FLEET decision-makers – from secretaries to fleet managers, human resource managers, finance directors and managing directors – have given their backing to our call for better training.

In an overwhelming show of support, 96% of fleet decision-makers, responsible for thousands of vehicles, who are members of our Fleet Panel backed the Fleet News 'Get Trained' campaign. This is by far the largest majority registered by the panel in more than a year of surveys covering a huge range of fleet issues.

Only a fraction said that access to training was currently acceptable and with the majority making their voice heard in favour of training, employers throughout the country will now have to take note and consider how they view the value of their fleet operations.

Fleet News launched the 'Get Trained' campaign last week, following a long-running debate about the cost to businesses of employing unskilled staff to look after the operation of company car fleets.

Industry experts fear tens of millions of pounds are wasted every year by companies because they are not running their fleets efficiently. Companies could be using the wrong funding options, or not choosing vehicles effectively. They could be failing to assess running costs, not training or managing drivers properly, misunderstanding the cost of accidents or ignoring important new legislation.

Even fleets where day-to-day management has been outsourced cannot wash their hands of responsibility for drivers, amid the renewed focus on health and safety and an employer's duty of care to staff.

For example, one of the country's biggest police forces has warned employers that officers will investigate company policy in the event of an accident involving company drivers (Fleet NewsNet June 5).

South Yorkshire Police gave the warning at a major safety seminar where it outlined the role employers should play in the event of a fatal accident involving a fleet driver. Fleets were told that police would look at the state of the vehicle and how it was maintained – and that includes looking at company maintenance records and interviewing directors, other drivers and vehicle maintenance staff.

Many fleet decision-makers pointed out that they faced most difficulty in persuading employers to spend money on training, even though it would pay for itself with greater savings for the company. A number of fleets also said that drivers had to provide support as well by complying with rules set down by fleets.

Q: Do you agree that employers should provide more support for employees with responsibility for company cars?

'Training for all staff with fleet responsibilities is an absolute must. Training may seem expensive at the front end but remains the only way of ensuring the fleet is utilised in the most cost-effective manner. The days when someone had a set of keys thrown at them should now be long gone.'
John Clarke
Fleet Services – South, Telewest Broadband

'Yes, but this cuts both ways. Drivers must expect you to demand a higher level of adherence to both public and company regulations. Internal procedures are not invented to make life difficult, they are to keep the company legal and prosperous. And bad behaviour on the road and breaking traffic laws and regulations is just stupid. We need to take care of staff, but they need to take care of us.'
R.G

'It is essential staff entrusted with management of their company's car fleet are given full support by their company and provided with the training needed for such a complex job. Some companies seem to equate fleet management with the purchasing of ball-point pens or toilet rolls. But there are numerous pitfalls to catch the untrained fleet manager and many aspects which require knowledge. And that doesn't take account of working in the bear pit surrounded by leasing companies, manufacturers, dealers and not least of all, company car drivers.' Tony Leigh
Chairman, Association of Car Fleet Operators

'As one of the numerous fleet managers/administrators who have had to pick up knowledge through a steep learning curve and by reading as many fleet publications as possible, my company could and should do more for our drivers. I am a small voice in the wilderness and without any formal qualifications, many recommendations I make are not taken seriously. Save for a driver handbook, our drivers receive no other instructions, training or recommendations with regards to safe driving, driving while tired or under the influence of prescribed or over-the-counter drugs.'
P.M.

'Yes. To justify getting the training is tricky. When you tell your bosses you'll save X amount of pounds after X amount of outlay, the answer seems to be: 'Shouldn't you be saving us that anyway!'.'
S.P.

'Yes. The majority of employers still do not understand the true workload and responsibility that the person looking after the fleet has. I gained a qualification from the Institute of Car Fleet Management in 1998, about a year after I took up my position. However, this has never been recognised by the company and issues that I raise never even reach the board table for discussion.'
J.H.

'Absolutely yes. This support should include not only the fleet decision-makers but also the fleet drivers.'
Nicholas JM Bennett
Head of the Compensation & HR Practice, Buck Consultants

'I took over our fleet of 50 vehicles two-and-a-half years ago and I have had to teach myself. The problem, as with so many other fleet managers, is that it is not my full-time job – I am assistant to the company accountant/secretary and these duties take up a great deal of my time. A fleet manager's role is becoming increasingly more complicated and the staff and partners of my company have no idea whatsoever of what is involved in running a fleet and how much input you have to make. I try hard to cover all the issues I should be but if I am honest I am probably only scratching the surface.
G.O.

'Time and cost is the main problem, so a CD or video-based training package would be of value. Having some responsibility for health and safety, it is also difficult to get any definitive advice on what we should be doing.'
R.W.
Company secretary

'I agree, but people in charge of fleets are often the only people in their organisation with any inclination of what's involved in running a fleet and this puts the onus on them to identify their own limitations and do something about it. Training is available and help is available from membership of the Association of Car Fleet Operators and from reading Fleet News. There is no excuse to be ill-informed.'
P.J.B.

'Yes, but then again employers should provide support to all employees with responsibility.'
P.T
Company secretary

'Fleet managers should insist on being trained and therefore aware of their liabilities. The fleet management role is attracting more and more responsibility with new legislation and training is the best way to keep pace with these growing demands.'
Richard Marmoy
General manager, Panasonic UK

'No, we provide about enough.'
T.C.

'Use of vehicles is a public issue and liveried vehicles in particular are the face of an organisation. It is all too easy to be in breach of legislation.'
M.E
Assistant head transport services

'The world is full of many fleet managers who feel they don't need training – they know it all already. People who want the training should be given more support by their employers, but I think you will find many don't ask.'
Gill Garrett
Premiere Products, Cheltenham

'Too many companies still see fleet operations as a five minute job that can be tacked on to someone's job description and expect them to cope with the complexities of vehicle operations, finance, legal matters, health and safety, contract negotiations etc. They expect finance/HR staff to be qualified, but for some reason are happy for unqualified/untrained staff to manage possibly one of the most expensive aspects of their operations.'
Alan Miles
Administration & data protection manager, RNIB UK

'Yes, but reality often dictates this is not the case, mainly due to financial constraints.'
R.L.

'Yes. While most individuals will attempt to become conversant with all the elements of running a fleet there is no substitute for structured training to both start them off and continually refresh their knowledge base.'
A.M.

  • To join in our 'Get Trained' campaign and register what training you think should be made available, click on the 'Get Trained' logo to the left of this article.