Right to Repair Legislation

The right to repair your vehicle and technology could be hanging in the balance.

Fixing Tractor

What’s it all about?

According to Consumer Reports, right to repair legislation is being introduced in no less than 14 states, and President Biden has recently ordered the FTC to introduce new right to repair regulations. People are asking what is this all about, and how does it affect me?

To bring it all down to the simplest of explanations, the more embedded technology becomes in the products we use, the more difficult it becomes to repair. In many cases, proprietary software tools are needed to analyze data and troubleshoot the problem, thus limiting who can repair an item.

If manufacturers of products are unwilling to make the tools available to product owners and independent repair shops, the consumer’s choices become severely limited. With a lack of competition, there comes higher prices and lower quality. Items potentially impacted include vehicles, computers, phones, generators, agricultural equipment, and anything you can think of manufactured by someone else that has parts that breakdown.

The main issue for fleet owners and operators is that without right to repair laws, OBD port diagnostic data may only be made available to manufacturers and dealerships, and not to independent repair shops like Firestone, Travel Centers, and Goodyear repair centers. With right to repair laws enacted, fleet operators will have competitive options for servicing their vehicles, and even have the option of servicing vehicles themselves. Without such laws, one might be forced to go back to the dealership for some or all repairs regardless of cost, convenience, location, or quality.

6 arguments for and 6 against your right to repair.

6 arguments against right to repair have been made in a post on makeuseof.com. We are not sure they all make sense to us, but here they are.
  • User safety – today’s technology may contain combustible materials and sharp metal parts that can cause injury. If the device owner is hurt trying to repair the device, it can impact the manufacturer’s image as their product is seen as a hazard.
  • Shrinking Tech – Modern tech products are smaller and often require special tools not readily available or requiring licensing to use.
  • Efficiency – “Modern tech products are designed to be the most efficient they can be in their set form factor… Making it more easily repairable would require you to hinder its efficiency from accommodating modulation and repairability.”
  • Competition – this one comes down to planned obsolescence – “it’s not a viable long-term business strategy to make your products more repairable and long-lasting.”
  • Demand and Supply – Without equilibrium “the competition in the market will reduce and make things worse for consumers as they’ll be forced to buy products from a select few businesses that managed to survive—depriving them of their freedom of choice. Ultimately, this game of dominos ends up hurting the consumer.”
  • No Incentive to Innovate – “The reason OEMs constantly push for new bleeding-edge tech is because they have a clear advantage to do so. In a world where people don’t upgrade their gadgets frequently and are used to repairing them, innovation will be left as an afterthought instead of being a priority.”

Our 6 arguments for your right to repair to counter the 6 against listed above:

Right to Repair
  • User Safety – Old school vehicles, say a 2010 Ford F150, has a fuel tank full of combustible material, sharp plastic and metal edges everywhere, and even hot pipes that can burn you if you touch them, but no one claims they are a hazard for a back yard mechanic to work on.
  • Shrinking Tech – Make the special tools available! Make the replacement parts and troubleshooting software available too. Manufacturers should want their products to be field repairable. The more easily a consumer can get a product back in service the more popular and successful that product will be.
  • Efficiency – So what if the form factor is smaller? If a field tech can troubleshoot to a defective module and replace it, efficiency has not been impacted. It all comes down to making the tools, software, and replacement parts available.
  • Competition – It is better for the consumer and for the environment to make long lasting products that can be easily repaired by the consumer or independent service technicians. There is a small percentage of the population ready to stand in line for whatever new technology comes out, but the rest of us want to know what we buy today has a reasonable service life.
  • Demand and Supply – There will always be new innovators with new innovations. Manufacturers should focus on making products better, products that do something the competition does not do and that consumers really need. That will increase competition in the marketplace rather than decrease it limiting consumer choice.
  • Incentive to Innovate – There is always enough incentive for manufacturers to consider taking on the risk and costs of R&D. Consumers will upgrade their gadgets when manufacturers offer gadgets that do more and do it better.

Summing it all up…

If we learned nothing else from the recent years of post-pandemic economic upheaval, we should have learned that anything manufactured in a monopolized industry without serious competition (prime example semiconductors) becomes unavailable and prices skyrocket when those manufacturers experience a problem producing or repairing their products. Those problems then trickle down to other industries that use those products to produce their own products (prime example vehicles).

Consumers want products that are built to last and are easily maintained and repaired by whomever they choose. The right to repair a product simply should not be monopolized by manufacturers.

The day may come when your favorite repair shop is displaying a sign like the one below.
Right to Repair
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3 Points of EV Range Loss and Winter Failure (maybe more)

EV Range Loss In Cold Weather

What many do not know about EVs and EV range loss is that weather effects efficiency in terms of both miles per kwh and charging time. Every vehicle system on an EV requires power and drains the battery, so the more you use your A/C, heater, stereo, defrosters, cell phone charger, what most of us consider essentials, the faster the charge decreases. Add extreme weather reducing efficiency and your range can be considerably reduced.

