Fleet manager burnout is becoming an increasing problem as people working in the sector face ever increasing demands, says the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP).
Lorna McAtear, deputy chair at the industry body, said anecdotal reports of extreme stress, feelings of inability to cope and even breakdowns were becoming more and more common.
‘In the 2020s, we have seen much increased recognition of the importance of fleet managers within corporate structures as a result of everything from our role in coping with the pandemic through to electrification. On the whole this has been a highly positive development.
‘However, many fleet managers find themselves in a position where ever greater demands are being placed on them as a result of the higher profile that fleet now enjoys, without necessarily being given much in the way of additional resources, whether that means more staff or investments in areas such as technology.
‘The results are all too predictable and, if you get a number of fleet managers in a room, discussion about extreme stress and burnout are increasingly common. Many feel there hasn’t been a pause in dealing with major developments since Covid and the latest pressure to reduce costs in the face of the economic impact of the war in Iran seems like a crisis too far.’
The issue affected those involved in managing fleets of all sizes at all levels. Lorna said, ‘This can happen to anyone working in fleet and indeed, some of those in small and medium sized organisations are often the most exposed.’
One AFP member with several hundred vehicles said that after losing staff in the fleet department, being asked to deal with the effects of a corporate merger and changes in leasing supplier – while still saving her company £300,000 – she could no longer cope. ‘I finally broke in 2024 and was given a week off, which really wasn’t helpful as no one picked up my work, so the old problems were even bigger when I went returned,’ she said.
A further issue is the ‘always on’ nature of some fleets, with managers and administrators being called and messaged at all hours and asked to solve sometimes difficult problems.
Being a member of the AFP provided an important pressure valve for people who felt they were suffering from burnout to share experiences and seek advice from others.
Lorna added, ‘The bottom line is that there are no easy solutions to this issue but knowing that many others face similar problems and hearing about steps they have taken which proved effective has genuine value.
‘There are also short and effective AFP training courses that can help make changes at work, covering areas such as learning to speak up confidently within your organisation, time management, and successfully navigating your career.
‘However, if you really feel that you are burnt out, you should seek medical advice. Stress can have very real long term impacts on your health and recovery often takes time.’