Wisconsin Chapter: A Fleet Policy That May Be Good Or Will Be Good?

On May 6, the Fleet Managers and Affiliates of the Wisconsin Chapter gathered for an educational presentation entitled "Creating and Updating a Fleet Policy." The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Automobile Dealers Association of Mega Milwaukee (ADAMM). The entertaining presentation was lead by Jeff Fender and Jodie Varner of Fleet Response.

Some folks may have arrived thinking they were about to encounter a fairly dull and dry topic. After all, fleet policies are things every fleet professional has a stake in, so how lively could it be? Actually, the topic was covered in an insightful and sometimes humorous way. The key to some of the fun is also the key to a better, more effective policy, being the precision of words. Meeting attendees learned that sometimes changing a single word – for example: may instead of will – can make all the difference in the proper enforcement of a policy. Making something complicated is not necessarily the same as making something effective, and so the subject of precise objectives was also tackled.

Another aspect that Jeff and Jodie brought up was the need to have everyone on board, from all necessary departments. All the stakeholders need to be directly involved and committed in the process of developing a properly functioning fleet policy. And, of course, attendees heard what many fleet managers consider their mantra when it comes to maintaining a safe and carefully managed fleet: document, document, document. Just putting a concept out into the workplace without the will to make it stick will only lead to the policies being weak and easily ignored.

After the session, everyone enjoyed a tasty lunch and spent a few hours networking and digesting what we had learned, no pun intended.

Special thanks to Tom Krause, Purchasing/Fleet Manager/Financial Services for West Bend Mutual Insurance Company and Chapter Chair Janice Romine for material in this article.

Back to NAFA Connection