Opinion: The rising profile of the fleet manager

By Paul Hollick, chair of the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP)

This month, two new board members have been appointed to the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP), something made necessary by our significant growth in membership.

Interest in the role was extremely high – 21 people put their names forward and I’m sure any of them would do excellent job.

This response wasn’t entirely unexpected – in the last year alone, our membership has risen by 28% to more than 1,800. We are an organisation that is thriving, I am pleased to say.

However, it’s worth pausing for a moment to give some thought to why we’re seeing this rising level of enthusiasm right now?

We believe something fundamental is underway in our sector. Simply, the value of fleet managers is becoming much more widely recognised.

Our abilities and experiences have never been more important to companies than today. This is a profession that is flourishing and it’s crucial for many, many organisations today to have access to the highest quality fleet skills.

There have probably been two key driving forces that have shifted perceptions and allowed us to demonstrate our worth. One is electrification.

The shift to zero emissions fleets has been hugely demanding but has been handled by fleet managers with efficiency and effectiveness.

While there are areas where difficult issues remain – notably vans – the move to electric vehicles is a revolution that is being completed with minimum disruption and has won our members many friends.

The other, while it is now receding into the rear-view mirror, is the pandemic. During lockdowns, it is no exaggeration to say that fleets kept the country moving in terms of essential goods and services ranging from food to medical care, often dealing with then-unknown risks with good humour and adeptness.

Again, the abilities of fleet managers came into sharp focus and the results achieved highlighted their talents and commitment.

The result of all of this is that the fleet manager in 2025 probably has a higher profile than ever before, is listened to at the highest levels of their company and is recognised as an indispensable part of their business.

It’s little wonder therefore that so many people want to be part of the AFP board or that our organisation continues to expand. We’re on the leading edge of a profession that is finally starting to receive the credit it has long deserved.