Most Fleet Managers acknowledge that the assets they manage are worth millions of dollars. But would you risk your job to pay for a wedding?
A Fleet Manager in the UK has has admitted to stealing cars and other acts of fraud to cover the costs of his upcoming wedding. He was sentenced to two years in prison.
From 2013 to 2015 the Fleet Manager, who had been employed for ten years, stole seven vehicles and pocketed the profits of several others after he overstretched himself with an upcoming wedding and other expenses.
He had full control over the purchase and disposal of company vehicles. The fraud was only detected when management received an email about repairs and could not locate the vehicle.
The vehicles were all sold to one wholesaler who was left out of pocket and claimed significant financial and emotional hardship because of the fraud.
Apparently the Fleet Manager was highly regarded within the local industry and was even able to find another job when his employment was terminated.
This case provides a reminder to Fleet Managers of the temptations to avoid, and to management about the significant financial, operational and safety risks associated with running a vehicle fleet.
