The UK’s ACFO and ICFM fleet associations have met for the first time with leaders of the Global Fleet Consortium Network to discuss how they can work together to promote fleet management best practice worldwide.

ACFO board members with the Fleet Consortium Network

ACFO joined the Global Fleet Consortium Network last year as a founding member, following the network’s inception by the United States-based Automotive Fleet and Leasing Association (AFLA) to meet a host of new challenges and opportunities.

Now, ACFO is working more closely with the network to understand how common fleet issues are being tackled globally and to share best practice via their respective websites.

Common fleet industry issues facing fleet managers internationally identified at the meeting include: rising vehicle acquisition costs particularly with an increase in safety-related features being fitted to vehicles; increasing fuel costs; improving air quality and environmental matters; taxation changes and regulatory controls.

Future work may see ACFO and the Global Fleet Consortium Network work on benchmarking across the UK and United States fleet markets, common webinars, monthly newsletter and developing a global news portal with case studies and PR items.

In addition, the ICFM, the UK’s only independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to furthering the education and advancement of car and light commercial vehicle fleet management, believes it may be possible to both “harmonise and globalise” fleet manager qualifications.

Chairman Paul Hollick said: “It is always excellent to form collaborations around the globe. We will share information on how qualifications globally can work for both UK fleet managers and those based in the UK but with broader fleet responsibilities in Europe and around the world.

“The advancement of fleet manager qualifications is vital and, if through collaboration, we can deliver robust programmes that lead to the potential harmonisation and globalisations of fleet manager training then I would regard that as a significant industry development.”