Cox Automotive puts focus on mobile maintenance

For Cox Automotive, all indicators were pointing in the same direction. The Indianapolis-based subsidiary of Cox Enterprises recognized that the growth of e-commerce and what it called “an on-demand economy offering real-time fulfillment of goods and services” would result in increased miles traveled per vehicle and a greater need for service and maintenance.

“It was clear that mobile fleet services would be in greater demand,” said Drew Kortyna, a 30-year veteran of the mobile fleet service market, who took on the role of senior director of operations at Fleet Services by Cox Automotive three years ago. “We’ve seen our mobile fleet service business more than double in the last three years, and in the next few years, it will double again.

“We’re not slowing down, so to grow our mobile fleet service business, we need to add more technicians,” Kortyna continued. “The output of our more than 1,400 current mobile techs is about as high as can be expected, so we have to increase our technician count to meet our targets for expansion.”

While facing a technician shortage challenge felt across the industry, Cox Automotive is finding success. “Technicians are our revenue stream. We have a highly skilled recruiting team superior to many, and we offer great benefits that make it attractive to work here,” Kortyna said.

Cox Automotive is also heavily investing in its next generation of technicians. The company’s FleeTec Academy offers qualified applicants an all-expenses-paid, four-week program at its facility in Indianapolis. After completing the comprehensive, hands-on four-week program, technicians perform preventive maintenance and light repairs. Following a two-year commitment at Cox, the technicians get to keep a $20,000 tool kit provided by the company.

Fleet Services by Cox Automotive now fields more than 850 mobile service trucks that provide routine maintenance and repairs at customer locations and for emergency service.

“Our focus for vehicles in our mobile service fleet is on overall performance and upfits with up-to-date tooling and technology so technicians are prepared to handle any task,” Kortyna explained. “Uniformity across our fleet is also a goal. But at the same time, we must address current chassis availability issues and the equipment we are gaining when we make acquisitions.”

“The decision to rebrand or replace a vehicle we acquire is based on a unit’s age and condition,” Kortyna continued. “In addition, we’re finding that the supply of new vehicles is improving, and as part of Cox Enterprises, we’re leveraging long-term relationships with OEMs to get the equipment we need.”

The Cox Automotive fleet currently consists of a mix of Ford F-450 and Chevrolet chassis and Ram ProMaster vans. Bodies and service trailers are supplied by Morgan Truck Body and Stellar Truck and Trailer, and the company also has Warner Bodies and Knapheide models.

The Vanair Air N Arc All-In-One Power Systems is among the latest tools and technology on Cox Automotive mobile service trucks. “The Air N Arc system has become the heartbeat of our mobile service trucks because it combines a welder, generator, air compressor, battery booster, and battery charger in a single mobile workstation,” Kortyna explained.

The company also put the Vanair Electrified Power Equipment system on a group of ProMaster vans used for light-duty vehicle service work. Eliment lithium-iron-phosphate batteries power the self-contained zero-emissions system.

“We’re considering the EPEQ system for possible future electric vehicles and to address legislation in states requiring zero-emissions equipment in fleets,” Kortyna said. “Overall, working with Vanair helps streamline the process of upfitting and outfitting our trucks.”

Cox Automotive is firmly focused on bolstering its mobile fleet services capabilities, Kortyna noted. “The mobile segment has grown considerably and will become larger and even more significant over time,” he said.

“As more fleets realize that mobile services can offer lower total costs, faster turnaround time for service, and not require a large capital investment in maintenance operations, our reputation as an outstanding provider is growing,” Kortyna added. “To support our efforts as well, we’re zeroed in on our fleet as essential to making us the most comprehensive fleet services resource in the industry.”