Hooksett, N.H. March 2, 2026 - Merchants Fleet(R), the nation's leader in innovative fleet solutions, today announced an expanded strategic partnership with Cox Fleet that advances how fleet maintenance, roadside, and service support are delivered to their clients at scale. Cox Fleet - a Cox Automotive brand - launched earlier this year, signals the company's commitment to powering uptime across the trucking and fleet industry. The agreement formalizes a long-standing relationship between the two companies. Merchants Fleet is the first fleet management company to execute a strategic agreement under the newly formed Cox Fleet, Cox Automotive's unified organization combining Fleet Services and FleetNet America. The continued partnership is the result of a 15-month collaboration and implementation combining the capabilities of each business, modernizing service delivery through integrated technology, national coverage through 65K+ service providers and 1,500+ Cox Fleet technicians, 24/7/365 support, and a unified operating model for Merchants' clients. Merchants Fleet evolves to meet client needs, collaborating across its network to broaden and scale up its array of services and solutions which directly support client success. This expanded relationship reflects that continued focus on adaptability, evolution, and service. "As a mission-critical partner to our client's success, delivering a consistent, seamless service experience requires strong partnerships with organizations that can operate at scale," said Jeff Nieman, Senior Vice President & Chief Operations Officer at Merchants Fleet. "Our relationship with Cox Fleet gives us access to a unified service model that simplifies maintenance and roadside coordination, reduces complexity, and helps fleet managers spend less time managing service logistics and more time running their business, all while keeping vehicles on the road." Through Cox Fleet, Merchants Fleet clients gain access to a single, coordinated service ecosystem that supports scheduled maintenance, emergency roadside assistance, and on-demand service nationwide. The Cox Fleet model combines direct service technicians, mobile maintenance capabilities, and a broad third-party service network to deliver a more consistent, predictable service experience across geographies, asset types, and operating environments. The relationship supports multiple Merchants Fleet portfolios, including long-term fleet operations, FleetShare, and short-term and on-demand use cases, giving clients the flexibility to scale service support up or down as fleet needs change all through one integrated view. Cox Automotive's national footprint also provides additional operational support through facilities and service locations across the United States, helping ensure reliable coverage regardless of where vehicles are deployed. Through this unified model, Merchants views itself as a community alongside its clients and partners, working as one team to help move America forward. "At Cox Fleet, everything we do is focused on keeping fleets moving, and our partnership with Merchants Fleet directly supports that mission," said Kyle Ballinger, VP of Sales for Cox Fleet. "We built Cox Fleet with our customers at the center, to serve them with a comprehensive set of solutions for their fleets. That's what we're doing with the team at Merchants. When we bring together our marketplace, our technicians and our nationwide support team, our partners win - and so do their customers." The expanded relationship also plays a key role in Merchants Fleet's strategic sourcing initiatives, which are designed to consolidate service delivery, improve program alignment, and create a more seamless experience for clients by reducing vendor complexity. "Our clients expect us to be thoughtful and intentional about the partners we work with," Nieman added. "This relationship reflects our commitment to building a strong service ecosystem that delivers flexibility, reliability, and measurable operational value our clients across the full vehicle lifecycle." Merchants Fleet is the nation's innovative leader in comprehensive fleet management solutions. For more than 60 years, Merchants has pushed the boundaries in the fleet industry with, flexible funding, vehicle remarketing, and fleet acquisition options, plus complete end-to-end electrification solutions. As the only fleet management company in North America offering both long and short-term fleet services, Merchants is uniquely positioned to provide clients with unparalleled flexibility, services, and support essential for keeping businesses ahead of the curve. Headquartered in the Greater Boston area, Merchants is steering change and driving results for fleets of all sizes throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.merchantsfleet.com.

