The Fleet Industry Advisory Group (FIAG) is organised by industry veteran Geoffrey Bray and a team of experienced professional fleet managers who collectively have around 200 years experience in running vehicle operations.

The FIAG aims to provide fleet advice, consultancy and support through the mentoring of newcomers to the role of fleet manager and less experienced employees with car, van and HGV responsibility.

Additionally, FIAG will publish analytical white paper reports on key industry issues designed to support fleet professionals.

A members’ recruitment drive has been launched with FIAG charging a special introductory annual subscription of £350. Members are then able to benefit from the free-of-charge advice and mentoring, the launch workshop and future similar events and the white papers.

Annually FIAG, a not-for-profit organisation, plans to make a donation to Hope for Tomorrow, a national charity dedicated to bringing cancer treatment closer to patients’ homes by providing a mobile chemotherapy unit to every oncology unit within the UK.

Explaining the launch of FIAG, founder and chairman Geoffrey Bray, said: 'The fleet industry continues to evolve and change and for those involved it is important that all aspects of running a fleet are properly understood and standards maintained.

'The goal for every professional fleet manager is to implement a sustainable performance programme in all areas of managing the driver, vehicle and journey.

'The costs involved with running fleets are enormous. However, understanding the intricacies of fleet is a discipline which, sadly, very few organisations properly understand.

'The traditional fleet manager is now rare and with their passing, companies have lost the knowledge and skill necessary to deliver a cost effective fleet operation. There is a real need to reintroduce into the fleet management process individuals with a clear understanding and the necessary skill and knowledge to deliver professional fleet management.  

'It is extremely important that best practice processes are implemented within fleet. FIAG’s masterclass concept will protect investment, improve operational efficiency and safety and, importantly, demonstrate that management is competent and capable.'

Another memeber, Graham Bellman, director of fleet services at Travis Perkins, added: 'Being a member of FIAG opens up considerable opportunities to interact with like-minded individuals and organisations which share the common aim of achieving best practice in the management of drivers, vehicles and journeys.

'Mentoring, workshops, advisory and user groups, supported by white papers, will provide regular opportunities to learn from other organisations how fleet challenges have been identified and overcome. It is knowing who to talk to when problems occur that will make managing a fleet and dealing with a variety of challenges easier.'

FIAG will officially launch on Wednesday, May 21 when it stages a Launch Workshop focusing on fleet vehicle procurement and purchasing best practice entitled “Experience – Driving Change”. The event will be staged at the Arnold Clark Group’s GTG Training Academy, Bearing Drive, Wolverhampton.