Transparency, Accountability, and Integrity in Fleet Management

In March, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) began looking into allegations against State Treasurer Dale Folwell concerning the misuse of state vehicles. The review focused on travel logs for state-owned vehicles during July, November, and December 2022.

While Folwell has not been charged with any violations, the investigation shows the importance of transparency and accountability in fleet management.

Fleet managers have enough to worry about, and it might be tempting to look the other way when something looks off. That's why this roundup was put together: to highlight best practices and reinforce the importance of doing the right thing in fleet management. Each story gives a different angle into those more challenging crossroads and the steps you can take to move forward. 

First, a Lesson in Leadership

Simply having a vision in your head won’t do much good if you don’t share it with your organization. Having a collective vision helps others see and embrace it. As a leader, you must embody that vision — walk the talk.

You must also realize you don’t have all the answers. Acknowledge this and build yourself a support system of those who know things you don’t. Endeavor to empower them by providing them with the tools they need to do what they need to do. Remove obstacles that might be in their way, and advocate for them on their behalf.

And understand if something is unethical, or it’s something that is going to affect the team in a negative way, those are battles usually worth fighting. READ MORE...

Don’t Look the Other Way

If you see a trusted employee taking something that's not his to take, what do you do? If you’re a fleet manager new to an organization and see ethics violations fleet-wide, how do you handle it? READ MORE...

Ethical Standards in Fleet Management

Check out a short list of types of unethical behavior to look out for in a fleet organization. For fleet management professionals, it’s important to avoid misconduct and imperative to encourage ethical behavior among staff while personally adhering to the ethical standards you and the organization set. READ MORE...

How to Audit Fleet Fuel Invoices

Your company has worked hard to get the right fleet fuel program in place. You have picked the right fleet fuel card provider, and you may have negotiated and set up some discounts with your fuel providers. However, the fuel management task has only just begun.

Companies often neglect to monitor their fleet fuel programs following the original set-up. Some companies do review fuel transactions or exception reports. However, do they review all reports, check for duplicate transactions, or confirm discounts are applied properly? Many companies cannot perform this level of scrutiny because they lack the time or tools to check.

How should companies audit fleet fuel invoices? READ MORE...

How We Organized an Educational Trade Group and I Ended Up with an Ethics Violation

A fleet manager shares his experience in the hope that it will help others. When you make a mistake, remember best practices. Take action to change those practices. Communicate to your administration and stakeholders, and accept and learn from the consequences. Mistakes can be a time of education and growth. Best practices will keep you focused so that you can learn and grow from your mistakes. READ MORE...

And, Finally, Instilling a Desire to Do Better

A seasoned fleet manager says investing time in education and professional growth opportunities benefits managers, employees, and customers. Working together to improve everybody else's skills not only ensures everyone is on the same page, it also helps employees realize their manager is investing time and effort into their professional development. Building a sense of confidence and worth will benefit their self-esteem, and also improve the quality of work they do for customers. READ MORE...