Published in December 2023 Fleet Affiliation.
Running an efficient commercial fleet comes with great responsibility. One of the largest challenges can be to stay educated on what’s happening in the field, as well as to educate stakeholders within your organization who may not have direct involvement in the fleet operation.
Those who aren’t directly involved with the fleet operation could include members of upper management who potentially see the fleet as an overburdened expense, and internal customers who may have unrealistic expectations on how a fleet operation should be managed.
Taking the opportunity to educate members of upper management and internal customers may help shift their perception of fleet from an overburdened budget line to an efficient, value-added operation. A commercial fleet leader is better positioned when expectations are reasonable.
Start where your internal customers are
In the perfect scenario, upper management understands the ins and outs of a vocational fleet, as well as the expense required to maintain the status quo of minimizing total cost of operations. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
For the management team, begin by putting the biggest fleet challenges into the spotlight. A required trait of a fleet leader is to be a problem solver. Demonstrate to management the challenges of the organization and identify real-world solutions. This builds credibility and opens the door for a greater understanding of how the fleet operates.
Secondly, distinguish what is recognized by internal customers. For example, most internal customers understand how to manage their personal vehicles – fueling, maintenance, insurance, etc. Truck design and complex maintenance can go well beyond what an individual experiences in managing their own their own private vehicle. Take this opportunity to relate to them and tell your story.
Provide opportunities for the team
As you know, it’s important to stay educated on the latest product offerings, regulatory compliance issues and industry trends. Sharing a little of this insight with stakeholders can be beneficial. Although they may not need the same level of expertise as a fleet manager, the 30,000-foot overview of the vocational fleet industry may be the eye-opener they need to understand just how complex the department and industry can be.
In terms of your continued education in the field, take advantage of every opportunity available. Look at the offerings provided during Work Truck Week and Green Truck Summit. Many opportunities are of interest to fleet professionals, of course, but you may also find it valuable to invite upper management as well as internal customers from a cross-functional team. The fleet business is both technical and regulated, and attending an event such as Work Truck Week can illuminate the function to your larger team.
