PRINCETON, NJ – The NAFA Fleet Management Association has opened the submission process for the 2009 Green Fleet Awards and is looking forward to rewarding the best and most innovative ideas in New Orleans this April.

NAFA's Green Fleet Awards honor fleet management professionals who have implemented innovative and creative programs to help with their company's overall "going green" initiative. Four awards will be offered: two for a sedan/light-truck fleet (less than 10,000-lbs. GVWR) and two for a truck/equipment fleet. Awards will be split between mandated and non-mandated areas. The mandated areas category includes fleets located in EPAct and clean air mandated areas of the United States or in those located in Pollution Emission Management Areas (PEMA) of Canada. The non-mandated category includes fleets located in non-mandated areas of the United States or Canada. 

The deadline for submissions is February 25.  No applications will be accepted for judging after this date.  There is no entry fee, but entrants must be members of NAFA Fleet Management Association to be considered. Applications may be submitted by any individual directly employed in a vehicle management role by any company, utility government agency, or not-for-profit organization in the United States or Canada. This year's winners will be honored on the Expo floor in the Green Zone of NAFA's 2009 Institute & Expo in New Orleans April 25-28. 

Award winners will be chosen by a distinguished panel of judges including OEM manufacturers, an automotive publishing company, a leasing company, and fleet managers from the private and public sectors. The judging criteria will include originality, innovativeness, and demonstrated accomplishment for reducing energy consumption.

Last year's winners included George Survant, director Fleet Services for Florida Power & Light in Riviera Beach, Fla., and Steve Weir, director of the Office of Fleet for the City of New York. Honorable mentions went to Gerry Calk, CAFM, fleet administrator for the City of Kansas City, Miss.; Dave Meisel, director of Transportation Services for Pacific Gas and Electric Company in San Francisco; Diane Lopez, manager of Corporate Fleet & Limo for Abbot in Abbot Park, Ill.; and Suzanne Gallagher, commodity manager for Johnson and Johnson.

For more information or to download an entry form, visit www.nafa.org/greenfleetawards.