Fleet managers have been left in no doubt about the need for professionalism in their job after the chairman of the Institute of Car Fleet Management (ICFM), Roddy Graham said the days of part-time, uncommitted fleet managers were over.

“There is no longer a place for ‘interested amateurs’ in fleet management,” he said to over 80 fleet managers at the annual ICFM meeting, which this year was restructured into workshops for the first time.

Speaking about the present financial crisis facing industry, Graham said: “None of us know when this is going to end…rental companies are going into receivership, dealers are struggling. This is all going to impact on our industry.”

Now, more than ever, professional management is key to ensuring a fleet delivers what is expected in a cost-effective and safe manner, he said.

With this in mind, the ICFM delegates, who included suppliers as well as fleet managers, identified, discussed and developed key strategic goals across three workshops at Peugeot’s UK headquarters in Coventry.

"Our decision to replace our traditional national conference programme with a practical training workshop to assist members and their guests in meeting today's tough economic challenges proved the right one,” said Graham.

"The professionalism, expertise and enthusiasm of our members were evident for all to see with pro-active participation by all attendees, which resulted in a workshop judged of real value to all participants."

The workshops identified how a manager can deliver maximum value from a fleet, how to ensure all risks are managed and to identify and develop the essential skills for successful fleet management.

What was apparent from the numbers attending and the keen debates within the workshops was that not only were these key issues facing all fleet managers, but that there is a real appetite for continual professional development within the industry.

The workshops’ conclusions can be used as a blueprint for successful car and van fleet management that can be adopted by fleets across the country.

The workshops

Delivering value from the fleet - the top ten drivers for delivering value from the fleet

1. Policy
2. Funding
3. Fuel management
4. Duty of care/health and safety
5. Driver management/communications
6. Cost management
7. Fitness for purpose
8. Supplier management
9. Management information and control
10. Environment

The skills identified for delivering success in fleet management underlined the diverse expertise required from top professional fleet managers today while there was broad consensus among delegates concerning the top four risks to be managed.

Developing skills for success – the top 10 attributes

1 Analytical skills
2 Negotiation skills
3 Customer focus – know your business
4 Finance skills
5 Strategic approach
6 Project management
7 Effective communication, negotiation skills and mediation
8 Risk assessment and management
9 Innovation – being brave and taking risks
10 Leadership visionary

The four areas of risk within a fleet

1 Driver – licence, insurance, policy risk, knowledge, health, lifestyle, recruitment, accountability, responsibility, training
2 Financial – budgets, whole-life costs, residuals, borrowing, credit risk/rating, insurance costs, legal costs
3 Safety/Compliance – HSE, duty of care, legislation, company policies, grey fleet, CSR, brand/image, associated costs
4 Supply – forward planning, vehicle manufacturers, dealers, tyres, fuel, etc.