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Learn about grey fleet with the AFP’s Ric Baird and James Pestell at the Fleet Summit

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

The Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) is a not for profit body that supports, educates and trains the corporate fleet industry.

We love meeting fleet operators and are back to chat all things fleet at November’s Fleet Summit as well as hosting a seminar on Grey Fleet Management on 8th Nov, 9.00 – 9.45am.

Come and say hi to AFP Board Members Ric Baird and James Pestell and chat about the challenges you are facing running a fleet.  Find out about the AFP Fleet Academy – our training programme – and what the AFP are currently working on to support the fleet industry.  If you’re not already a member, you can learn about the many benefits of membership including:

  • Supportive advice and guidance covering the latest issues of the day
  • Networking – connect with like-minded individuals in similar roles to sense check your approach to fleet issues.
  • Online member’s area – your go to for information on running a fleet.  Our growing Resource library aims to pool and share the best practice and advice from the industry.
  • Personal development and career enhancement via the AFP Fleet Academy education and training programmes
  • Regular webinars
  • Free members only events, including lunches, seminars and our annual conference – all included in your membership fee
  • Advance consultation on new legislation and government initiatives
  • Representation of members’ views via our lobbying activities and regular dialogue with Government departments and officials

You can find out more here.

Don’t miss James and Ric’s seminar session on Grey Fleet Management on 8th November at 9.00-9.45 which will cover facts, myths and useful advice on the two types of grey fleet drivers; cash allowance takers and occasional business travellers.

 The seminar will include:

  • What is Grey Fleet?
  • What is a business journey?
  • Driver and vehicle checks
  • Policy
  • Alternatives to grey fleet – green travel/mobility allowance
  • Driver communications/engagement

We look forward to seeing you.

Meet with the Association of Fleet Professionals at the Fleet Summit

 969 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

The Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) is a not for profit body that supports, educates and trains the corporate fleet industry.

We love meeting fleet operators and are back to chat all things fleet at November’s Fleet Summit as well as hosting a seminar on Grey Fleet Management on 8th Nov, 9.00 – 9.45am.

Come and say hi to AFP Board Members Ric Baird and James Pestell and chat about the issues you are facing running a fleet.  Find out about the AFP Fleet Academy – our training programme – and what the AFP are currently working on to help the fleet industry.  If you’re not already a member, you can learn about the many benefits of membership including:

  • Supportive advice and guidance covering the latest issues of the day
  • Networking – connect with like-minded individuals in similar roles to sense check your approach to fleet issues.
  • Online member’s area – your go to for information on running a fleet.  Our growing Resource library aims to pool and share the best practice and advice from the industry.
  • Personal development and career enhancement via the AFP Fleet Academy education and training programmes
  • Regular webinars
  • Free members only events, including lunches, seminars and our annual conference – all included in your membership fee
  • Advance consultation on new legislation and government initiatives
  • Representation of members’ views via our lobbying activities and regular dialogue with Government departments and officials

You can find out more here.

Don’t miss James and Ric’s seminar session on Grey Fleet Management on 8th November at 9.00-9.45 which will cover facts, myths and useful advice on the two types of grey fleet drivers; cash allowance takers and occasional business travellers.

 The seminar will include:

  • What is Grey Fleet?
  • What is a business journey?
  • Driver and vehicle checks
  • Policy
  • Alternatives to grey fleet – green travel/mobility allowance
  • Driver communications/engagement

We look forward to seeing you.

Meet with the Association of Fleet Professionals at the Fleet Summit

 969 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

The Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) is a not for profit body that supports, educates and trains the corporate fleet industry.

We love meeting fleet operators and are back to chat all things fleet at November’s Fleet Summit.

