Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Fleet Jam Session to Analyze Hurricanes' Effect on Industry

Fleet Jam Session, convening at the 2017 Auto Rental Summit, will provide analysis of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma's effects on the auto rental industry, from the used car market and new car sales to rental rates, volume, and new and used values.

Chris Brown
Chris BrownAssociate Publisher
Read Chris's Posts
September 7, 2017
Fleet Jam Session to Analyze Hurricanes' Effect on Industry

 

2 min to read


From 500,000 to 1 million vehicles will need to be replaced due to Hurricane Harvey’s impact, according to market watchers. The impact of Harvey — now called "the costliest and worst natural disaster in American history" — will have far-reaching effects, not only on Houston-area dealerships and wholesale auctions but also throughout the South and Midwest.

Seminars in the Fleet Jam Session, a two-hour block of programming dedicated to fleet issues in car rental, will provide insights into the effects of Hurricane Harvey. Fleet Jam Session is part of the agenda of the 2017 Auto Rental Summit, convening in Miami on Nov. 6.

Ad Loading...

Commercial, government, and rental fleet losses could total as many as 18,500 units, says Jonathan Smoke, Cox Automotive’s chief economist. Among other hot topics, Smoke will discuss Harvey’s effects in his seminar “Remarketing Big Picture: 2017 and Beyond.”

The rental industry is dealing with the immediate vehicle supply challenge presented by Harvey, as rental companies look to replace damaged rental units while thousands of residents seek replacement of personal transportation and disaster relief workers need cars.

“There will be high demand for cars ready to be remarketed,” says Joe Lyons of America’s Auto Auction. “Trucks and van rental will boom as tradespeople come to rebuild, and they’ll need to buy de-fleeted trucks and vans, as well.”

Lyons will join Mike Muehlenfeld of Mile Fleet and Robert Miller of Advantage/EZ Rent A Car to discuss these impacts and others in the seminar “Fleet Planning for 2018.”

The impacts to online buying, inventory movement to affected regions, potential delays of new vehicles into fleet, and an overall shortage of vehicles will have an impact on new and used values in the immediate and long term. Jonathan Banks of JD Power & Associates’ Valuation Services will speak to these and other issues in “Valuation Outlook: A Segment-by-Segment Analysis.”

Ad Loading...

Auto Rental Summit — the conference dedicated to “people, process, and profits” — will take place Nov. 6-7 at Miami Hilton Downtown.

More Rental Operations

Photos of CEOs Colm Brady and Francois Kruger on a blue background and above a headline.
Telematicsby News/Media ReleaseMay 22, 2026

RentalMatics, GeoInt Partner On Rental Car Speed Tracking Tech

Rental operators can now detect and act on speeding while vehicles are still on rent, thereby reducing fines, admin workload, vehicle wear, and safety risks.

Read More →
NextPass 407 ETR

NextPass Expands Toll Payment Service to Highway In Toronto

Fleets and consumer can use a transponder-less option when traveling between Canada and the U.S.

Read More →
A black Jeep is displayed at the Zubie-Bosch-TSD exhibit during the International Car Rental Show.

Zubie, PurCo Integrate Rental Damage Detection With Telematics

The combination brings actionable vehicle insights into PurCo’s PurInspect platform, improving damage detection and operational efficiency for rental fleets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
50 states map showing LOR rates for each state with different shades of light to dark green

U.S. Length Of Rental (LOR) Declines Slightly in Q1 2026

LOR related to insurance claims overall continues to trend downward, but ongoing market and economic conditions could affect future results while the industry deals with staffing and productivity challenges.

Read More →
Illustration of a driverless futuristic front seat/dashboard view of other cars on a freeway with city skyline on horizon.

Hertz, Uber Deepen Roles In Self-Driving And Driver-Led Fleet Services

The business arrangement connects demand with scalable fleet management services and supports a range of mobility uses.

Read More →
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
A black Audi SUV superimposed on a historic scene from downtown Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Carwiz Sets Up Rental Operations In Central Asia

The global franchise operation reaches a first in its rental fleet portfolio with new service in Uzbekistan.

Read More →
A raging brushfire in the countryside.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueApril 30, 2026

Where Rental Fleets Must Adjust To Shifting Catastrophe Risks

West Coast disasters pose unique challenges and liabilities for rental fleet operators, who are advised to take steps tailored to their specific situations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
ARN Industry Newsmakers thumbnail page with ARN and ICRS logos and shots of Nick DiPrima and Martin Romjue
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueApril 27, 2026

Using AI To Find Rental Car Damage

Angry car renters are storming social media, the mainstream media, and online ratings platforms to complain about charges they claim are either unfounded or excessive.

Read More →
Ad Loading...