Mace Hartley Executive Director
Executive Director’ s Report
Mace Hartley Executive Director
Safety has always been one of the most important responsibilities of fleet management, but the risks facing organisations and their people continue to evolve. From work-related driving and vehicle safety technology to mental health, grey fleet risks, extreme weather and emerging forms of risk intelligence, creating a safer fleet requires a much broader approach than simply meeting compliance requirements.
In this edition of FleetDrive, we put safety firmly in the spotlight and explore the many factors that influence the safety of people, vehicles and operations across Australasia.
We begin by looking at work-related road safety, which remains one of the most significant safety risks facing Australian fleets. Russell White from Driver Safety Australia examines why organisations need to take a proactive approach to managing driving risk and consider safety strategies that go beyond compliance.
Safety is also about people. Our industry continues to recognise that mental health and wellbeing are essential parts of a safe and sustainable workplace. In this edition, we look at the work of Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds and its efforts to improve mental health outcomes for people working across Australia ' s transport, warehousing and logistics sectors.
Vehicle technology continues to play an important role in reducing risk. From the latest safety features in new vehicles to independently crash-tested fleet fitouts and AI-powered risk intelligence, this edition explores how technology can help organisations identify, manage and reduce risk before incidents occur.
We also take a closer look at how technology is helping fleets operating in some of Australia ' s most challenging environments. MacDonnell Regional Council ' s use of satellite-enabled telematics demonstrates how connected technology can improve visibility, safety and service delivery even when vehicles are operating across vast and remote areas.
For fleet managers, safety also needs to be reflected in policies and everyday decision making. We examine the importance of keeping fleet policies aligned with changing vehicle safety standards, as well as the oftenoverlooked risks associated with grey fleets. With ANCAP ratings, advanced driver assistance systems and other safety technologies continuing to evolve, procurement and fleet policies need to evolve with them.
The changing regulatory landscape is another important consideration for fleet operators. In this edition, Michael Mills looks at the transition from NHVAS to HVA and what the changes mean for heavy vehicle operators. Understanding new accreditation requirements and timelines will be critical for businesses navigating this transition.
Safety does not exist in isolation from the wider operating environment either. Our feature on El Niño considers what changing weather conditions could mean for fleets, while our guest contributions explore how organisations can simplify increasingly complex fleet operations and continue strengthening their safety practices.
This edition also features the inaugural Women in Fleet Management Award winner, Theresa Labuschagne. In
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