With so many other corporate departments interested in a company’s overall welfare, you have an obligation to prioritize the prudent care of your drivers. If ignored, you are vulnerable.

From Automotive Fleet’s continuous readership research, we have established key factual data. The subject of “safety” doesn’t top the list among fleet managers. It’s one of the dimmest bulbs in the chandelier.

Following sound editorial policy our staffers regularly create “good practice” features because we know your company has a high regard for the topic. The consequences of operating without a good safety policy that is enforced can be costly or even devastating.

Our own media company serves transportation safety in every kind of fleet. Our messages enlighten large or small fleets in car, truck, government, police, metro transit, limousine, and other vertical markets. We even have a title, Campus Safety, that’s directed to the hospital and educational venues.

We live and know safety since I served on a key committee for the National Safety Council.

When Dan Frank from Wheels called a few months ago relating that the American Automotive Leasing Association (AALA) was creating a Fleet Safety award, we immediately became enthusiastic partners. (When we began AF 50 years ago it was with support from Dan’s grandfather, Zollie).

We laud AALA for the idea, the award, and the sponsoring service to the industry by the fleet management companies (FMCs).

They obviously recognize that fleet drivers and the vehicles have a degree of potential danger surrounding them. There exists the joint responsibility to act on OEM recalls. They also know that a company with a valid safety program is going to be more successful.

An announcement of the details on entries, judges, judging criteria, award trophy, scholarship, and eligibility is in the works and expected soon.

Tying a ribbon on these events, we at AF are also announcing the industry’s first Fleet Safety Conference.  It’s dedicated to both Commercial and Public Sector fleet groups as a two-day meeting on May 22-23, 2012, at the Renaissance Schaumburg (Chicago). For more information, visit www.fleetsafetyconference.com.

Just know that you’ll learn much more than solutions about DUIs, MVRs, and driver distractions. Plus, you’ll earn a “take-home” binder of the proceedings and a certificate of attendance.

Besides being the venue for AALA’s Fleet Safety award, we hope that all industry associations will join us in a quest for smart safety knowledge and policies.

So, fleet managers — large and small — mark your calendars for next spring. Then get approval to attend along with your risk manager, HR person, or anyone in management who has related interests and responsibilities.

Make it a priority for the sake of you, your drivers, and your company.

[email protected]

About the author
Ed Bobit

Ed Bobit

Former Editor & Publisher

With more than 50 years in the fleet industry, Ed Bobit, former Automotive Fleet editor and publisher, reflected on issues affecting today’s fleets in his blog. He drew insight from his own experiences in the field and offered a perspective similar to that of a sports coach guiding his players.

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