Q: What inspired the creation of Onward Fleet Solutions?
We launched Onward after seeing a clear opportunity in the market. Having overseen a fleet of 7,000+ vehicles and led a major automotive retail group, I assembled a team of industry veterans who shared my vision for transforming fleet management. Our leadership team brings over 75 years of combined fleet operations experience – we’ve managed everything from small local fleets to massive nationwide operations. Combining these experiences allowed me to create the vision of Onward focusing on the gaps in the industry and build a company that is truly customer-centric. This depth of experience helped us identify the gaps that traditional providers weren’t addressing.
Q: Why “Onward”?
The name carries special meaning from my time at Chesapeake Energy. CEO Aubrey McClendon, who gave me invaluable opportunities there, often said “Onward and Upward.” It was my way to pay tribute to his mentorship while being a direct part of our culture and the way we think and a daily reminder of our commitment to pushing fleet management innovation forward.
Q: How has fleet management evolved, and where’s it heading?
While the fundamentals of asset management haven’t changed, the technology landscape is transforming rapidly. Our team has worked through every major industry shift of the past two decades – from basic GPS tracking to today’s integrated telematics solutions. Our agile structure lets us integrate new solutions faster than traditional providers, helping clients optimize everything from preventive maintenance to total cost of ownership. Looking ahead, I see real-time data analytics becoming crucial – we’re already helping clients turn complex fleet data into actionable insights that drive quick, informed decisions.
Q: Tell us about Onward’s evolution over these five years.
Starting from our Oklahoma City headquarters, we’ve grown into a nationwide operation by bringing together the industry’s top talent. Our team includes former fleet directors, maintenance managers, and telematics specialists who understand the daily challenges our clients face. We’ve strategically expanded through best-in-class partnerships and by launching Onward Connected, our proprietary telematics solution. Our consulting and vehicle leasing divisions have seen substantial growth as more organizations recognize the value of more sophisticated fleet optimization strategies and working with experienced fleet professionals who’ve been in their shoes. We have many great partners whose values align with ours.
Q: What stands out to your customers?
When you work with Onward, you’re tapping into decades of real-world fleet management expertise. We’re not consultants who’ve never touched a vehicle – we’re practitioners who’ve managed fleets of all sizes across every major industry. Every fleet operates differently, so we develop customized playbooks based on what actually works in the field. Our cornerstones – exceptional service, transparency, accountability, and innovation – come from understanding what fleet managers really need to succeed. We love creating a custom playbook specific for each client because we’re not a one-size-fits-all shop. While we leverage industry best practices, we carefully adapt them to existing operations for seamless integration. Our cornerstones – exceptional service, transparency, accountability, and innovation – aren’t just buzzwords; they’re built into every solution we deliver.
Q: How do you measure success with clients?
I’m proud to say we maintain the industry’s highest client retention rates, and that tells the story. This isn’t by accident – we’ve built a team that knows how to deliver results because they’ve managed fleets themselves. We maintain quarterly face-to-face reviews with every client – minimum. They aren’t just check-ins; they’re strategic planning sessions led by fleet professionals who speak your language. When I see existing clients growing and scaling their programs, that tells me our team is delivering real value.
Q: What are some key milestones worth highlighting?
Starting from our Oklahoma City roots, we’ve expanded to serve fleets nationwide – from local municipalities to Fortune 500 companies. Our team of industry veterans has helped us penetrate markets that typically take decades to crack. While we may not have the legacy of some competitors, our rapid growth and market penetration demonstrate the industry’s appetite for our innovative approach. We’re especially proud of our success in both public and private sectors, where our practical experience managing government and corporate fleets gives us unique credibility. Our team’s deep expertise has accelerated our growth beyond what I imagined five years ago. When I take a step back to reflect, it’s pretty cool to see what’s been done in the last 5 years and, more importantly, what’s on the horizon for the next 5.
Q: What drove the development of Onward Connected?
While we maintain strong partnerships with leading telematics providers, our team of fleet technology experts saw an opportunity to push the envelope to a fully integrated system. Onward Connected reflects decades of hands-on experience with vehicle data systems – we know what fleet managers actually need versus what traditional solutions provide. We’re minimizing external hardware requirements by leveraging native vehicle connectivity where possible, and we’re capturing over 400 data points per vehicle. This positions us to deliver the next generation of fleet analytics that our experienced team knows operators really want.
Q: What does the future of Onward look like?
Looking ahead, I see tremendous opportunity. What we have accomplished in five years is beyond fathomable. Our team’s experience running complex fleet operations means we’re not afraid to tackle the challenging problems others avoid – whether that’s developing sophisticated predictive maintenance algorithms or creating innovative financing structures. While growth never comes easy, we’re energized by helping clients focus on their core business while we handle the complexities of fleet optimization. The next five years will be about scaling what works while staying nimble enough to embrace emerging technologies that our experts identify as true game-changers.
This field moves fast, but we separate genuine innovation from industry hype. That’s why clients trust us to keep them ahead of the curve while delivering practical, proven solutions that work in the real world.
The next 5 years won’t be easy (as it never is), but we pride ourselves on doing the work nobody else does for the good of our clients. Onward and Upward!