Come and say hi to AFP Board Members Ric Baird and James Pestell and chat about the issues you are facing running a fleet.  Find out what the AFP are working on and how they are striving to improve conditions for fleets.  If you’re not already a member, you can learn about the many benefits of membership including:

  • Supportive advice and guidance covering the latest issues of the day
  • Networking – connect with like-minded individuals in similar roles to sense check your approach to fleet issues.
  • Online member’s area – your go to for information on running a fleet.  Our growing Resource library aims to pool and share the best practice and advice from the industry.
  • Personal development and career enhancement via the AFP Fleet Academy education and training programmes
  • Regular webinars
  • Free members only events, including lunches, seminars and our annual conference – all included in your membership fee
  • Advance consultation on new legislation and government initiatives
  • Get your voice heard – representation of members’ views via our lobbying activities and regular dialogue with Government departments and officials

You can find out more here.

We look forward to seeing you.

New AFP guide aims to help businesses create mobility roadmap

 826 501 Stuart O'Brien
By:

A new guide released by the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) aims to help businesses create a roadmap towards adopting a recognised mobility policy.

“How to Deploy a Mobility Solution Within Your Business” has been created by the organisation’s Future Mobility Steering Committee and is based around a three step process – “Do Your Homework and Get Your Data”, “Internal Engagement” and “The Plan.”

Paul Hollick, chair at the AFP, explained: “Our view is that we are very much in a moment when many fleet managers are beginning to evolve into mobility managers but they don’t yet have a formal strategy in place to support this transition.

“There is added impetus for this at the moment because, as we emerge from the pandemic, interest in mobility has been renewed. It was temporarily on hold because many mobility solutions rely on shared assets but that moment is now passing.

“The message we want to get across with this guide is that the move to mobility should not be a daunting one. There is a lot of data analysis, employee engagement and internal functional alignment needed, but thereafter it is relatively straightforward.

“The three steps we have outlined will take managers through this process in a simple and effective manner and, for AFP members, there is the option of talking to others who have made the same journey and can offer advice and support.”

The new mobility guide follows up an earlier document from the AFP, “What is Mobility and Mobility Management?” designed to provide a potential framework within which all interested parties can discuss the subject and its impact in its entirety.

Paul said: “The two documents work well together. The first sets out a consensus view of what constitutes mobility management and the second provides a roadmap to adopting a mobility policy. Our Future Mobility Committee is doing really good work in this area.”

The new guide is being distributed to AFP members and is available by e-mailing the AFP administration centre on administration@theafp.co.uk.

www.theafp.co.uk

Association of Fleet Professionals: Fleets need to undertake due diligence on driver charging facilities

 899 599 Stuart O'Brien
By:

Employers need to undertake due diligence on driver charging facilities as electric vehicles (EVs) start to make their way onto fleets in larger numbers, says the Association of Fleet Operators (AFP).
 
Chair Paul Hollick said that this was especially important for drivers of petrol hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) who could potentially choose not to charge them and instead continually fuel up at the pump.
 
He explained: “Our members are rapidly gaining practical experience of operating EVs and one of the things that is becoming clear is that you can’t just have a short chat with a driver about the fact that they want to adopt an EV as their company car and then hand them the keys.
 
“Fleets need to ensure that drivers have a good understanding of their charging options, have their own charging facilities that are not just a standard socket and, in the case of PHEVs, will always charge the car even when there is option to avoid doing so.
 
“It’s a case of carrying out some basic due diligence so that you are gaining the maximum operational and environmental benefit from EVs and PHEVs, while minimising some of the potential pitfalls.”
 
Hollick said that there were a range of norms emerging around the fitting of chargers at home for employees.
 
“The model that is taking shape seems to be that mostly, drivers are paying for their own charger although, in some cases with larger employers, a third party will provide installation on some kind of preferential terms.
 
“However, there is a different picture for drivers of electric vans, where most employers are paying for the charger to be installed on the basis that it is a job-need requirement that they are effectively stipulating.
 
“Around these practices, there are also some other ideas appearing. Sometimes, for example, the fitting of the charger is being added to the monthly lease rate in order to provide a high degree of affordability.”
 