According to Consumer Reports, “Cold temperatures can reduce an unplugged EV’s range by about 20 percent, according to testing by the Norwegian Automobile Federation, and recharging is slower. Running the cabin heater, seat heaters, defroster, and other accessories that combat the cold weather inside the car all sap range. For cold temperatures, what we have found is that 20° F and colder is when the range really drops.”

EV Range Loss driving in extreme weather

Contact Fleetistics for an EV Fleet Analysis.  855.300.0527 

Charging in Extreme Cold Weather

Add to that, potential failure at the charging station can leave a driver (or OMG a family with children on the way to Grandma’s for Christmas) stuck out in the cold, literally. Out of Spec Reviews recently posted this video review of a variety of chargers in extreme cold weather. This video is a real eye opener!

Other Environmental Conditions That Cause EV Range Loss

Hot weather has its EV range loss challenges as well. EV Solutions Blog states, “Extreme weather conditions have a significant impact on driving range, according to research conducted by AAA. In temperatures of 95 degrees Fahrenheit and the air conditioning on (a must for most in 95-degree heat), driving range decreases 17%.”

They suggest extending range in hot weather by:

  • Limiting use of features like air conditioning and smart stereos.
  • Maintaining a consistent speed to minimize accelerating and braking, and avoid high speeds.
  • Using energy-saving settings whenever possible.
  • Limiting weight in the car. (Leave the family and pets at home?)
vehicle system controls

Whether travelling at Christmas or the Fourth of July, any long trip in an EV is going to take more planning than a conventional vehicle with an internal combustion engine. In many areas of the US there may be seasonal considerations contributing to EV range loss as well. Be sure to research the pros and cons for your geographic area.

Hurricane season creates challenges on the east coast, fire season on the west coast, and tornado season on the great plains. Any of these events can cause widespread power outages, as can earthquakes that can come anytime with no warning in many areas of the US. With no power, there is no EV charging, and infrastructure may take days or longer to restore.

Do Your Homework

Electric vehicles certainly have their place, but the more research we do, the more we realize that a suitability study for potential fleet conversion needs to factor in far more that how current vehicles are used, how far they go, and what they can potentially be replaced with based on EVs currently available. EV range loss due to climate, available charging infrastructure, and local environmental factors must also be considered when evaluating the suitability of EVs for your fleet.

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Protecting Your Privacy When Surveillance Cameras Are a Fact of Life

Protecting Your Privacy – Dash Cams

The subject of protecting you privacy came up recently when we were advised of some inconsistency in how insurance companies feel about in-cab facing vehicle camera data. In the past it was encouraged to have in cab facing cameras to document driver behavior. For instance, if a driver was accused of using their cell phone, the camera data would confirm or disprove that, avoiding lengthy and costly litigation.

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Fleet Dashcam - Protecting Your Privacy

Some insurance companies are now saying that as a matter of protecting your privacy and the privacy of your drivers, they want clients to have only forward facing cameras. They say simply disabling the interior facing camera on a dual camera system can be construed as having something to hide, so they are asking clients to replace dashcams capable of an interior view.

Government and Industry Perspectives

As early as 2014, an article on Truckers Report was posted saying, “The California Attorney General has stated that the use of driver-facing in cab cameras does not violate any state codes, and may be used to take disciplinary action against drivers. There are a few factors stipulating when and how the video may be used, but the decision makes it clear that – in California at least – a driver-facing camera is not considered an invasion of privacy.”

Trucking Truth, another respected industry website has a great post that lists Trucking companies that do and don’t use driver facing cameras. Their post is designed to help drivers understand why these companies have in cab facing cameras, and have a list they can reference when seeking work, so they know what to expect.

Dashcam Distraction - Look Away

We have long held that a company policy needs to be in place to disclose that cameras are in place and how the video data will be used. A quick Google search brought up a couple of well-crafted video policy documents you may want to mirror to create your own policy document for employees to sign off on.

Dash Camera Policy & Procedures : Riverside Contracting, Inc.

442.17 In-Car Camera Policy | Saint Paul Minnesota (stpaul.gov)

Protecting Your Privacy – Surveillance Cameras

While arguments both for and against in cab video can be easily made, it got us thinking about privacy in general and all the cameras out there recording our lives. Cameras at intersections are recording us as we drive. Cameras on people’s homes are recording us as we walk our dogs. Cameras in retail stores are recording our shopping habits, and the list goes on.

Protecting your privacy considering all the other cameras out there may not be as easy.  Consider Google Street View. For years, Google has been capturing images street by street business by business to enhance street view. In some locations you can navigate the images and virtually enter the place of business and look around.

If your car is parked in your driveway when Google captures the image, your license plate number may be in plain view. If your children are playing in the yard, their faces are now public information. And if burglars have targeted your property, they can look in street view for the location of security cameras on your home and plan their safest point of entry.

Thankfully, Google provides a way for you to request that information be blurred in their images. Here is a quick how-to video to get you started protecting your privacy in Google Street View.

