The launch of the Fleet News Group Awards has attracted strong support from across the industry, including roadside assistance provider 365 Assist, which has joined as a Foundation Sponsor.
For Ian Slater, Group General Manager – Sales and Marketing at 365 Assist, the decision to support the awards program reflects both a commitment to recognising high-performing fleets and a desire to stay connected to emerging trends shaping the sector.
He said the awards provide a valuable window into how fleet organisations are evolving their operations and responding to new challenges.
“We’ve always looked to Fleet News Group as a way of understanding what’s going on in the fleet industry. So for us, being part of the awards program to support fleet management excellence is a natural progression.”
Supporting fleets through industry change
As vehicle technology, operating models, and customer expectations continue to shift, Slater said the awards offer an opportunity to recognise organisations that are adapting successfully.
He noted that new powertrains and service models are changing the way fleets operate, which in turn requires suppliers to continually refine their offering.
“Especially as things like EVs come into play, or other models come into play, there’s new variants coming into play, so understanding what’s latest and then understanding how we can incorporate that our level of excellence today is not the level of excellence for tomorrow.”
This perspective aligns closely with the purpose of the Fleet News Group Awards, which focus on measurable outcomes and practical improvements in fleet performance, safety, sustainability, and service delivery.
For suppliers, the program also provides insight into the real-world challenges facing fleet teams — from managing costs and utilisation to improving driver safety and service reliability.
Recognising the organisations setting the benchmark
Slater said becoming a Foundation Sponsor was also about acknowledging the work being done by fleet professionals across Australia and supporting initiatives that highlight industry leadership.
He emphasised that recognising excellence helps raise standards across the sector and encourages organisations to keep improving.
“If someone else is trying to do that with their fleet, we want to be part of that and recognise what they’re doing at the same time.”
The Fleet News Group Awards are designed to reflect the way fleets actually operate — focusing on outcomes such as improved safety performance, better utilisation, and stronger service delivery, rather than simply recognising new technology or individual initiatives.
Building partnerships with fleet organisations
For 365 Assist, the sponsorship also reflects a broader strategy to strengthen relationships with fleet customers and position the business as a long-term partner rather than a transactional supplier.
Slater said the company has seen significant growth in recent years and is increasingly focused on supporting fleet operations.
“Fleet is one of those areas that we’ve started to delve into in the last two years… we really want to turn our business into something that supports fleets in a big way.”
That focus on partnership is consistent with the collaborative nature of the awards program, which aims to bring together fleet operators, suppliers, and industry stakeholders to share knowledge and recognise best practice.
A platform for learning and continuous improvement
Ultimately, Slater sees the Fleet News Group Awards as more than a recognition program. He views them as an opportunity for suppliers and fleet organisations alike to learn from each other and continue improving service delivery.
He said staying engaged with industry developments is essential in a sector where expectations are constantly rising.
“We could see that we could learn a lot out of the trends that are happening in the fleet area, and allow us to morph the product that we’ve got today, make it into something that we want to make it into for the future.”
As the Fleet News Group Awards program grows, the involvement of Foundation Sponsors like 365 Assist highlights the shared commitment across the industry to recognising excellence and supporting the ongoing development of fleet management capability.
