Nominations Closed: 2025 Fleet Visionary Award

Now in its 11th year, the award celebrates bold innovation and the next generation of fleet leadership.

May 27, 2025

Fleet manager receives award on stage. — At the 2024 AFLA conference in San Antonio, Ernie Garcia receives the award from Brad Burgess, then co-CEO of Merchants Fleet, the award sponsor.
Photo: Automotive Fleet

2 min to read

Note: Deadline has been extended to Wednesday, June 25 at 12 am Pacific Standard Time.

Do you know someone who is shaping the future of fleet management? Automotive Fleet is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Fleet Visionary Award, recognizing the next generation of fleet leaders who are innovating, inspiring, and driving meaningful change.

Now in its 11th year, the Fleet Visionary Award celebrates professionals who have brought a fresh perspective to fleet management, whether through technology, process improvement, sustainability initiatives, data-driven decisions, or people-first leadership.

Sponsored by Merchants Fleet, the award is open to fleet professionals who run private fleets and have 10 years or fewer of industry experience.

The 2025 winner will be announced at the AFLA Conference, taking place September 14-17, 2025, at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida, and will be featured in the Q4 issue of Automotive Fleet magazine.

The deadline for nominations was Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

Honoring Last Year's Winner

Ernie Garcia, director of fleet and business systems for Gothic Landscape, was honored with the 2024 Fleet Visionary Award for leading a data-driven transformation of one of the largest landscaping fleets in North America.

Tasked with overseeing over 2,300 assets across California, Nevada, and Arizona, Garcia implemented innovative strategies that significantly reduced fuel costs and improved fleet efficiency. By launching a pilot EV program, gaining firsthand experience with both home and public charging, and assessing ICE versus EV performance, Garcia provided critical insight into sustainable alternatives.

When full EV adoption proved impractical for certain operations, he pivoted to hybrid solutions like the Ford Maverick, reducing fuel consumption by approximately 65% per unit compared to conventional pickups.

Garcia also restructured vehicle assignments based on job function, tailoring fleet specs to operational demands rather than defaulting to one-size-fits-all models. His work exemplified a commitment to continuous improvement and creative problem-solving, underpinned by deep research and a strong analytical approach.

Submit Your Nomination

Do you know someone who fits this description? Nominate them — or yourself — today to help spotlight the future leaders of fleet.

The Fleet Visionary Award name, logo, brand, and all associated branding materials are legally owned and operated by Bobit Business Media Inc. (BBM), and BBM's wholly owned Automotive Fleet brand. Permission for any commercial use must be obtained in writing by Bobit Business Media Inc. For further information, please refer to BBM's Terms of Use which can be found at: http://www.bobit.com/terms-of-use

Topics:Merchants Fleet Awards AFLA Conference Fleet Visionary Award Operations

More Operations

Two employees pull opposite ends of a rope in a tug-of-war, illustrating workplace conflict and the leadership strategies fleet organizations use to improve communication and teamwork.

Operations•by Faith Howell•June 8, 2026

How to Manage Conflict for Your Fleet Operations

Conflict management is becoming a core leadership skill. Here are five strategies fleet leaders should know.

Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Decisions That Matter

Fleet leaders have more data than ever, but turning that data into clear, actionable decisions remains a challenge. This white paper shows how leading organizations are using connected vehicle data to improve safety, reduce costs, and optimize fleet performance. Learn how to turn insight into action across your fleet.

A person holding a clipboard and writing on an inspection checklist beside the wheel of a large white vehicle, likely conducting a fleet or safety inspection.

Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-time Prevention

Commercial auto remains one of the most challenging and costly lines of coverage for fleet operators and insurers alike. Learn more about how to effectively address these issues from Onur Aksan, Enterprise Business Development Executive, Geotab.

From Our Partners

Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-time Prevention

Are You Tracking Your Fleet's True Total Cost of Ownership?

Bobit Business Media surveyed 190 fleet professionals and found that while most fleets are tracking costs, fragmented systems and data gaps are keeping true TCO visibility out of reach. With rising pressure to control spend in an increasingly volatile environment, the gap between what fleets think they know and what the data actually shows is wider than you might expect. See how your peers are managing costs today and where the industry still has room to improve.

Turn Fleet Data Into Smarter Decisions

Fleet leaders have access to more operational data than ever, but disconnected systems and unclear metrics often slow decision-making instead of improving it. This article outlines five practical steps fleets can take to transform fragmented data into actionable insights that improve planning, safety, utilization, and long-term performance.

Hybrids: Electrification Without the Challenges

For fleet managers, fuel is one of the biggest line items in the budget — and it's one hybrids can shrink without changing how your people work. Download the eBook to see the numbers, understand the technology, and get a step-by-step guide to making the switch.

Man speaking during an Automotive Fleet interview beside text reading “The 60% Driver Improvement Nobody Expected!” with blue motion graphics background.

Operations•by Chris Brown•May 14, 2026

How NOV Uses Telematics to Improve Fleet Safety Across 160 Locations

James Victory of NOV discusses how the company manages fleet safety, maintenance, and telematics across more than 150 locations supporting oilfield operations throughout the U.S.

Operations•by Faith Howell•May 14, 2026

Fleet Meets: Steven Santostasi

This edition of the Fleet Meets series features Steven Santostasi, the current TSP channel manager for Ford Pro.

Cover of a whitepaper titled “The Hidden Costs of Departmentally Assigned Vehicles on Your Fleet” featuring a black fleet vehicle driving on a road at sunset. Subheadline reads: “Discover how your fleet can reduce costs and minimize risk by implementing vehicle sharing.” The document focuses on fleet optimization, vehicle sharing, cost reduction, utilization tracking, and risk management for fleet operations.

Why Fleet Managers Are Replacing Departmental Vehicles with Shared Motor Pools

Departmentally assigned vehicles often create hidden costs through underutilization, poor visibility, and increased administrative burden. This white paper explores how shared motor pool strategies help fleets reduce costs, improve accountability, and optimize vehicle utilization.