A DIRECT Government appeal to fleet managers to take action now over CO2 was made at the Fleet Show amid fears drivers are being left unprepared for the impact of carbon dioxide-based company car tax in 2002. At a packed Fleet Forum on the first day of the show, attended by about 80 fleet buyers and decision-makers, Sara Woollard, policy adviser to the personal taxation division of the Inland Revenue, warned fleet managers they had to act now to avoid big shocks for drivers in 2002.

She told the PricewaterhouseCoopers-sponsored forum, on tax changes for fleets, held in association with Manheim Europe: 'It will be a long time before companies realise how the tax changes are going to affect them, but fleet managers should. Companies and fleet managers have a responsibility to help their drivers. They must raise awareness now and not allow something to be bought now that will lead to a big shock in 2002.'

But it will be an uphill struggle to get the message across, Ken Trinder, managing director of contract hire firm c.2K and a panel members at the forum told the audience. He revealed that none of his customers, covering 7,500 company cars, had made steps to speak to him about the effect of CO2, despite his efforts to warn clients about the potential problems they face.