ACFO membership reaches record levels

ACFO, Britain’s premier organisation for fleet operators, is hoping to break the 1,000-member barrier in 2007 for the first time.

Membership is already at record levels at ‘well over the 900 mark’ and the ACFO board is confident that a number of continuing recruitment initiatives coupled with the increasing number of issues confronting fleet decision-makers on which they are seeking advice and information means membership will continue to increase.

ACFO’s buoyant membership position was revealed at the organisation’s annual Conference and AGM held yesterday (Thursday, May 17) at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham. The event was sponsored by Volkswagen Fleet Services.

At the AGM, ACFO directors Julie Jenner, a key solutions manager for GE Commercial Finance Fleet Services, and Stewart Whyte, managing director of fleet consultancy Fleet Audits, were re-elected to the Board.

One of the key reasons behind ACFO’s significant growth in the last 18 months has been the changing face of the fleet industry with more finance, HR and procurement professionals taking over responsibility for fleet operations within their companies.

Julie, ACFO’s chairman, said: “There are fewer people being employed within companies with the title of fleet manager, but that does not mean that the company car is dying. What we have seen in recent years and will continue to see, is the outsourcing of some fleet operator roles. As a result, internal management of the fleet function is being taken over by individuals in other departments and from other disciplines. That is proving a rich recruitment ground as they are looking to increase their limited fleet knowledge by joining ACFO.”

There are now more than 700 members with fleet operating responsibilities in charge of more than 700,000 vehicles. In addition, a further 200-plus members are ‘affiliates’, which are suppliers to the fleet industry and include vehicle manufacturers, contract hire and leasing companies, fast-fit organisations and dealer groups.

Julie explained: “Our new marketing initiatives have seen ACFO forge closer relationships with our affiliates and when they attend our meetings we are asking them to bring some fleet customers with them.

“This has also led to more fleets joining ACFO as well as affiliates becoming more involved with the organisation.”

When Julie became chairman 12 months ago she described it as a ‘new era for ACFO’ and pledged to further strengthen ties with fleet decision-makers at the operational level.

“We are continually doing that and I am confident that ACFO membership will increase and break through the 1,000-member mark.

“Fleet management continues to evolve and a raft of different issues continue to confront fleet operators and other employees with responsibility for cars and light vans. ACFO’s nine regional groups provide excellent networking opportunities for these people to discuss topics and problems with each other and discover and then implement best practice solutions. We build our meetings to cater for people with all levels of experience and knowledge of fleet management, and always try to ensure that the less-experienced members have access to the whole range of expertise at these meetings.”

Demand for fleet management information has led to ACFO considering launching a 10 th region in the Irish Republic. Talks are ongoing and a decision will be made later this year.

As well as providing an active forum for fleet operators, to discuss and promote best practice in fleet management, ACFO continues to represent the legitimate interests of vehicle fleet operators, to a range of organisations and bodies including vehicle manufacturers, service company suppliers and government departments and agencies, including HM Treasury, HM Revenue & Customs and the Department for Transport.

Last year, ACFO hosted a workshop where a number of fleet managers from across the UK met for a full-day of discussions with policy advisers from HM Revenue & Customs. That exercise, at the request of HMRC, is set to be repeated within the next few weeks.

Julie said: “Such meetings underline the influence that ACFO has and how, through our regional meetings, individual fleet operator members can influence Government policy.”