The Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) is urging fleet managers to join one of its seven new committees to help influence the industry’s future.

The seven committees – covering electric vehicles, low carbon and alternative fuels; light commercial vehicles; Covid-19; Government bodies and trade associations; road use and planning; risk and compliance; and future mobility steering – are designed as incubators for ideas that will ultimately affect not just fleet strategies but policy and action across Government, the HMRC and the DVLA.

The AFP was formed in March from the merging of the Association of Car Fleet Operators (ACFO) and the Institute of Car Fleet Management (ICFM), with the new committees forming a key part of the infrastructure being created around the new organisation.

Paul Hollick co-chair at the AFP, said: “One of the key intentions behind the formation of the AFP was that it would enable the fleet sector to speak with a single, unified voice, in order to have the best chance of being heard at the highest levels of decision making, including across Whitehall.

“These new committees, covering what we believe to be the most important issues facing fleets at this point in time, are very much designed to serve as forums for the best new thinking in our industry, where issues and ideas can be discussed and refined into clear policy.”

In order to achieve this, Hollick says that AFP needs fleet managers to actively engage and that is why we it is sending out a ‘call to arms’ across the industry for people to get involved.

“There are seven committees, so there are quite a lot of places to fill, and we’d like to hear from anyone who would like to join the team and take a key role within the AFP by actively participating in a committee,” continued Hollick. “It could be that you have a special interest in one of these seven areas or that you simply believe that you have what it takes to make a contribution in general and would be happy to sit on any of them. We’re saying, ‘get in touch with us, your industry needs you.’”

The new committees are expected to meet every 6-8 weeks, with meetings conducted via video-conferencing for the foreseeable future.

“The commitment, in terms of time, should be manageable for most industry professionals plus there are definite advantages in career terms through being involved,” added Hollick. “The important thing is that you have experience, creative ideas and a ‘can-do’ attitude.”

Fleet managers interested in joining any of the committees should contact the AFP Administration Centre at administration@theafp.co.uk.

Fleet News is again conducting a survey of fleet decision-makers as lockdown measures are lifted, please read more here.