Businesses that no longer employ a full-time professional fleet manager should consider re-employing experienced fleet professionals on at least an interim basis.

Tony Donnelly, chief executive, Goodwood Corporate Mobility

So says Tony Donnelly, chief executive of Goodwood Corporate Mobility, parent company of FleetLocum as he warns that in-house knowledge and experience is critical in a time of unprecedented industry change.

Donnelly forecasts that demand for professional and experienced fleet managers will soar as employers grapple with the impact of change that notably includes the anticipated 2019 announcement of the shape of company car Benefit-in-Kind tax covering 2020/21 onwards, as well as potential strategy and policy changes necessitated by the final Brexit agreement, increased roll-out of WLTP-compliant vehicles and growing numbers of opt-out drivers.

He added: “Businesses must also understand that the Government is applying pressure for them to introduce plug-in vehicles to their fleets and, as clean air zones are introduced in towns and cities UK-wide, it is important that vehicles are compliant with entry criteria or else operating costs will rise.

“Amid all that change it is, I believe, vital that an experienced fleet decision-maker is driving organisations’ vehicle operations. FleetLocum manage fleets remotely or take a position inside a client’s business with our professionals using their experience to deliver change and cost savings over a period of time that ensure a vehicle operation is both fit for purpose and fit for the future.”