Five Essential Qualities: What Sets the Fleet Manager of the Year Finalists Apart

What an incredible awards evening at AFLA this year! It was inspiring to be surrounded by the best and brightest in the fleet industry. I’m excited to congratulate Sharon Etherington, Sr. Manager at Roche Diagnostics and a long-term Wheels client, for being named Fleet Manager of the Year. Sharon’s accomplishments, hard work, and leadership are a true testament to what’s possible in our industry.

On behalf of everyone at Wheels, we are delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside Sharon, who has accomplished significant milestones. She successfully transitioned the fleet to 78.66% hybrid and 18.98% PHEV/BEV to achieve full electrification by 2030. She has also employed various strategies to manage change and encourage positive driver behaviors—driver satisfaction now stands at an impressive 88%. Additionally, she has achieved a reduction in preventable and overall accidents year after year, and she saved Roche over $2.5 million by streamlining processes and enhancing operational efficiency. Personally, I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Sharon for eight years now, and she has made me feel welcome in the fleet industry from the moment we first met. I admire how she guides new fleet professionals, helping them navigate the industry with her expertise, kindness, and support.

As I reflected on the evening, it struck me how the four finalists, while each bringing their unique approach and experiences to their respective fleets, also had some common ground that set them apart as top-tier leaders. These are the characteristics that don’t just make them exceptional, they make them stand out year after year. I thought of five traits in particular:

1. Leading with an Innovative Spirit

In fleet management, it’s not enough to maintain the status quo—you need to be a forward thinker. And these four finalists are just that. They’re constantly looking ahead and finding ways to innovate in a rapidly changing industry. From digitally transforming operations to make them more efficient to building an agile fleet that helps mitigate supply chain risk, these leaders aren’t just solving today’s problems—they’re anticipating tomorrow’s opportunities.

2. Committing to Environmental Sustainability and Electrification

Sustainability isn’t a buzzword anymore—it’s a business priority. And every one of these finalists has embraced it fully, actively working to reduce their environmental impact by electrifying their fleets. These efforts include the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles, with goals ranging from significant CO₂ emission reductions to achieving NET ZERO emissions.

3. Enhancing Operations while Controlling Costs

Let’s face it—efficiency and cost control are important to any fleet professional. These leaders have achieved substantial cost savings through process improvements and operational efficiencies. These efforts have resulted in millions of dollars saved in areas like fleet management, fuel costs, and remarketing strategies, all while maintaining minimal increases in operational expenses.

4. Understanding Collaboration is Key to Long-Term Success

Fleet management is never a one-person job. Success comes when you bring together the right teams and collaborate across the organization—and these finalists know that better than anyone. Each is fostering collaboration and partnerships to align fleet management with broader business goals and ensure operational success. These efforts include working with cross-functional teams, leveraging industry networks, building stakeholder relationships, and maintaining strong ties with OEMs to navigate challenges like supply chain disruptions.

5. Prioritizing Driver Satisfaction and Engagement

Happy drivers are productive drivers. Keeping drivers engaged and satisfied is critical to fleet performance, and all four finalists are prioritizing the driver experience by gathering feedback and making targeted improvements to meet their needs. Reducing administrative burdens, minimizing vehicle downtime, and enhancing support systems are all areas that have kept their fleet drivers productive, efficient, and satisfied.

Looking back on this incredible night, it’s clear that success in fleet management doesn’t happen by chance. This year, Innovation, environmental sustainability, operational efficiency, collaboration, and driver engagement are the common areas that have set them apart. These leaders remind us that excellence is within reach of all of us.

Congratulations again to Sharon Etherington and all the finalists. Your leadership and vision inspire all of us to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the fleet industry! To read more about these leaders, I invite you to do so here.