The UK’s Association of Car Fleet Operators (ACFO) has joined the new global Fleet Consortium Network as it looks to help drive fleet best practice internationally.

ACFO chairman, John Prior.

Newly founded by the United States-based Automotive Fleet and Leasing Association, the Fleet Consortium Network also includes the Australasian Fleet Management Association, the Mexico-based Asociación Mexicana de Arrendadoras de Vehículos, and the China Road Transport Association, while the Indian Vehicle Operating Lease Organisation is also expected to join.

ACFO chairman John Pryor said: “Many of the issues confronting fleet decision-makers in the UK will be the same as those being tackled in the United States of America, Australia, Mexico, China and India, so it makes logical sense to pool our collective knowledge, experiences and advice and communicate best fleet management practice worldwide.”

The group’s first strategic planning meeting will be held in Florida in June 2017 and will seek to identify the next steps in developing the Fleet Consortium Network and the initiatives to be adopted.

Members have already signed a memorandum of understanding agreeing to:

• Support and promote each other’s conferences and educational events to their membership.
• Exchange non-proprietary information and best practices concerning their respective fleet markets, including reciprocal links to each associations’ websites and exchange of newsletters.
• Share ‘local’ fleet market information with each associations’ members
• Establish regular communication between the leadership of Network member associations.

Furthermore, study tours could be held enabling fleet decision-makers to better understand ‘local’ operations.

Pryor added: “The Fleet Consortium Network is in its infancy. However, ACFO believes that developing an international network of like-minded organisations to promote and share fleet operating best practice around the world can only be beneficial.

“Due to the maturity of the UK fleet market and the established standing of ACFO both domestically and internationally, I would expect ACFO to play a full part in the Fleet Consortium Network as it develops in 2017 and into the future.”

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