His team is in constant contact with service
providers and regular reporting is what he
describes as key to the operation’s success.
“Vehicle issues are monitored closely and national
bulletins are issued regularly to advise the users to
keep an eye out for any potential issues,” he said.
In advising other fleet managers in procurement,
running and servicing vehicles, managing drivers
and improving efficiency, James says it’s safety
first. “It’s our utmost priority and is the first
consideration in any decisions taken,” he said
firmly, knowing that the flow on from safety can
make the rest of the task much easier. “Following
safety, having a flexible approach to decision-
making when it comes to vehicles is also valuable;
sometimes the safest, most suitable and cost-
effective solution is not the first brand that comes
to mind, and of course, the task the vehicles are
required for will affect the vehicle type.”
Dixon says to choose a supplier with a network
that understands your business requirement. So
too is regular and thorough maintenance. “Sticking
with the OEM service regime is key to success;
the vehicle manufacturer undertakes exhaustive
testing on maintenance and this should be
followed rigorously.” It’s a similar story with vehicle
accidents and the follow-up investigation – don’t
just sweep it under the rug. “Where accidents
do happen, we don’t just repair the damage
and move on; you need to understand why the
accident happened and put steps in place to
ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
In the pursuit of safety, Australia Post is again an
experienced lot. Taking care of its people and
others is at the core of every operation, especially
its enormous and frantic fleet operations.
“Australia Post has evolved out of a safety-strictly-
for-compliance culture in which safety leadership
is seen as everyone’s responsibility and is
demonstrated at every level,” he said. “Managers
are empowered to take ownership of safety
outcomes and make decisions that will reduce
exposure through expert technical safety advice
and support.”
“Where accidents do happen, we don’t just repair the damage
and move on; you need to understand why the accident happened
and put steps in place to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
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ISSUE 20 2019 / WWW.AFMA.ORG.AU