THE dawn of a new millennium has presented the fleet industry with the biggest challenges it has ever faced. Transport, cars - and company cars particularly - are under the political microscope from both revenue and environmental standpoints. That is why the 12th Fleet News Awards have been the hardest to judge by people with more than 150 years' fleet experience.

About 150 models were in the running for the best vehicle awards, more than 30 fleet managers gave submissions and 80 fleet suppliers entered. The winning fleet managers have shown themselves to be class acts and industry leaders whose methods their peers should not be afraid to adopt. The winning vehicle manufacturers have shown themselves not only to be makers of top-notch cars and vans but also sensitive to the requirements of the fleet industry. And the winning fleet suppliers have shown themselves to be ahead of the field in meeting the ever-changing needs of both fleet managers and company car drivers.

And the winners are...

  • UK Fleet Of The Year - Winner: TNT UK

    • TNT UK and its group fleet procurement manager Simon Boggis are multiple Fleet News Award winners and this year's triumph takes the total number of awards won by either the company or Simon Boggis to a record-breaking five. 1999 was a major year for TNT as it saw the integration of its two UK divisions - TNT International and TNT Domestic. As a result Simon Boggis and the fleet team assumed responsibility for 1,500 company cars and 2,500 vans.

    But such a move merely served to hasten the speed of fleet development and innovation both internally and with key suppliers in the UK and across Europe. By continually pushing back the boundaries, challenging fleet industry suppliers to look forward and championing the cause of fleet as a credible professional industry, TNT UK and Simon Boggis are true leaders.

  • Fleet Manager Of The Year under 250 vehicles - Winner: Alan Miles, Administration and Data Protection Manager, RNIB

    • THE Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) operates a nationwide disparate fleet of 190 cars and 35 minibuses serving the needs of senior management, staff and blind people. Alan Miles is a part-time fleet manager who has embraced professional fleet management by playing a leading role in the Association of Car Fleet Operators and embarking on an Institute of Car Fleet Management diploma course.

    Being a charity, every penny must be counted. However, the fleet strategies pursued by the RNIB must ensure that those relying on an efficient fleet service are not failed. Alan Miles has increased the profile of fleet operations in a traditionally conservative organisation by introducing a wide range of initiatives which have won senior management approval by being designed to improve safety, inform vehicle drivers and increase efficiency.

  • Fleet Manager Of The Year over 250 vehicles - Joint winners: Nigel Trotman, Whitbread and Richard Flint, Durham Police

    • NIGEL Trotman, central services manager at Whitbread which is best known for its restaurants, cafes and beer brands such as TGI Fridays, Pizza Hut and Boddingtons, has taken sub-contracting to an art form. A non-conformist fleet manager in charge of almost 3,000 vehicles, he has forged a relationship with the company's main supplier - GE Capital Fleet Services - to provide a range of services.

    As a result of the 'partnership agreement' - now expanded to include other partners - and his working smarter ethic, fleet operating standards are being driven up to the benefit of the entire fleet industry as well as Whitbread.

    In charge of a fleet of 340 vehicles, Richard Flint is a hands-on fleet manager who has obtained the Institute of Car Fleet Management's diploma which has helped him increase his fleet knowledge to improve the efficiency of the Durham Police fleet. His work has been rewarded with HM Inspectorate commenting that Richard Flint demonstrated 'a level of lateral thinking and commitment rarely seen elsewhere. Good efficiency savings were being made without loss of effectiveness or quality and the achievements were acknowledged by officers in all areas of the force.'

  • Special Award - Winner: John Bradley, Fleet Manager, Hampshire Constabulary

    • JOHN Bradley is a crusading fleet manager who, after 33 years running the diverse Hampshire Constabulary fleet of 600 cars, 103 vans, 48 motorcycles, three police launches and 65 pieces of plant, continues to lead and innovate. A pioneer of alternatively-fuelled vehicles - started in 1994 when Hampshire became the first police force in the world to operate Ford's Ecostar electric vehicle - he has continued to introduce both gas and electric vehicles to the force's fleet.

    Innovative methods of fleet management also continue to be introduced and he works closely with Hampshire business and local authorities to spread the gospel of best fleet practice, particularly in environmental terms. He is also a 'first stop' in terms of working with numerous vehicle manufacturers and fleet suppliers on new developments and is a leading light within the National Association of Police Fleet Managers.

  • Environmental Award - Winner: Alan Hocking, Fleet and Supplies Manager, Humberside Police

    • AN investigation into alternative fuels has resulted in Humberside Police operating the largest liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicle fleet in the UK. Of a fleet of more than 460 vehicles, almost 200 run on LPG - of which half are Proton cars.

    Other LPG vehicles include Vauxhall Corsas and Astras, Ford Escorts and Transits and Mercedes-Benz Sprinters. Within the next two years it is planned that about 430 of the fleet's vehicles will run on LPG. The programme has resulted in fuel savings of more than £100,000 a year and environmental benefits for the Humberside community.

  • Risk Management Award - Winner: Andy Price, Market Segment Manager, Permabond

    • HAMPSHIRE-based Permabond launched its 'Drivesafe' risk management strategy six years ago and across its 22-car fleet now has an accident record of one per 1.796 million miles. Now the 'Drivesafe' scheme has been taken up by parent company National Starch & Chemical Company's car drivers worldwide (2,500) and communicated to owner ICI's 10,346 employees.

    Last year Andy Price won the award for the success of the Drivesafe Initiative in the UK. Now he wins the 2000 award for spreading the gospel worldwide.

  • Fleet Service Company of The Year over 50 employees - Winner: Auto Windscreens

    • 'GET straight to the point' is Auto Windscreens' motto and after the acquisition of the company in 1998 by HSBC Private Equity and four executive directors, it did. Last year it reported a string of successes: record sales and profits, record growth in 12 months since Auto Windscreens was established in 1971 and record gains in the fleet sector, where it claims to be the market leader after notable contract wins.

    As an independent company, its business has boomed, more centres have been opened and staff training has further developed.

  • Fleet Service Company Of The Year Under 50 employees - Winner: Norton Way Honda, Letchworth

    • FRANCHISED dealers are crucial to the efficiency of fleet operations and Europe's most successful Honda fleet dealership is leading the way. Last year Honda saw its fleet sales increase by more than 28% in the UK and more than 1,200 of those left the showroom of Norton Way Honda in Letchworth - more than 500% ahead of the average Honda outlet.

    A 25-strong corporate team and a dedicated corporate PDI workshop headed by the current Honda UK Technician of the Year is testimony to fleet awareness in the dealership, which can count a string of household name fleets and leasing companies among its client base. It is the first time a dealership ha