Well, 2018 is off and running and is shaping up to be an interesting year for fleet practitioners.

The ACCC report on the automotive retail industry is in and will impact how vehicle manufacturers relate to consumers. Particular areas of interest to watch will be the management of warranty claims and complaints, fuel usage and emission data more in line with on-road use and the availability of repair and service information to independent service providers.

The middle of the year will see revised Heavy Vehicle National Law and associated Chain of Responsibility obligations come into effect. The new HVNL imposes a primary duty on heavy vehicle operators to eliminate or minimise potential harm by taking all reasonably practicable steps to ensure safety. This not only impacts fleet managers but all others involved in the transport task including senior management. Senior Managers and Directors will need to ensure appropriate systems are in place to manage risk and apply due diligence in meeting their obligations.

Technology is also gaining attention. The electric vehicle market will receive increased attention and continue to grow. The Federal Minister for the Environment and Energy, Josh Frydenberg, recently published an article extolling the benefits of electric vehicles and the Government’s approach to increasing take-up.

Against this backdrop of a continually evolving industry, IPWEA will be holding the Australasian Fleet Conference on the Gold Coast on 19-21 March. The conference program is packed with speakers covering a diverse range of subjects such as; the Future of the Industry, Managing Fleet Costs, Information Management, Communications Systems, Preventative Maintenance and Chain of Responsibility compliance.

Internationally renowned fleet expert Paul Lauria from Mercury Associates in the US will present on what he describes as a 'perfect storm' facing fleet practitioners. The conference includes a number of presentations on the planning and delivery of the Commonwealth Games and what that means to fleet operators and concludes, with a field trip to the City of Gold Coast Fleet Depot to see how they are meeting the Commonwealth Games challenge. With a great range of exhibitors and presenters, this is an event not to be missed. Early bird registrations close 6 February.

Rob Wilson
Manager, IPWEA FLEET