Summing it Up

Protecting your privacy is an ever-evolving process. We all need to be mindful that we are almost always being observed when we are out and about, and take the steps that we can to mitigate any negative impact.

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Fleet Electrification – Big Win for the USPS MegaFleet?

Fleet electrification is fast becoming reality for the USPS. According to a recent article in PC Mag, The US Postal Service plans to buy 66,000 electric delivery vehicles by 2028, with a target of acquiring only EVs after 2026, representing an investment of $9.6 billion in vehicles and infrastructure.

Effects of Fleet Electrification to Consider

This ambitious plan for the largest fleet in the federal government will no doubt cause both mailing and shipping rates to continue to skyrocket, placing the financial burden on the American consumer. It also sets the bar high for other government agencies whose revenue comes from taxes to follow suit with plans for their own fleet electrification.

One must also ask, how is the USPS applying this fleet electrification initiative to employee and subcontractors’ vehicles. In rural communities, where there is minimal charging infrastructure, mail is delivered by vehicles not owned by the USPS. In these areas, will they still allow employees and subcontractors to use internal combustion engines, or will they force them to convert to EVs? That would increase employee and subcontractor costs and may negatively impact service levels in rural communities.

Fleet Electrification planned by USPS

Fleet Electrification Concerns

In previous posts we have explored some specific issues of EV sustainability and safety that make us wonder if the USPS is rushing blindly into a project that could have a crippling effect on the agency and their budget. The USPS will have to spend a massive amount on new vehicles and also add the charging infrastructure to every EV fleet location.

Infrastructure is likely to cost more than the vehicles in some locations since new and larger power lines must be brought to each facility to manage the nightly charging load. Many issues like how to dispose of EV batteries have still not been fully addressed, and some are asking if we are just trading one environmental crisis for another.

One popular EV manufacturer recently recalled 111,000 vehicles over issues related to fire risk. Emergency responders have a fresh learning curve to address with each new type and generation of EV battery, and firefighters need new tools and training to combat the specific risks and challenges when EVs catch fire after a collision. Those new tools will also need to be vetted for their cost and environmental impact.

Hopefully the government will not shortcut in depth feasibility studies to determine if they are ‘cutting off their nose despite their face’. Consumers feeling the pinch of rising postal rates may opt for electronic communications and bill pay over traditional mail. That would leave the USPS primarily handling packages in a very competitive commercial arena. Will they be able to compete with FedEx, UPS, DHL, and other carriers, or will they lose business and find themselves with a huge fleet of unneeded, unused special purpose EVs and an overall loss in revenue?

mail delivery
Fleet Electrification planned by USPS

Thankfully, fleet electrification is not the only vehicle initiative being undertaken by the USPS. The USPS fleet has more than 230,000 vehicles in every class, including commercial-off-the-shelf vehicles. Approximately 190,000 deliver mail six, and often seven, days a week. 66,000 EVs would only account for a little over a quarter of the total USPS Fleet.

Other Forms of Fleet Modernization

In February of 2021 it was reported that the Postal Service had awarded a 10-year contract to Oshkosh defense to “manufacture a new generation of U.S.-built delivery vehicles”. That contract for next generation delivery vehicles may include a variety of alternate technologies to address fuel efficiency, driver efficiency, and safety. What is learned and developed from that project could ultimately be applied to other industries and services.

We all want a cleaner environment, but ultimately, fleet electrification may not be the final solution. Hydrogen, biofuels, synthetic fuels, and natural gas should not be taken out of consideration at this stage of the game.

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Be Confident – Priority Notification Service from Fleetistics

Fleetistics Priority Notification Service (PNS) uses a round-robin notification process to alert key individuals of critical issues outside the noise of the standard GPS alerts. Notifications are sent via SMS and then a digital voice call. You select the key individuals to be notified and the order in which they are to be notified. The Priority Notification Service system will continue to send to the next user until a reply is received.

Why Priority Notifications?

In larger fleets, having one person responsible for critical issues creates a vulnerability. If that one person is unavailable due to travel, vacation, cellular coverage, or illness, then the critical issue is not addressed. By including multiple people in a notification process, others are automatically notified when the primary is unavailable.

This service is available for clients using Fleetisitcs ONE and Geotab platforms. Total functionality will vary by GPS device used and how it is installed.

Can I try it first?

You can enjoy a free 30-day trial just by turning on PNS in MyFleetistics. After 30 days the service will be billed monthly, cancel any time. Here is how to access Fleetistics services. In the MyFleetistics menu select Account > Services > Administer Services.
Navigate to Administer Services
Turn on the service you want to try, in this case Priority Notification Service.
Then select it from the menu to set it up.
Select Priority Notification Service
Set up is easy! Select the users you want to notify in the order you choose.
Set up the notifications you want.
Review your choices and make sure the notifications you want are set to ON.
Now you can relax knowing that whatever happens, the appropriate manager(s) will be contacted to address the issue.
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