The national survey covered more than 400 executives at middle market companies (ranging from $10 million – <$1 billion in sales) who have responsibility for their company’s vehicle fleets.

The survey found that only 4% of companies surveyed currently have alternative fuel vehicles in their fleet, but nearly half (48%) plan on adding AFVs in the coming years. Of those companies, 64% plan on adding AFVs in the next two years, and 92% will add them within the next five years.

Just over half of companies with fleets (51%) expect fleet costs to increase this year; very few expect costs to decrease. The largest increases in fleet-related costs in the past year were in the areas of fuel and maintenance (especially the upkeep of older vehicles and unscheduled repairs).

Two-thirds of executives overseeing vehicle fleets indicate that their firms saw improved overall performance (65%) and financial performance (69%) vis–à–vis one year ago.

The primary objectives of leadership are maintenance costs and reducing fuel costs via right-sizing and introduction of alternative fuel vehicles.

The most popular mode of obtaining new vehicles was leasing — cited by 30% of respondents, a bit more than using cash on hand (28%).