charge."

To read more about the Takata airbag recall, including all of it's related updates from 11/7/2014 - 8/5/2016, just click on the link caranddriver.com.