The Commercial Fleet Awards is to merge with the Fleet News Awards to create an unparalleled awards evening that honours and recognises excellence across every part of the fleet sector.

With the industry in turmoil due to the coronavirus pandemic and very little time for compiling award entries to reflect innovation and best practice, Fleet News has had a chance to review its awards proposition for 2021.

“Despite the ongoing success of the Commercial Fleet Awards, particularly with its new home at Fleet & Mobility Live, we believe bringing together our two awards programmes will boost their appeal to a wider audience of fleets, suppliers and manufacturers,” said Stephen Briers, Fleet News editor-in-chief.

The move mirrors the decision to bring Commercial Fleet magazine into the pages of Fleet News at the start of 2019. This reflected the fact that the majority of the fleet readership is running a mixture of cars, vans and trucks.

Many of the issues facing companies are relevant irrespective of the type of vehicles they run, and many of the solutions can be shared across their operations. As a result of the move, Fleet News is now able to concentrate more directly and thoroughly on the business of moving people, goods and services around.

Bringing together the Commercial Fleet Awards and the Fleet News Awards is a continuation of that journey, one which has also seen the introduction of more van and truck content into Fleet & Mobility Live. The dedicated Commercial Fleet Zone at Fleet & Mobility Live will continue expanding this year and will feature several exciting new initiatives to increase the appeal to van and truck operators.

Fleet News Awards 2021, incorporating Commercial Fleet Awards, will offer a unique opportunity for Fleet News to bring together the entire fleet sector to celebrate and honour the best people, companies and vehicles. It is set to become the biggest night in fleet.

“This was a difficult decision because the Commercial Fleet Awards has been very successful, especially last year when it coincided with Fleet & Mobility Live,” Briers said.

“But we believe it is the right thing to do as it enables us to celebrate and honour the entire fleet sector, just as we provide insight and analysis for every part of fleet in Fleet News and deliver content at Fleet & Mobility Live.”

Further details about awards categories, judges, auditing process and awards chairman will be released in September when Fleet News officially launches the Fleet News Awards 2021.