THE AUTOPEOPLE REPORT | September 2026
THE AUTOPEOPLE REPORT
September 2026
Building a Fleet & Commercial Team Isn’t the Same as Running a Sales Floor
Here’s something that gets missed all the time. A dealer decides to grow their fleet and commercial business, and the first move is pulling somebody off the retail floor and handing them the account list. Come on. That’s not how this works.
Fleet and commercial is its own business inside the dealership, and if you staff it like a car lot, you’re going to be disappointed with what you get.
Here’s something that gets missed all the time. A dealer decides to grow their fleet and commercial business, and the first move is pulling somebody off the retail floor and handing them the account list. Come on. That’s not how this works.
Fleet and commercial is its own business inside the dealership, and if you staff it like a car lot, you’re going to be disappointed with what you get.
Here’s something that gets missed all the time. A dealer decides to grow their fleet and commercial business, and the first move is pulling somebody off the retail floor and handing them the account list. Come on. That’s not how this works.
Fleet and commercial is its own business inside the dealership, and if you staff it like a car lot, you’re going to be disappointed with what you get.
Don’t Fall for the Counteroffer Trap
You know what’s tough to see? A great manager finally decides to leave. They’ve been thinking about it for months, maybe longer, and the day they finally put in his notice, all of a sudden the dealer wants to throw money at them. Where was that six months ago? Come on. Read More
Don’t Fall for the Counteroffer Trap
You know what’s tough to see? A great manager finally decides to leave. They’ve been thinking about it for months, maybe longer, and the day they finally put in his notice, all of a sudden the dealer wants to throw money at them. Where was that six months ago? Come on. Read More
How Dealers Talk Themselves Out of Great Leaders
Ask almost any dealer what they’re looking for in a new general manager or sales leader, and brand experience is usually near the top of the list. “I need a Toyota guy.” “Has to have Ford experience.” “We only want candidates who’ve sold Cadillac.” It’s an understandable instinct. It’s also, more often than not, a mistake. And it’s one of the biggest reasons operators miss out on genuinely great talent. Read More
How Dealers Talk Themselves Out of Great Leaders
Ask almost any dealer what they’re looking for in a new general manager or sales leader, and brand experience is usually near the top of the list. “I need a Toyota guy.” “Has to have Ford experience.” “We only want candidates who’ve sold Cadillac.” It’s an understandable instinct. It’s also, more often than not, a mistake. And it’s one of the biggest reasons operators miss out on genuinely great talent. Read More
Autopeople is a leading automotive recruitment firm serving organizations across the United States and specializing in the placement of top automotive talent. With deep industry expertise and extensive market insight, we help companies build high-performing teams that drive long-term success.
To support employers in today’s competitive hiring environment, we developed this comprehensive compensation guide featuring current salary and market data from across the automotive industry. Use this report to evaluate compensation strategies, benchmark pay rates, and make informed decisions that strengthen both hiring and retention efforts.
Complete the form and download now.
Autopeople is a leading automotive recruitment firm serving organizations across the United States and specializing in the placement of top automotive talent. With deep industry expertise and extensive market insight, we help companies build high-performing teams that drive long-term success.
To support employers in today’s competitive hiring environment, we developed this comprehensive compensation guide featuring current salary and market data from across the automotive industry. Use this report to evaluate compensation strategies, benchmark pay rates, and make informed decisions that strengthen both hiring and retention efforts.
Complete the form and download now.
Please view our website at www.autopeople.com, call 1-800-659-9501 or email me, David Adragna, at [email protected] to discuss what Autopeople
can do for you.
