Launching a truck leasing company in 2008 as the economy turned sour, John Flynn at least had four decades of industry experience going for him. It helped. Through the third quarter, his Fleet Advantage in Fort Lauderdale saw revenue jump 60% over 2010's annual total.

John Flynn (right) is Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year in Florida in the emerging category.

He employed 25 in October on his way to increasing staff by 35%. And he locked up $40 million in additional loan guarantees to move forward. Flynn is winning business with two prongs: Clean-diesel tractors and proprietary tracking technology that generates data on use and driver behavior — on things like engine idle time — that his firm analyzes to show fleet owners how to cut costs. Data demonstrate to fleet owners when they should turn over their equipment to save money. "By micromanaging data, looking at all the right cost metrics, and leveraging clean diesel technology, we provide our clients with a road map to greater cost savings and a more sustainable planet," says Flynn.