ACFO members and other visitors to Fleet News Company Car In Action 2015 are being urged to attend a special seminar on the contentious issue of end-of-contract mileage and vehicle wear and tear recharges.

It is one of the major bugbears confronting fleet decision-makers with some contract hire and leasing companies being accused by fleets of using both excess mileage and damage charges as “profit centres”.

The seminar, entitled ‘The End is Nigh’, is also expected to attract fleet chiefs that outright purchase their vehicles as speakers will provide expert advice on how organisations can enhance vehicle values by ensuring defleeted company cars and vans are sold in ready-to-retail condition.

This year’s ACFO seminar, to be held at Company Car In Action on Tuesday, June 16, builds on last year’s seminar at the event when Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency officials tackled a range of issues confronting fleet managers with the introduction of a number of online services to manage both driver and vehicle compliance.

Experts speakers will address the critical issues to assist fleets in overcoming additional defleet costs which, according to the current FN50, the Fleet News report on the top 50 UK contract hire and leasing companies, saw customers charged an average £439 per car in excess mileage and £274 in wear and tear damage last year.

The speaker line-up is:

• Nora Leggett, head of members’ services at the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA).
• Jim McNally, chairman of the BVRLA’s Residual Value and Remarketing Committee.
• Ian Hughes, commercial director at contract hire and leasing company Zenith.
• Graham Short, chairman of ACFO’s East Anglia Region and in charge of the fleet at Anglian Home Improvements.

Having addressed the key challenges in helping fleets to avoid end-of-contract charges, speakers will take part in a question and answer panel session.

ACFO director Debbie Floyde, who has been instrumental in arranging the seminar and is group fleet and risk manager at Bauer Media, which publishes Fleet News, said: “We anticipate that this will be an adrenaline-fuelled debate as it is a topic close to the heart of most fleet operators.”

Company Car in Action is billed as the UK’s premier driving event, and will celebrate its 25th anniversary when it is held over two days on Tuesday, June 16 and Wednesday, June 17 at Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire.

More than 20 motor manufacturers will be bringing their cars to the ‘arrive and drive’ event. Visitors to this year’s event will be able to view informative displays and services in the exhibition hall, as well as take part in a series of industry debates in addition to the ACFO seminar.

Stephen Briers, editor-in-chief of Fleet News, aded: “We are delighted ACFO are hosting this seminar at the 25th Anniversary of Company Car in Action ‘arrive and drive’ days. They’ve come up with a cracking seminar topic, which I’m sure will generate considerable debate on an area that is hugely contentious and a major bugbear for fleet decision-makers. It’s just the kind of discussions CCIA should promote.”