As the price of fuel continues to rocket upwards, the biggest challenge facing many fleet managers is how to stop fleet running costs spiralling out of control. Combine that fiscal challenge with the need for companies to become greener and behave in an environmentally responsible manner and the average fleet manager is facing a really tough time.

Finding practical solutions to keep cost increases as minimal as possible has become a priority, and also being fully aware of the environmental impact on their fleet and how that too can be reduced, are paramount for most fleet managers, and they are being advised by many experts, as well as pressure from their company accountants to totally revisit the way that they have traditionally run their fleet.

Although traditionally managers and users of fleet vehicles consider a bigger car to be more of a status symbol, a responsible fleet manager should be trying to shift that outmoded one-upmanship towards placing greater emphasis on having the greenest car as the ultimate status symbol. So, when vehicles in the fleet are due for renewal the best way to promote the green agenda is to clearly list the CO2 emissions of replacements in the lists sent to fleet drivers. In order to help make greener choices then, incentives should be offered to those who opt for greener vehicles. Such incentives could include money-back schemes for those who choose smaller cars and also run them in an economical manner.

Similarly, drivers of bigger cars tend to get bigger mileage allowances, traditionally based on the higher cost of filling the vehicle. However, by removing that tiered system and giving everyone the same mileage allowance will force those with bigger cars to reconsider when renewal time comes around. Of course, in terms of fairness such an approach should be phased. For example, someone who is only eight weeks into a three year contract on a new vehicle should not be penalised as they cannot extract themselves from the deal.

However, it is no good the fleet management department promoting such innovative and necessary approaches to solving the fiscal and green challenges if senior management continue to use cars that emit high levels of CO2. They must lead by example if they wish to change the habits of the rest of the fleet, and not adopt a ‘do as we say, and not as we do' attitude.

Fuel costs are likely to continue their inexorable rise and the pressure on companies to adopt greener policies may even turn to legislation, if not enough companies adopt them voluntarily. Therefore the sooner that fleet management can persuade their drivers to turn green and accept smaller, more efficient vehicles the better it will be in the long run.

Isla Campbell writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.