Community Fleet Services for Not for Profits

Community Sector Banking (CSB) has launched Community Fleet Services - a new service specifically for Not for Profit organisations that has the potential of saving millions of dollars annually across the sector.

Community Fleet Services is a centralised resource that provides a full suite of motor vehicle fleet management services that will deliver better outcomes across the Not for Profit sector.

The service has been developed after it was found that 40% of respondents to a Victorian 'Community Sector Investment Fund' survey identified 'fleet management' as an operational issue with which they needed assistance

Benefits to Not for Profit organisations of Community Fleet Services include:

• Expert and independent advice on fleet management strategies
• Savings in vehicle purchases and disposal
• Reduced vehicle maintenance and running costs
• Reduced fleet administration costs

The service has been developed by Community Sector Banking, the Australian Car Buying Service (ACBS) and the Charities Tax Advisory Service (C-TAS).

David Thompson, Chair of the National Roundtable of Nonprofit Organisations - a peak body representing over 250 organisations in the NFP sector, says this is a long overdue initiative which will be of huge benefit to the NFP sector.

The CFS website says its aim is to assist the Not for Profit and community sector save up to $3,000,000 in 2008 by providing recommendations on how to save money on NFP vehicles.

The site can provide a report that looks at where savings can be made in a fleet by looking at:

• vehicle choice including new or used options
• method of vehicle acquisition including whether you access fixed government contract pricing
• financing arrangements
• fleet life and term of ownership policies
• insurance and maintenance policies
• disposal strategies

For example the site says that more than $50,000,000 per annum could be saved by the sector by making simple changes to the way motor vehicles are disposed of.

In order to receive a report an organisation simply fills out the online questionnaire or downloads the Fleet Management Survey in paper form and returns the information to Community Fleet Services by email, fax or mail.

Further information can be found at: www.communityfleetservices.com.au
Community Fleet Services direct contact: info@communityfleetservices.com.au

^{Source: Pro Bono Australia 14 Jul 2008}