FLEET decision-makers have revealed their 2004 action plans to give a kick-start to 2004 in the Fleet News/Lex Vehicle Leasing survey.

In a reflection of the issues fleets believe they will face over the next 12 months (above) nearly 60% of fleets questioned said they would introduce policies designed to cut accidents or make drivers safer on the roads.

Nearly 50% of fleets say they plan to do more work over the internet, or by email, an initiative Fleet News has recognised with the launch of Manage Your Fleet Online, a conference taking place on January 28 this year at Gaydon, Warwickshire.

It will examine areas including the first steps to online fleet management, vehicle acquisition, rental, vehicle management, maintenance, disposal and what the future holds.

The third most popular initiative among fleet decision-makers is introducing or running driver training courses, with 36% of fleets saying they plan to do so.

In a warning to suppliers that they must fight to keep their customers, 34% of fleets said they were planning to change a supplier to cut costs, while 21% said they were going to change their suppliers to improve service levels.

More than a third said they were planning to change their fleet policies to include cars with lower emissions, while 17% plan to introduce some form of cash-for-car scheme. Nearly 10% plan to introduce telematics systems to monitor their fleets, while the same number plan to assess supply of servicing and delivery following changes to Block Exemption.

Scrapping pool cars in favour of short-term rental is an initiative supported by 7% of fleets, while 6.6% plan to introduce a green travel plan. But despite the initiatives they are planning to introduce and the issues they face in the next year, just 6% of fleet decision-makers say they plan to undergo professional fleet management training.

The two initiatives that received the least interest were moving drivers back into company cars from cash-for-car schemes (5.5%) and outsourcing fleet management (4.9%).

  • Ticket prices for Move Your Fleet Online are £85 for fleet managers/fleet decision-makers and £125 for other industry professionals, but only for those booking early. From yesterday prices rise to £105 and £145 respectively. All figures are exclusive of VAT. To book your place and for further information, call Sandra Evitt on 01733 468123 or email luke.clements@emap.com

    Top 10 fleet action plans

  • Introduce policies designed to cut accidents or make drivers safer on the road 57%
  • Do more work over the web/by email 48%
  • Offer driver training to staff (in classroom or on the road) 36%
  • Change fleet policy to include fleet cars with lower emissions 34%
  • Change a supplier to cut costs 34%
  • Reassess provision of free fuel for private mileage 29%
  • Change a supplier to improve service delivery 21%
  • Introduce PCP/cash-for-car/structured car ownership scheme 17%
  • Introduce telematics systems to monitor fleet 9%
  • Assess supply of servicing/repairs following changes to Block Exemption 9% Source: Fleet News/Lex Vehicle Leasing

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