Fleet decision-makers’ organisation ACFO will focus on a raft of fleet challenges impacting on vehicle, driver and journey management at its annual spring seminar  

The event, entitled ‘Let’s Explore: Fleet Management for Today and Tomorrow’, is being held on May 18 at the Vox Conference Centre, Resorts World, Birmingham, starting at 10am.

John Pryor, chairman of ACFO, said: “Technological and digital advances are changing the established face of fleet management as we have known it for many years.

“Change inevitably brings uncertainty and while fleet managers should not be afraid of the advances being made, it is essential that they understand how the ‘connected car’, business Mobility-as-a-Service (BMaaS) and driver demands must be balanced against running a business-critical vehicle fleet that is fit-for-purpose.

“What’s more, compliance is essential and fleet managers remain concerned as to how the new General Data Protection Regulation, which becomes effective on May 25, will impact on their operations.

“The seminar will provide insight and practical advice in specific areas effecting businesses and fleet decision-makers now and in the future that will enable them to operate more efficiently and effectively now, and plan better for the future.”

The spring seminar is being sponsored by TomTom Telematics, a business unit of TomTom dedicated to fleet management, vehicle telematics and connected car services, and Lex Autolease, the UK’s largest contract hire and leasing company.

Speakers include:

• Thomas Schmidt, managing director, TomTom Telematics
• Craig McNaughton, corporate director, Lex Autolease
•  Alex Matheson, lawyer at legal and professional services firm Gordon Dadds
• Dr Lisa Dorn. associate professor of driver behaviour and director Driving Research Group, Cranfield University
• George de Boer, leader of connected car initiatives, TomTom Telematics
• John Sixsmith, fleet manager Altodigital Networks, which operates a 161-strong car fleet equipped with TomTom Telematics, who will provide a view on efficiency, compliance and driver safety.

The event will conclude with a ‘Question Time’ panel, chaired by Pryor, with guests who will include: Chris Chandler, principal consultant, Lex Autolease; and Justin Whitson, chief executive of Fleetondemand, one of Europe’s BMaaS leaders.