Hollick added that some fleets were stipulating that EV and PHEV drivers should sign a declaration covering basic points of vehicle operation.
 
“These employers are asking their drivers to ensure that they keep their vehicle adequately charged, that they have a charger available on their drive and even, where there is only on-street parking, that some form of charger is easily available.
 
“The conditions for PHEVs are tighter. We’ve all come across a few instances in recent years where drivers have chosen these vehicles to minimise personal taxation and then used them purely as an internal combustion engined car. This makes them extremely expensive to operate and destroys any environmental advantage. Analysis shows that a poorly used PHEV is more expensive to operate than a petrol of diesel equivalent.
 
“Creating a declaration that electric power will be used as often as possible for PHEVs is a potentially effective solution to this issue and something that we have seen a number of fleets now adopt. It makes the driver aware of their responsibilities and that shows them that their employer takes these matters seriously.”
 
The AFP was formed in March, 2021, from the merging of the Association of Car Fleet Operators (ACFO) and the Institute of Car Fleet Management (ICFM). Further details can be found at www.theafp.co.uk.

Upcoming zero benefit-in-kind for EV vans ‘Under-Publicised’

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

The new zero per cent benefit-in-kind rate for electric vans that takes effect on 6thApril has been ‘under-publicised’ when it should be helping lead to faster, wider adoption, says the Association of Fleet Operators (AFP).

Chair Paul Hollick said that a key element of success in boosting demand for electric cars over the last year has been the low level of taxation, and that something similar needs to happen in the light commercial vehicle sector.

“We’ve seen in the EV market how the 0% tax rate has been decisive when it comes to driving company car driver interest and, as it has become more widely known, demand for electric cars has increased exponentially,” Hollick said.

“While eLCV drivers have a much reduced say over what they drive compared to company cars, there is certainly potential for a similar effect. However, our feeling across the AFP membership is that the whole subject has been underpublicised.

“We are now in a position where a choice of electric vans are coming onto the market to meet a wide range of needs and for which the whole life costs look competitive, based on initial figures. What we need now is greater awareness.

“Certainly, as a trade body, this is an area that we are looking at in detail. Several of our larger corporate members are committed to large scale adoption of eLCVs and we are monitoring their experiences with interest.”

Hollick added that crucial to the adoption of electric vans was ensuring that fleets measured their running costs on a simple whole life cost, pence per mile basis rather than looking at the capital cost.

“The arrival of both electric cars and vans has highlighted the surprising number of businesses that still acquire vehicles largely by looking at the purchase price. This disadvantages EVs, which cost more to buy but less to fuel and maintain,” said Hollick.

“We’re doing quite a lot of work in this area, especially through our new EV training course, which takes place for the first time in March, showing how to integrate these vehicles into choice lists and buying strategies alongside petrol and diesel alternatives.”

EVs the focus of AFP’s first industry committee

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

The first details about the first of a new series of ‘industry leading’ committees have been announced by the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP).

The Electric Vehicle, Low Carbon and Alternative Fuels Committee will be led by AFP deputy chair Stewart Lightbody and vice-chaired by Paul Hollick, AFP co-chair. It includes Denise Lane of Capita, Chris Joyce of the AFP, Steve Cuddy of Close Brothers, Eric Bristow of Schindler, Ken Needham of Foxtons, Simon King of Mitie, Dale Eynon of DEFRA and Lorna McAtear of National Grid. 

Its adopted mission statement is to “advise fleet operators how best they can make the transition from standard fuel types to electrification and other alternative fuels” with topics under consideration including: support from central and local government, and the treasury; home charging policies, employee reimbursement and usage; electric highway charging; best practice for EVs and PHEVs, and alternative fuel vehicles beyond EVs.

