THE Association of Car Fleet Operators is in top-level talks with Government over a place on the influential Work Related Road Safety Task Force, that signals a U-turn in official approaches to the organisation.

Discussions are taking place to provide a place for ACFO, which signals a further acceptance of the importance of the fleet industry to the economy, and to forming Government opinion.

In the past year, relations between the Government and ACFO were damaged by a series of snubs, with the Women's Institute favoured over the association for a place on the Motorists' Forum. In November last year, ACFO was barred from a Government car seminar, which prompted the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to pledge that fleet managers' voices would be heard in future.

Stewart Whyte, director of ACFO, said: 'We're glad the association and the industry's voice is now being heard more clearly.'

John Lewis, director-general of the BVRLA, added: 'We will continue to put forward the opinions of the leasing and rental industry, which are directly related to the views of end-users.'