PRINCETON, N.J., July 20, 2009 — The myriad of major accomplishments for NAFA Fleet Management Association in the first half of 2009 should easily answer the question, "What have you done for me lately?" From the creation of a new fleet certification program and the announcement of new partnerships, to the release of new products and a highly successful expo, the results speak for themselves. Fleet managers provide an integral role in the business world, yet the field is relatively unknown to many. NAFA strives to elevate the status of fleet management through educational programs, legislative representation, and promotion of the work done by fleet managers every day.
The Association, which set the gold standard for fleet education with the Certified Automotive Fleet Manager (CAFM) certification program, began the year by opening the door to fleet management careers to all who work within a fleet department with the introduction of the Certified Automotive Fleet Supervisor (CAFS) certification program.
In February, NAFA's representative in Washington broke down the economic stimulus package and highlighted the various ways the stimulus provided funding for fleets. In addition to providing assistance for fleets interested in applying for stimulus funding, NAFA was among the first associations to provide details of how the stimulus would affect fleet managers.
The CAFM/CAFS program was approved by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in February, offering veterans, eligible dependents, and reservists the opportunity to apply directly to the VA for reimbursement of the cost of the CAFM tests and allowing millions to receive quality fleet education. Two months later, the Rocky Mountain Fleet Management Association(R) (RMFMA) became the latest in a coalition of organizations exclusively endorsing and offering to its members both the CAFM and CAFS certification programs.
The busy list of accomplishments continued in April with the announcement of an agreement with Mercury Associates, Inc. to deliver fleet management seminars in specific under-served markets of the United States such as Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The Mercury agreement is NAFA's first step towards the goal of providing fleet management seminars outside of North America.
NAFA's annual Institute & Expo provided the location for the launch of the Fleet Greenhouse Gas Calculator created by NAFA and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to make it easier for fleet managers to measure their greenhouse gas emissions and take the first step towards creating greener vehicle fleets.
More recently, NAFA released products covering two of the most important aspects of fleet management – maintenance and fuel management. The Fleet Maintenance Operations Guide, providing 540 pages of detailed information and answers to the questions fleet managers face every day, was released in May. The Fuel Management Guide, which explains how to better anticipate price changes and how to identify policies, activities, and technologies that will improve fuel efficiency, followed with a release in June.
NAFA's accomplishments in 2009 have helped raise the bar for fleet management, and there's more to come. After all, the year isn't over yet.
Website: http://www.nafa.org
Contact:
Gary Wien
609-986-1053
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