Entering the new millennium, few companies across all industries had a watchful eye toward environmental stewardship, particularly throughout the heavy-duty truck transportation industries. However, just a few short years later, governments in many countries began to better understand the benefits that could come from corporations curbing their carbon emissions output, and new greenhouse gas mandates began to take effect by the early 2000s.

Pioneering insight for industry sustainability

Fleet Advantage and its CEO, John Flynn, have pioneered the use of data analytics to help fleet customers run their operations more efficiently. With a family relative who was receiving treatment for cancer caused by environmental pollutants, Flynn realized the importance of operating Fleet Advantage with the resources to help companies with transportation fleets not only comply with the new environmental regulations but serve as model corporations regarding environmental stewardship.

Flynn founded Fleet Advantage in 2008 with the goal of being the future of truck leasing by advocating solutions that would significantly reduce emissions over time. By 2011, Fleet Advantage had begun to make strong recommendations against the use of older-model equipment because of toxic emissions. The company introduced never-seen-before emissions scorecards, and an innovative replacement program with financial flexibility in mind (ExchangeIT) that made it beneficial to operate newer, clean-diesel engines. This program also helped fleets meet new GHG-1 Federal mandate standards and calculated fuel economy gains at 2.5 percent MPG and CO2 reductions.

Flynn’s leadership and focus toward environmental preservation was a wake-up call to many organizations, and Fleet Advantage had secured long-term agreements with ten of the country’s top 100 private fleets in just seven years .

A focus on environmental stewardship

Between 2016 and 2021, Flynn continued his mission to help fleets change the way they see the environment, as well as their impact. His vision of asset management helped companies reach environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals while promoting sustainability through shortening asset life cycles, optimizing vehicle specifications to be more fuel-efficient, and to align with the duty cycle as well as geographical locale. The company also specifies lighter components that allow for longer maintenance intervals which reduce environmental hazmat waste disposal.

Today, with Flynn’s leadership, companies are boasting vastly improved environmental records while implementing ESG strategies in front of customers, regulators, and other critical stakeholders. In total, Fleet Advantage has saved customers approximately $250 million and approximately 175,000 metric tons in emissions since inception.

Socially conscious organizations

In addition to environmental stewardship, social criteria are also within companies’ ESG strategies. It’s important that organizations are operating the newest and safest trucks that keep all motorists safe and help attract and retain a greater pool of diverse drivers and other staff. Fleet Advantage’s specification experts work with each fleet to design new trucks for maximum safety, fuel efficiency, lowest maintenance cost, and highest resale values through the company’s Safety-First Program. By focusing on safety proactively, Fleet Advantage is ultimately advising companies about risks that they may otherwise not likely identify, as well as a solution that could save millions of dollars in cost reduction while avoiding damage to their corporate image and brand identity.

As a socially responsible organization today, Fleet Advantage also recognizes that a more diverse approach to the transportation industry unlocks more potential growth for organizations through the advancement and empowerment of a gender-diverse workforce. The company was very proud to see one of its female and Hispanic employees, Ludmila Manin, be recognized as one of the “2021 Top Women to Watch in Transportation” by Women In Trucking.

Governance & corporate leadership

Governance is an area many companies have struggled with in recent history. This pertains to the governance factors of decision-making, from sovereigns’ policymaking to the distribution of rights and responsibilities among different participants in corporations, including the board of directors, managers, shareholders and stakeholders. Governance factors highlight the processes for organizations. Fleet Advantage provides analytics, processes, and transparency so that clients can meet legal requirements and satisfy every stakeholder in the process.

Ultimately, Fleet Advantage’s goal is to help the industry become as sustainable, socially conscious, and governed with as much integrity as possible. Every effort Fleet Advantage puts forth is to benefit all — the environment, its clients, stakeholders and local communities. Over the next five years, Fleet Advantage plans to advance technology and extend corporate leadership to help the transportation industry continue to deliver goods across the nation efficiently, sustainably, and safely.

Katerina Jones is vice president, marketing and business development at Fleet Advantage, a leading innovator in truck fleet business analytics, equipment financing, and lifecycle cost management. For more information, visit www.FleetAdvantage.com.

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