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23/11/2009
Fleet Operations launches new interim fleet manager service

Demand for interim fleet managers is set to increase as public and private sector companies grapple with reviewing current company car and van strategies in today’s recession-hit economy.

That is the view of Ross Jackson, managing director of Fleet Operations, which has launched a new interim fleet management service called ‘FleetPeople’.

In recent years full-time professional fleet managers have become a dying breed in many companies as responsibility for vehicle management has moved into other business areas, but specifically procurement, finance and HR.

Mr Jackson said: “During the economic good times, many organisations appeared happy in a large number of cases to retain the status quo as far as fleet strategy was concerned. But today, as the UK is struggling to come out of a recession, all corporate costs are under the microscope and change in strategy and management are required.

“As a result, many organisations no longer have the in-house knowledge to focus on strategic and cost management around issues such as fleet funding, vehicle choice lists, operating policies and corporate risk.”

Meanwhile, interim fleet managers can also provide ‘cover’ when in-house fleet managers are on maternity leave, on long-term sick leave or to handle manage specific fleet-related projects.

With a lack of in-house professional fleet management expertise and, in many cases, a shortage of time to focus on key issues, many organisations are struggling to implement vehicle policy and procedure changes.

That has led to Fleet Operations receiving an increasing number of inquiries for its bank of experienced fleet managers to take a hands-on fleet management role to deliver change, financial savings and legislative compliance.

Mr Jackson said: “Organisations recognise that they need to make changes to their fleet strategy, company car choice lists and operational procedures, but often they don’t know where to start.

“They also find themselves being pegged back by the law of unintended consequences with changes to one aspect of the vehicle operation impacting on another, but the in-house personnel are not sure how to cope or are concerned about the reaction from drivers.”

Mr Jackson said: “We can manage fleets remotely or take a position inside a client’s business, but so far most organisations appear to want to have on-site management. Our professional fleet managers will use their experience to deliver change and, over a period of time, can work with the customer’s own less experienced staff to coach and mentor them.”

“Too many companies see fleet as a necessary cost and do not have a true handle on transport-related expenditure. By bringing in experienced interim fleet management the exact cost base can be quickly captured and areas ripe for change and financial savings can be identified. Financial and risk exposure can all be sense checked and managed effectively and efficiently.”

Fleet Operations’ ability to provide a management solution on either a part-time or full-time basis is underlined by its work for a number of organisations - including one leading pharmaceutical customer where the short-term ‘interim’ management solution is now in its fifth year.
 
Mr Jackson explained: “We were approached to handle a specific fleet project. Having delivered on that, we have continued to manage the fleet on an on-going basis, where the organisation has the complete confidence in our team to advise and manage every aspect of fleet. This is about Total Category Management (TCM); not just one narrow aspect of fleet. In today’s changing economic world I am convinced that there is a major role for interim fleet managers.”