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An increased focus on cost control and environmental measures is causing the profile of the fleet manager role to rise in many organisations, according to the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP).
It said changing corporate priorities meant that fleet managers were becoming involved in board-level decisions and high-level strategic thinking more often.
AFP chair Paul Hollick said: "We're seeing a number of trends come together here. The most visible is probably the environment. This is becoming an increasing priority for many organisations and fleet electrification is very much a central part of their future plans to become carbon neutral or hit zero emissions targets over the next few years.
"The fleet is a visible signal of an organisation's commitment to green issues and the fleet manager is playing a fundamental role in making that happen."
Hollick added that a focus on controlling and reducing costs was a direct reaction to current economic turbulence, and also highlighted the important role of the fleet department.
He said: "Arguably, you can draw a line here back to the pandemic. Lockdowns really brought home to many people - including senior management - the value of fleets, especially commercial vehicles.
"Fleet managers became directly involved in helping to keep the country running through a genuine crisis and this helped to increase their corporate presence.
"The heightened profile gained at that time means that the fleet has very much become part of future strategy and, as the economic situation worsens, AFP members are taking a leading role in cost control and reduction."
Hollick explained that the focus was not just on reducing operating costs through obvious cuts, but also on proposing new and innovative solutions to organisations' transport needs.
He said: "With many day-to-day 'heavy lifting' tasks being outsourced, there is a huge demand for in-house, strategic fleet management.
"It feels as though fleet managers are now being listened to in a manner that has rarely happened in the past."
Hollick said the AFP was looking to support fleet managers through this shift with its resources and training.
He said: "Many of our members working in corporate environments are highly skilled at their jobs but aren't used to the spotlight.
"Today, part of our responsibility as their professional body is to help them adapt to a higher profile as a key element of general fleet upskilling and fleet department succession planning. We plan to offer effective assistance."
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