The association says that it understands the pressures these fleet managers are under and provides an opportunity for public safety fleet managers to learn from their colleagues with the "Public Safety Group Workshop," an annual session held on Sunday 25 April during its annual Institute & Expo at the Cobo Center in Detroit.

'Public Safety Workshops are made up of public safety fleet managers from throughout North America,' explained Robert S Martinez, director of the City of New York's police department. 'Collectively each workshop has over 500 years of real, hands-on fleet experience. The workshops also keep us fleet managers up-to-date with the latest technologies and best business practices to help keep our fleets on the cutting-edge of efficiency.'

The session covers problems that public safety fleet managers have been experiencing with police vehicles and what steps are being taken to correct the problems, a discussion of vehicle problem reports received by NAFA from fellow public safety fleet managers, and an examination of the "quick fixes" that public safety fleet managers can use to correct some of the unique problems they are having with particular vehicles.

'Each year we switch topics and try to focus on the latest and greatest trends and steer the public safety group towards utilising their time at the I&E in the most time-efficient manner,' continued Mr Martinez. 'The Expo has always helped me learn what other fleet managers are doing and I try to utilise the newly acquired knowledge and apply it to my fleet.'

The Public Safety Group Workshop will be facilitated by Mr Martinez and George L Schwarz, fleet administrator for the Borough of Camp Hill, Harrisburg, PA. It is just one of more than 40 different educational sessions – adding up to over 60 hours of fleet training, education, and workshops – at this year's Institute & Expo, which runs 24-27 April. For more information, visit http://www.nafaIandE.org