NAFA's Old Dominion Chapter meeting on August 13 had more than its share of poignant moments, as seen in a 20-year retrospective of the fleet industry. The specificity of this two-decade flashback comes in honor of the retirement of Charles A. Gibbens as Fleet Manager of Henrico County. Gibbens was NAFA's twenty-ninth President during 2005-2007.
Legislation, technology, and costs have seen the biggest changes in the past two decades, with the cost of operations tripling; whereas, the fleet may have only doubled in size. Furthermore, between telematics, software updates, and licensing fees, it seems every toolbox has to have a laptop as well in order to maintain today’s vehicles. Fleet mangers have grown to be computer-literate, in order to pull the data out of their fleet management systems.
The fleet industry was compared to a 1994 Chevrolet Impala. Twenty years ago, it was functional but it was big and bulky. However, today that same Impala is sleek and efficient; just like today’s fleet industry.
NAFA Treasurer and Old Dominion Chapter Member Jeff Jeter with Charlie Gibbens
With these and a host of other contrasts, then and now, the chapter took a moment to honor Charlie’s commitment and devotion to the fleet industry and to the Old Dominion Chapter, of which he was one of the founding members. The Old Dominion Chapter, as well as the entire NAFA membership, wish him good health, good riches, and good luck as he enters the world of retirement.