ENTRIES are flooding in for the Fleet News Awards 2005 – but those who have not yet got their submissions in are being urged to do so now, particularly fleet managers and fleet service companies.

The awards mark the culmination of months of work to pick out the best fleet operators, service companies and manufacturers of the past year. A panel of judges will be brought together who between them offer a vast amount of impartial knowledge and experience of the whole fleet industry.

During the judging process, an independent auditor will sit in on the proceedings to check that all entries receive a full hearing and that the final decision is fair and justified.

The closing date for entries is January 4 and the awards evening will be staged at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on March 16, 2005.

Full details for fleet managers on how to enter and what the judges are looking for are featured on www.fleetnewsnet.co.uk. Click on the FN Awards logo in the left-hand menu. Service companies which have not received an entry form by email should contact fleetnewsawards@emap.com to request one.

Details of further awards will be released later this year

Got a query? Email the Fleet News Awards team at fleetnewsawards@emap.com

The Fleet News Awards judging criteria

Fleet managers

Fleet Risk Management Award – for any employee with responsibility for safety covering drivers in cars or vans, either company owned or privately-owned and used on business. Sponsored by Kwik-Fit Fleet.

Fleet Manager of the Year: sub-100 vehicles – for anyone running less than 100 cars or vans in the UK. Any job title, but must have decision-making power on fleet matters. Sponsored by Northgate Plc.

Fleet Manager of the Year: 101-400 vehicles – for anyone running between 101 and 400 cars or vans in the UK. Any job title, must spend the majority of their time running the fleet. Must have decision-making power on fleet matters. Sponsored by BMW.

Fleet Manager of the Year: 401-plus vehicles – for anyone running between 401 and an unlimited number of vehicles in the UK. Must spend the majority of time running their fleet or have dedicated team to help. Sponsored by BT Fleet.

UK Fleet of the Year – for any fleet in the UK. Sponsored by Avis.

Pan-European Fleet Manager of the Year (In association with Fleet News Europe) – for any fleet with a significant presence in more than one European country, but mainly controlled by a single department. Sponsored by Volkswagen.

Service companies

Best Website Award (in association with Fleet NewsNet) – for any service company offering a website-based product available directly to an end-user fleet decision-maker. Best Contract Hire/Fleet Management Company - for any company offering contract hire, fleet management and related services as part of a vehicle funding package to end-user fleet operators. Sponsored by Toyota.

Best Daily Rental Company – any company offering daily or mid-term rental directed at end-user fleet operators.

Best Risk Management Company – either a specialist risk management company or a company that offers risk management services as part of a wider product package. Sponsored by Northgate.

Best Disposal/Remarketing Company – companies which remarket vehicles on behalf of fleet customers, either through auction or a variety of other channels.

Best Breakdown Company – roadside rescue and recovery companies offering services directly to end-user fleet operators. Sponsored by Enterprise rent-a-car.

Best Glass Repair/Replacement Company – for any company involved in the repair and replacement of glass to end user fleets.

Best Fast-Fit Company – any company offering fast-fit services to fleet car and van drivers, offering a wide range of while-you-wait products.

Service companies should have already received an entry form by email and this should be returned to fleetnewsawards@emap.com. This is also the address to use to request a form