FLEET managers can contribute to a significant reduction in vehicle carbon dioxide emissions if they buy more fuel-efficient vehicles and clamp down on 'unnecessary' car mileage, says the first report from the Cleaner Vehicles Task Force. The report argues that there is 'a strong business case' for adopting green fleet strategies. 'Many companies and fleet managers have only limited knowledge and awareness of environmental issues. Often, their organisations do not regard business mileage as manageable. Nor do they always adopt a green transport plan.'

The CVTF - which is jointly chaired by Transport Minister Helen Liddell and Ford of Britain chairman and managing director Ian McAllister - says a green transport plan should aim to reduce car use for travel to work and for travel on business; cut the environmental impact of travel; and reduce the need to travel at all for work.

It is recommending the widespread development of a greener fleet certification scheme which was launched earlier this year and encourages the adoption of voluntary targets for environmental improvement in buying, managing and using fleet vehicles for reducing vehicle use.