These are the results of a 2017 executive vehicle survey sent to Secure Transportation and Protective Services practitioners. A new survey will be available in 2019.
Practitioners who participated in the survey represent over 300 Corporations, plus the High Net Worth, and Private Security communities. Their job titles are Director of Security, EP Managers, Security Drivers, and EP Specialist. This survey is a reflection of those with a substantial amount of experience in the Protective Services/Secure Transportation Industry. The average years of experience of those that participated in the survey are 15 years.
Keep in mind that the survey indicates vehicles that are most commonly used, not necessarily the best vehicles.
A Summary of the 2017 Vehicle Survey Report
The 2017 report consisted of 36 pages of data with supplemental articles. The additional information was added to enhance and support the data.
Types of Vehicles
The sedan used most often for executive transportation is the Mercedes S-Class. This choice has not changed since our first survey in 2013.
| SEDAN TYPE | PERCENTAGE |
| Mercedes S-Class | 28.3% |
| Audi A8 | 15.7% |
| BW7 Series | 12.6% |
| Lexus LS460 | 10.2% |
| Cadillac XTS | 7.9% |
The most commonly used SUV is the Suburban.
The Suburban has been at the top of the list of most used SUVs since 2013, but this year there was an almost 20% decrease in its use (from 51% to 33%).
| SUV TYPE | PERCENTAGE |
| Chevrolet Suburban | 33.1% |
| Cadillac Escalade | 12.9% |
| GMC Denali | 12.9% |
| GMC Yukon | 6.7% |
Supplemental Information
The use of armored vehicles as secure transportation has fluctuated, going from 15.5% in 2013 to 22.9% in 2015 and 14.1% in 2017. The surveys indicate that the use of armored vehicles ebbs and flows from year to year, but every year a substantial number of participants are using armored vehicles.
The survey indicates that 62% of all participants use a rental vehicle.
We found that 55% of the participants did not know about the IRS ruling regarding secure transportation.
This post is brought to you from the International Security Driver Association (ISDA) Membership. ISDA is an association comprised of protection professionals, who represent all slices of the profession, Corporate, High Net Worth, Private Security, Entertainment, Government, and Law Enforcement from all parts of the globe.
The members share their knowledge and experience for the education and benefit of the membership and the Protective Services Community.
The website is an essential resource for anyone at any stage of their EP career. Whether you are exploring a career in executive protection, new to the profession, honing your expertise, or an established security executive, ISDA offers its Members benchmark educational, networking, and marketing programs, as well as access to the ISDA Knowledge Center. The Center is the gateway to the industry’s most extensive collection of educational information and resources for the Protection Professional.
