Jitesh Singh, head of fleet at Waste Management NZ (WMNZ) was named the 2023 Fleet Manager of the Year, and his fleet team earned the 2023 Environment Award by the Australasian Fleet Management Association (AfMA) at the group’s recent conference and dinner.

The double honors marked first time in the AfMA awards history that one company has received two AFMA honor. Singh was recognized for his “accomplishments, innovation, dedication, commitment to sustainability, and passion in the realm of fleet management,” according to AfMA.

The WMNZ fleet team’s award acknowledged its “outstanding commitment to sustainability, waste reduction, and greener fleet management.”

A waste-to-energy provider with 70 locations across New Zealand, WMNZ operates the largest commercial electric fleet in the country, more than 1,000 cars and trucks.

According to AfMA, Singh’s 10-year career with WMNZ has been marked with innovation and collaboration. He has collaborated with international partners to bring cutting-edge vehicle technology to New Zealand. In addition to his technical expertise, Singh has “fostered a culture of pride and enthusiasm” among the company’s 1,500 employees as they embrace the electric vehicle revolution.

Termed an “ambassador for progress and sustainability,” Singh readily shares his knowledge and experience and his promotion of fleet electrification of fleets “has elevated the entire fleet industry.”

AfMA identified Singh’s “notable” achievements:

• Expanding WMNZ’s fleet with the addition of 97 EV passenger cars and 29 heavy EV trucks, with plans to deliver 23 more trucks in 2023. 

• Establishing the Electric Vehicle Innovation Hub in Auckland, New Zealand’s first heavy EV conversion and repair workshop dedicated to converting diesel trucks into electric vehicles. 

• Overseeing the conversion of 30 electric trucks, with a target of 50 conversions set for completion by year’s end. 

• Achieving a milestone of more than 1 million electric kilometers driven by the company’s EV trucks.

• Decreasing the average age of the fleet from 13 years in 2014 to eight years in 2022.

• Introducing telematics, in-cab drive cam systems and AI camera technology to enhance fleet safety and efficiency.

• Developing specialist collection trucks to suit WMNZ’s customer and operational requirements with consideration to safety, innovation and efficiency.