Join Merchants Fleet at Work Truck Week 2026. Work Truck Week(R) returns to the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis March 10 - 13, 2026 - and for fleet leaders focused on trucks, upfitting, and operational performance, it remains the most important event of the year. Produced annually by NTEA, Work Truck Week is North America's largest work truck event. More than a trade show, it brings together fleet operators, distributors, upfitters, transportation managers, OEMs, and industry experts to explore the latest commercial vehicles, vocational truck solutions, regulatory updates, and sustainability strategies shaping the future of the industry. Merchants Fleet will be on-site at booth #6111, with its truck and upfit specialists ready to talk strategy, specifications, and smarter ways to support your fleet. Why Work Truck Week matters. Work Truck Week offers unmatched access to innovation and insight across the entire truck ecosystem: * 500+ exhibitors showcasing new chassis, bodies, and equipment * OEM updates and upfitter solutions * Green Truck Summit (March 10) * Educational sessions (March 10 - 12) * Work Truck Show exhibits (March 11 - 13) * Ride & Drive opportunities From vehicle regulations and sustainability initiatives to evolving chassis availability and equipment design, the event is designed to help fleet professionals prepare for what is next. For organizations operating complex truck fleets, this is where strategy meets execution. Focus on what drives fleet performance. Trucks are not just assets on a balance sheet. They are revenue-generating tools and mobile job sites. The way they are spec'd, upfit, and deployed has a direct impact on safety, productivity, lifecycle costs, and technician efficiency. At Work Truck Week, the opportunity is not simply to see what is new. It is to evaluate what will actually improve your operation. Fleet leaders should be asking: * Are its current upfits aligned with how its teams work in the field? * Are Merchants Fleet standardizing specifications where it makes sense? * How can Merchants Fleet design trucks to better support safety and technician productivity? * Are Merchants Fleet positioned to scale for seasonal demand without overextending year-round costs? For service-driven industries like HVAC, these questions are especially important. Organized cargo management systems, properly configured ladder racks, secure storage, and onboard power solutions directly influence how efficiently technicians operate. When trucks are built around real-world workflows, businesses can reduce downtime, improve safety outcomes, and complete more jobs per day. As labor pressures and seasonal fluctuations continue to impact the trades, purpose-built truck design becomes a competitive advantage. Turning innovation into operational impact. With hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of products on display, Work Truck Week can feel overwhelming. The key is to focus on practical innovation. As you walk the show floor, look for solutions that: * Improve reliability and lifecycle performance * Support technician safety and ergonomics * Streamline upfit coordination and delivery timelines * Align with your long-term cost management strategy The most successful truck programs balance customization with consistency. They incorporate the right technology without adding unnecessary complexity. And they are supported by strong coordination between OEMs, upfitters, and fleet partners. Let's talk trucks at booth #6111. At Merchants Fleet, Merchants Fleet understand that managing truck fleets requires more than sourcing vehicles. It requires thoughtful specification, disciplined upfit management, lifecycle planning, and a client experience that keeps projects moving forward. Its team will be at booth #6111 throughout Work Truck Week, ready to discuss: * Custom truck builds and vocational upfits * Standardization strategies across multi-site operations * Managing chassis constraints and production timelines * Seasonal scaling and right-sizing strategies * Long-term fleet planning for service-driven industries Whether you are refining an established truck program or preparing for growth, Merchants Fleet welcome the opportunity to connect. Work Truck Week is where the industry comes together to prepare for the future. Merchants Fleet look forward to seeing you in Indianapolis March 10 - 13.

Cognizant and Merchants Fleet set new standard for fleet management efficiency. TEANECK, N.J. and HOOKSETT, N.H., Dec. 3, 2025 - Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) today announced a strategic partnership with Merchants Fleet, a market leader in fleet management and fleet leasing solutions, to transform operations and drive efficiency through advanced technology and artificial intelligence. The collaboration continues Merchants Fleet's strategic initiative to modernize business processes across sales, fleet operations, and customer service, while enabling Merchants Fleet's agility towards changing business environments and evolving customer needs. Over the course of the agreement, Cognizant will leverage advanced technologies aiming to streamline operations and deliver greater efficiency. Cognizant also has a longstanding relationship with the Merchants Fleet Information Technology team and has enabled the company to enhance its operational processes, and effective knowledge management practices. Cognizant has applied a transformation-first approach, combining AI-powered automation and predictive analytics to reimagine Merchants Fleet's systems. By leveraging generative AI to accelerate development cycles, Cognizant aims to support Merchants Fleet to build a more agile, future-ready architecture while laying out the foundation for long-term growth. The expanded collaboration reflects a broader industry shift toward integrated technology platforms that address persistent challenges such as billing and payment complications, slow repair turnaround, and limited visibility into vehicle performance. "Our collaboration with Cognizant plays an important role in driving value for our clients and for Merchants Fleet," said Matt Dyer, CEO and President at Merchants Fleet. "Aligned with our strategy, we're leveraging Cognizant's experience and innovative approach to improve processes and elevate the overall client experience - while ensuring we deliver enhanced quality and efficiency along the way." "Merchants Fleet is a forward-thinking organization, and we're proud to help them with our logistics expertise to navigate industry challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth," said Vijay Narayan, Executive Vice President and Head of Manufacturing, Logistics, Energy & Utilities Business Unit at Cognizant. "By combining advanced technology, AI-driven insights, and scalable solutions, we're setting a new benchmark for operational excellence in fleet management." The fleet management industry is undergoing rapid transformation, with organizations seeking to modernize legacy systems and harness AI for predictive maintenance, supply-demand forecasting and customer experience optimization. Merchants Fleet is setting the pace for innovation in a rapidly evolving fleet management industry. While many organizations are just beginning to modernize legacy systems and explore advanced technologies, Merchants is already ahead of the curve and elevating the customer's experience. Cognizant's collaboration with Merchants demonstrates how forward-thinking leadership and cross-industry expertise can drive sustainable growth and create a truly competitive advantage. About Cognizant Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) engineers modern businesses. Merchants Fleet help its clients modernize technology, reimagine processes, and transform experiences so they can stay ahead in its fast-changing world. Together, Merchants Fleet is improving everyday life. See how at www.cognizant.com or @cognizant. Merchants Fleet is the nation's innovative leader in comprehensive fleet management solutions. For more than 60 years, Merchants has pushed the boundaries in the fleet industry with, flexible funding, vehicle remarketing, and fleet acquisition options, plus complete end-to-end electrification solutions. As the only fleet management company in North America offering both long and short-term fleet services, Merchants is uniquely positioned to provide clients with unparalleled flexibility, services, and support essential for keeping businesses ahead of the curve. Headquartered in the Greater Boston area, with its Innovation Center in Chicago, Merchants is steering change and driving results for fleets of all sizes throughout North America.