Resolve to Improve Your Fleet

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a list of resolutions onto the kitchen wall. There are four bullet points written in black marker, baby steps of personal resolutions that I think are realistic but challenging. They’re big and bold on purpose, so that if a visitor sees them and asks about them, I’ll hopefully be able to say yes, I'm on track. There’s nothing like social pressure to get you (me) to get things done.

I contacted a couple of 2012’s award-winning fleets/fleet managers for their thoughts on fleet resolutions, and they offered a few tips:

Nanci Lien, CAFM, PFO, CPFA, fleet administration manager for City of Seattle, 2012’s No. 1 fleet among the 100 Best Fleets, offered this tidbit for fleets looking ahead:

“Data matters. Without data, decisions are often made anecdotally with short-term consideration that will not necessarily represent the best long-term or strategic business decision choice for the organization. As we consider fleet-related issues for 2013, the first question should always be, ‘What does the data tell us?’”

Larry Campbell, CPFP, fleet management director for the City of Fort Wayne, Ind., and 2012 Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year, warned fleets against being complacent. He said, “Don’t push the cruise button. There is always room for improvement no matter what achievement you and your team has accomplished. Stay open to new ideas and stay flexible to be able to [accomplish] the new ideas and goals. I would hope each [fleet] has set goals for 2013 for personnel and their fleet/departments.”

You don’t need a new year to set some goals for improvement, but if you don’t have some, now is a good time as any to start. What are your fleet or professional resolutions for this year?