Lightbody said: “Clearly, EVs, low carbon and alternative fuels are very much front-of-mind for fleets at the moment and we’re looking to generate industry-leading thought and discussion across a wide range of relevant areas where fleet managers are looking for guidance and information.

“The calibre of committee member we’ve been able to attract is very impressive and we’re planning to serve as an incubator for ideas that will ultimately affect not just fleet strategies but policy and action across manufacturers, government, the HMRC and the DVLA.”

The AFP was formed in March from the merging of the Association of Fleet Operators (ACFO) and the Institute of Car Fleet Management (ICFM) – and the new committees are part of the infrastructure being created around the new organisation.

The Electric Vehicle, Low Carbon and Alternative Fuels Committee is the first of seven planned by the AFP, the others being Light Commercial Vehicles; COVID-19; Government Bodies and Trade Associations; Road Use and Planning; Risk and Compliance; and Future Mobility Steering.

Paul Hollick, co-chair at the AFP, said: “One of the major intentions behind the formation of the AFP was that it would enable the fleet sector to speak with a single, unified voice, in order to have the best chance of being heard at the highest levels of decision making, including across Whitehall.

“These new committees, covering what we believe to be the most important issues facing fleets at this point in time, are very much designed to serve as forums for the best new thinking in our industry, where issues and ideas can be discussed and refined into clear policy.

“We’re really pleased to see that the EV, Low Carbon and Alternative Fuels committee has been able to attract some impressive names but we’re still putting the other six committees together, and we’d like to hear from anyone who would like to take an active role within the AFP by participating.

“It could be that you have a special interest in one of these areas or that you simply believe that you have what it takes to make a contribution in general and would be happy to sit on any of them. We’re saying, ‘get in touch with us, your industry needs you.’”

Fleet managers interested in joining any of the committees should contact the AFP Administration Centre at administration@theafp.co.uk. Committee meetings will take place once every two months, with the intention that most will take place through video-conferencing.

The Association of Fleet Professionals needs your help

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

A call has gone out to fleet managers to help influence the industry’s future by joining one of the Association of Fleet Professionals’ (AFP) seven new committees.

Covering Electric Vehicles, Low Carbon and Alternative Fuels; Light Commercial Vehicles; COVID-19; Government Bodies and Trade Associations; Road Use and Planning; Risk and Compliance; and Future Mobility Steering, the committees are designed as incubators for ideas that will ultimately affect not just fleet strategies but policy and action across Government, the HMRC and the DVLA.

The AFP was formed in March from the merging of the Association of Fleet Officers (ACFO) and the Institute of Car Fleet Management (ICFM) – and the new committees are part of the infrastructure being created around the new organisation.

Paul Hollick, Co-Chair at the AFP, said: “One of the key intentions behind the formation of the AFP was that it would enable the fleet sector to speak with a single, unified voice, in order to have the best chance of being heard at the highest levels of decision making, including across Whitehall.

“These new committees, covering what we believe to be the most important issues facing fleets at this point in time, are very much designed to serve as forums for the best new thinking in our industry, where issues and ideas can be discussed and refined into clear policy.

“To achieve this, we need fleet managers to actively engage, and that is why we are sending out a ‘call to arms’ across the industry for people to get involved. There are seven committees, so there are quite a lot of places to fill, and we’d like to hear from anyone who would like to join the team and take a key role within the AFP by actively participating in a committee.

“It could be that you have a special interest in one of these seven areas or that you simply believe that you have what it takes to make a contribution in general and would be happy to sit on any of them. We’re saying, ‘get in touch with us, your industry needs you.’”

Hollick added that the committees would meet every 6-8 weeks and that, for the foreseeable future, this would be done through video-conferencing.

“The commitment, in terms of time, should be manageable for most industry professionals plus there are definite advantages in career terms through being involved. The important thing is that you have experience, creative ideas and a ‘can-do’ attitude.”

Fleet managers interested in joining any of the committees should contact the AFP Administration Centre at administration@theafp.co.uk