THE Fleet News Awards (www.fleetnewsawards.com) is the biggest night in the fleet industry. Each year, more than 1,300 people come to the Le Meridien Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London, in March.

Now it’s your chance to join in the fun! Don’t think you can win? You’d be surprised.

Entering yourself or your company is an easy process that requires you to visit our dedicated website, click to the relevant section and choose which award you wish to enter. Then we’ll email you an entry to fill in, along with judging criteria and tips on how to make your entry as effective as possible.

For shortlisted fleet managers, there will be an opportunity to come to Fleet News and talk about your job and what you’ve done.

For service companies, each entry will undergo thorough scrutiny at the hands of a panel of industry experts and fleet managers, all independently audited. Winners will then be announced on the night.

Fleet Manager Awards

FLEET RISK MANAGEMENT AWARD

Who can enter: Any employee with responsibility for the safety of their drivers in cars or vans, either company owned or privately owned and used on business.

  • Last year’s winner, Dave Wallington (BT): ‘An excellent evening and very pleasing to be recognised for all the hard work that has gone into developing the road risk programme at BT.’

    FLEET MANAGER OF THE YEAR SUB-100 VEHICLES

    Who can enter: Anyone running less than 100 cars or vans in the UK. Any job title, but must have decision-making power on fleet matters

  • Last year’s winner, Jack Pryde (Dunfermline Building Society): ‘It is a stunning evening which will stick in my memory for a long time. There are so many people, peers and gurus there and to chat with them is tremendous.’

    FLEET MANAGER OF THE YEAR: 101-400 VEHICLES

    Who can enter: Anyone running 101-400 cars or vans in the UK. Any job title, but must spend the majority of time running the fleet and have decision-making power on fleet matters.

  • Last year’s winner, Sally Weeks (Maxxium UK): ‘What a fantastic night and truly the fleet event of the year! A wonderful opportunity to mix with other fleet industry specialists and soak up the amazing atmosphere.’

    FLEET MANAGER OF THE YEAR: 401-PLUS VEHICLES

    Who can enter: Anyone running between 401 and an unlimited number of vehicles in the UK. You must spend the majority of time running your fleet or have dedicated team to help.

  • Last year’s winner, Dermot Coughlan (Kelly Communications): ‘We were delighted to win the award. It was unexpected and rounded off a great night.’

    UK FLEET OF THE YEAR

    Who can enter : Any fleet in the UK, using its fleet manager as its representative for the judging process.

  • Last year’s winner, John Webb (HM Customs and Excise): ‘Winning the award was a total surprise and well received as civil servants are not usually recognised externally. The award gives us more credibility and means a lot to us.’

    PAN-EUROPEAN FLEET MANAGER OF THE YEAR in association with Fleet News Europe

    Who can enter: Any fleet with a significant presence in more than one European country, but mainly controlled by a single department

  • Last year’s winner, Di Miller (Nextira One): ‘The awards evening was brilliant and well organised as always. I felt honoured to win the award for the second consecutive year.’

    BEST WEBSITE in association with Fleet NewsNet

    Service company offering a website-based product available directly to an end-user fleet decision-maker.

  • Last year’s winner: www.bca-europe.com (received by BCA MD Andrew Hulme)

    BEST CONTRACT HIRE/FLEET MANAGEMENT COMPANY

    Any company offering contract hire, fleet management and related services as part of a vehicle funding package to end-user fleet operators. Last year’s winner: Interleasing

    BEST DAILY RENTAL COMPANY

    Any company offering daily or mid-term rental directed at end-user fleet operators.

  • Last year’s winner: National Car Rental

    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.

  • Last year’s winner: Essential Risk Consultancy (received by ERC co-owner Jeremy Hay)

    BEST DISPOSAL/REMARKETING COMPANY

    Companies that remarket vehicles on behalf of fleet customers, either through auction or a variety of other channels.

  • Last year’s winner: Manheim Europe

    BEST BREAKDOWN COMPANY

    Roadside rescue and recovery firms offering services directly to end-user fleet operators. Last year’s winner: The AA

    BEST GLASS REPAIR/REPLACEMENT COMPANY

    Any company involved in the repair and replacement of glass to end-user fleets.

  • Last year’s winner: Autoglass (received by Autoglass sales and marketing director Peter Lumsdaine)

    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.

  • Last year’s winner: Kwik-Fit Fleet

    INNOVATION OF THE YEAR

    This award recognises a product or service that has been of particular benefit to fleet customers, drivers and employees. The judges are looking for innovations that have allowed more efficient working practices and/or made cost savings for a major issue or concern in the industry.

    What happens when?

    TODAY

    The Awards website, www.fleetnewsawards.com, goes live, allowing easy entry to all awards

    DECEMBER 23, 2005
    Deadline for all awards entries

    JANUARY 4, 2006
    2006 awards judges announced

    JANUARY 19, 2006
    Reader voting starts for Headline Awards:

    Company Car of the Year and Fleet Manufacturer of the Year

    JANUARY 24-25, 2006

    Interviews for shortlisted fleet managers of the year

    JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 1, 2006

    Judging for service company and vehicle manufacturer awards

    FEBRUARY 10, 2006

    Reader voting for Headline Awards ends

    MARCH 15, 2006

    The Fleet News Awards

    When do I get to vote?

    The majority of awards are judged by a panel of experts and independently audited, but there are two for which fleet managers can vote.

    Called the Headline Awards, these two are Company Car of the Year and Fleet Manufacturer of the Year.

    In January next year, Fleet News will give you more details on how the voting process will work. Voting will take place through the awards website and gives you three weeks to enter your nominations.

    www.fleetnewsawards.com.