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The Rising Role of the Company Car Fleet Manager
14 March 2016
Managing a company car fleet is no walk in the park. Your company’s vehicles are the lifeblood that keeps staff on the move and therefore they need a certain amount of looking after.
It can be easy to forget this when you’re driving around the countryside in a new, stylish automobile. But as soon as the car breaks down and needs fixing, or the time comes when it needs to be replaced, you will thank the management system and personnel for making sure you’re back on the road in no time.
This behind the scenes role has become ever-more demanding over recent years. The modern day company fleet manager needs to be versatile,multitalented, and an excellent communicator, in order to balance a set of expensive assets alongside the satisfaction of the employees.
Company cars and the idea of the mobile employee took off in the seventies. Back then the job of managing the fleet usually fell into the hands of the transport manager who was better suited to dealing with freight and logistics than staff and the car market. Thus the role of the fleet car manager emerged, and organisations such as the Institute of Car Fleet Managers (ICFM) and the Association of Car Fleet Operators (ACFO) appeared to help establish standard principles and best practice guidelines.
The car fleet manager’s sole purpose is to keep the workforce happy and moving at as little expense as possible. This means taking a well-rounded approach and making sure the employer’s needs are balanced with that of the staff, and that safety, efficiency, and the environment, are all factored into their decisions.
This would suggest that the car fleet manager’s role is essential and ever-present in the 21st century company. But the reality is many organisations don’t recognise the importance of the role and subsume the responsibility to those working in HR, finance, or procurement.
If we look at the numbers, we can see that the expenses of a company car fleet are often only second to payroll. Yet a company would no doubt run into problems if they didn’t have a dedicated employee to manage the wages. This goes to strengthen the case for giving fleet management the amount of attention it deserves.
Being aware of the latest models on the market, keeping an eye on the comparative costs between owning and leasing, and understanding the various rules associated with duty, emissions, and health and safety, will not only ensure your team stays on the road, but potentially save you a substantial sum of money and avoid unwanted legal issues.
So fleet management is much more than making sure your staff arrive in style and comfort. It’s an integral function in keeping your business operating smoothly and cost-effectively. Fortunately, you don’t need to have a dedicated employee in house to care of it. Fleet management services offer a flexible option for businesses who want professional and comprehensive care, for only one single and economical monthly fee.
If you’d like to find out more about our fleet management service or our other leasing options, leave us a comment, send us an email at info@marshall-leasing.co.uk, or call us 01480 414541.
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