Safety and flexibility don ' t have to be competing priorities
One of the most difficult aspects of grey fleet management is balancing safety requirements with what’ s happening in real life.
Restricting vehicle choices too heavily, especially in regional and remote communities, could reduce access to essential services. These decisions become more complex for disability support providers since client choice and dignity of risk are central principles of care.
Instead of adopting a rigid, one-size-fitsall approach, HireUp focused on identifying unacceptable risks and then maintaining flexibility wherever possible. They removed unsafe vehicles from transport duties until the drivers could provide evidence that they’ ve met safety requirements.
However, broader decisions around transport continued to involve conversations with clients and support workers.
Starting today is an organisation ' s best move
Organisations don’ t need to meet perfect conditions to begin improving grey fleet safety. The Grey Fleet Safety Management Model was tested across organisations of different sizes and across different sectors and has demonstrated that meaningful improvements can be achieved regardless of budget or available resources.
Furthermore, grey fleet management is an ongoing process instead of just another box to tick in pursuit of compliance. Regular reviews, audits, employee engagement, and continuous improvement play a critical role in building a strong safety culture in any organisation.
After all, the greatest risk isn ' t discovering gaps in your grey fleet strategy. It ' s assuming those gaps don ' t exist.
30 ISSUE 60 AUGUST 2026 / WWW. AFMA. ORG. AU