FLEETDRIVE
But when world leaders Norway can boast that 83.7 per cent of vehicles registered in January 2022 were electric , and even the world average for 2021 sales was 8.6 per cent you realise just how far behind we really are .
“ I think the challenge is going to be [ how quickly ] the world is progressing with electrification and hydrogen vehicles ,” QFleet ’ s Fleet Administrator Enola Antolini said .
“ It ’ s moving at such a rapid rate that we need to arm ourselves with the best tools we have so that we can move forward with it as well .”
3 . Protect your greatest asset
As fleet managers our greatest responsibility is to protect our drivers when they are on the road .
Today the responsibility for their safety rests heavily on our shoulders , with rigorous and regular testing of our drivers critical to mitigating risk within our vehicles .
There are considerable steps we all must take no matter how long we ’ ve been in the industry – such as retiring older fleet vehicles for the newest and safest models possible . We must also provide ongoing training and incentives to motivate our employees to make safety their number one priority .
“ High performing five-star rated vehicles provide employees and all other road users with significant protection if a crash occurs and better yet help to prevent a crash from occurring in the first place ,” ANCAP Safety ’ s CEO Carla Hoorweg said .
“ The implementation of new safety technologies that help new vehicles avoid crashes is where we will see significant reductions in fatalities and serious injuries .”
AfMA ’ s
Drive Safer resources are an easy way to better understand the importance of vehicle safety to guide your fleet in the years to come . For those looking to take their learning further , AfMA ’ s online courses will allow you to learn more about ANCAP Safety Ratings and understand the intricacies of modern vehicle safety features to help you introduce safer vehicles to your fleet .
4 . Vehicle availability remains an issue
The biggest problem that attendees commented on this year was around the ongoing supply chain issues that are plaguing the manufacturing industry .
Vehicles are taking longer to be built , fitted-out and shipped to the end user which has created a myriad of delays across our fleets . As manufacturers struggle to process orders , fleet managers are forced to hold onto older vehicles for longer affecting resale price and vehicle maintenance costs .
While the delays and lingering effects of COVID-19 will continue to affect our industry for years to come it ’ s important for fleet decision makers to effectively manage the things that they can control .
For one improving the behaviour of your drivers will not only keep them safer but it will reduce vehicle wear and tear on your existing cars – which will provide significant maintenance savings .
On the flip side many fleet vehicles will have been driven substantially less across the COVID-19 pandemic years , making it much easier to ‘ sweat your assets ’ for longer than you normally would .
Either way this pandemic has caused the whole industry to broaden their thinking around fleet optimisation – organisations that can successfully move away from a one-size-fits-all vehicle replacement strategy are likely to be the biggest winners . Be prepared to pivot even more in coming years .
5 . Excellence is possible for all of us
The 2022 Fleet Awards again shone the light on the incredible stories of success happening across our industry .
It was an important chance to recognise three well deserving winners for their role in leading environmental change , driving awareness around safety and demonstrating astute fleet leadership .
Fleet management is often a forgotten profession but a huge part of why our Fleet Awards exist is to inspire change across our entire industry . You ’ ll notice one thing in common with our honour roll of fleet winners – all of them are more than happy to share their journey and their experiences that led to their success .
While their achievements are remarkable , they are all goals that we can aspire to replicate no matter which organisation we work for . We encourage you to take the opportunity to reach out to our
previous Fleet Award winners and also consider submitting your own application / s for 2023 .
The 2022 Fleet Manager of the Year Terry Bickerton ( Head of Fleet and Equipment , Australia Post ) pointed to collaboration as a key contributor in driving overall fleet success .
“ The networking opportunities here are sensational – I get to talk to old friends and new friends and look at the new products and the changes coming from the suppliers ,” he said .
“ It ’ s great to be recognised for the work that my team and I go through to be as safe and as environmentally responsible as we can be .”
Daniel Braid is a former Communications , Social Media & Marketing Officer of the Australasian Fleet Management Association and attended the 2022 Australasian Fleet Conference & Exhibition as a guest .
ISSUE 34 MAY 2022 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU 31