The fleet industry is a complicated system of logistics, legislation, planning, predicting, and, ultimately, delivering excellent service to clients. Organisations such as the Southern African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (SAVRALA) help direct and resolve issues that affect the fleet industry as a whole.
We have said this many times, but it is worth repeating: modern fleet management is about so much more than planning routes and checking tyres. Fleet vehicles form an integral part of the success of many companies and entire economic sectors.
From construction and agriculture, to groceries and small business deliveries—everyone relies on a fleet that is expertly managed. The success and survival of these industries and businesses is directly impacted by their fleet operations. This requires fleet management companies to constantly update best practices and track all legislative processes that could impact fleet processes.
We all know that working in a ‘silo’ is dangerous. Companies that don’t keep track of changes in their industry risk quickly falling behind and becoming irrelevant. In the local fleet industry, the Southern African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (SAVRALA) was established to “persistently address issues pertaining to the industry as a whole in order to ensure the industry’s long-term sustainability.”
About SAVRALA
Established in the 1970s, SAVRALA is a trade body for companies in South Africa’s vehicle rental, leasing, and fleet management industries. SAVRALA’s core function is to lobby the government to ensure that regulation and legislation affecting its members is fair. The organisation is focused on the fleet industry as a whole and is instrumental in steering industry standards, serving to raise the professional profile of the collective industries.
This is where the magic happens: by combining the knowledge, experience and insight of all its members, SAVRALA is able to affect positive change in the industry that benefits all fleet operators. In addition to lobbying on behalf of the industry, SAVRALA also serves as a catchall for best practices thereby improving standards across the industry.
EQSTRA has been a member of SAVRALA for many years and feels that the work of such organisations is invaluable. Whenever there are big changes in the fleet industry (Covid-19, for example), this network serves as a support structure and a collective voice for the fleet industry.
As a member of SAVRALA, fleet management companies are able to find solutions that benefit the industry in general. This, in turn, benefits all customers and improves processes throughout the entire industry. When you put this into the perspective mentioned above: all industries that rely on fleet management benefit from improvements made in fleet practices.
Down the line, this has a big impact on South Africa’s economy. On a smaller scale, it means members are able to offer their clients the best solutions based on current and predicted industry legislation.
One example of legislation affecting the industry is the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (AARTO). At its core, AARTO is a brilliant system to manage traffic offenses. The reality, however, is that South Africa’s poor infrastructure and unfortunate levels of corruption mean that such a system can’t be seamlessly rolled out.
This has caused years of frustration and additional fines administration in the fleet industry. SAVRALA’s role is to:
- Lobby government on behalf of its members to find temporary or long-term solutions that simplify fines management for all parties.
- Provide its members with the latest AARTO developments and collectively find methods to manage fines to avoid a negative impact on members and their clients.
By combining the insight and knowledge of all its members, SAVRALA is able to take the industry’s concerns about AARTO directly to the government. As a combined ‘voice’ SAVRALA represents a large portion of SA’s economy which means that while it may be a struggle, the government does pay attention when such a big segment raises its concerns.
SAVRALA is also lobbying the government for a resolution on the e-toll situation. This has cost the fleet industry millions and the handling of e-tolls has been unacceptable.
Although SAVRALA will always encourage its members to ensure they are compliant with the law, the organisation has actively lobbied the government to either cease or ease e-tolls, especially in the fleet industry. Again, SAVRALA is able to have an impact on legislation due to the important sector it represents.
Improving the fleet industry
At its core, SAVRALA exists to keep improving all aspects of the fleet industry. Safety and reduced fleet risk will always be a priority and to support this SAVRALA offers several courses, certificates and diplomas related to the fleet industry.
Skills development is the foundation of improved road safety and best practice within the industry and SAVRALA encourages all its members to enroll staff in relevant programmes.
Informed advice
Through organisations such as SAVRALA, EQSTRA is able to manage their client’s fleet processes according to current legislation while also planning for potential changes.
By staying ‘in the loop’ fleet management companies are better equipped to handle sudden changes, or plan for future fleet process adjustments. To put it simply: an informed fleet supplier saves you time and money. Contact our team of fleet management specialists today to discuss your requirements. When it comes to fleet management, access to vital information is the key to staying ahead of the game. Don’t get left behind! Subscribe to our blog for key fleet insights and download our handy AARTO booklet to keep track.