January/February 2010


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Features

How to Improve Utilization – And Still Satisfy the Customer

By Jim Tennant

With proper fleet planning techniques, having 25 cars on the lot and 100 expected reservations that day is a very manageable situation.

Smarter Hiring: Reducing the Insider Threat

By John Nagy

To ensure a thorough background screening process, consider these five points.

Customer Service is the New Marketing

By Chris Brown

Auto Rental News went into the field to ask operators to share some low- or no-cost ways to build relationships and gain repeat customers.

Why Dealership Rental Operations Don't Work - And How They Could

By Jon Dahlquist

With streamlined operations and lower cost structures, a dealer rental operation should be a powerful competitor to more traditional rental operators. Why aren’t they?

Charging for No-Shows Could Improve Profits

By John Healy

Analysis by Northcoast Research reveals that implementing policies to reduce no-shows could help Avis Budget eliminate potential loss of up to $9 million annually and instead generate profits of up to $13.3 million. This excerpted analysis was published by Northcoast Research, an institutional equity research firm that specializes in car rental, among many other industries.

Jury Awards Avis Licensee $16 Million in Breach of Contract Case

By Chris Brown

The case of Alaskan Avis licensee Robert C. Halcro versus his franchisor highlights the issues of territorial protections when a car rental competitor is acquired and operated by the same parent.

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Auto Focus Blog: A blog covering fleets, auto rental and the business of cars

Which Hybrids Pay Back the Quickest?

After five years and 15,000 miles of driving per year, are there any hybrids that actually have a lower cost of ownership than their gas-engine counterparts? One unexpected vehicle takes the prize.

How Far Will Cell Phone Bans Go?

The federal government means business with its new law banning cell phone use while driving commercial vehicles. Can the laws go even further, and how should fleets react?

Righting a Wrong in Arizona

Arizona is one of a super minority of states in which auto rental companies are required by statute to pay for the negligent acts of their renters. Look for new legislation in the coming weeks that proposes to change that.

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