Kate Vigneau, CAFM^®: Time to Get Certified!

I am sure there are many fleet professional who have been considering pursuing some kind of professional development, but need a little nudge to get started. NAFA Fleet Management Association is providing that little nudge by offering their Certified Automotive Fleet Manager (CAFM^®) Boot Camp in Central Canada for the first time at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Ottawa-Gatineau, September 22-24, 2015.

The CAFM^® program is in its thirtieth year and is the only College-accredited professional designation in the fleet industry. To celebrate this milestone, NAFA is making the program more flexible and accessible and in doing so is increasing overall recognition of the program. At this time there are over 1,000 people involved at some stage of the program.

The program itself is a self-study course in the eight disciplines of fleet management:

Asset Management
Business Management
Financial Management
Information Management
Maintenance Management
Professional Development
Risk Management
Vehicle Fuel Management

Exams are multiple-choice and candidates must achieve 70 percent in all eight areas to be awarded their CAFM^®. Alternatively, candidates may wish to start with the Certified Automotive Fleet Supervisor (CAFS) program which only requires the completion of four modules.

Although designed for self-study, NAFA recognizes that many people learn better in a face-to-face environment. NAFA's CAFM^® Boot Camp was designed for those people. The format includes a full exam sitting on Monday, September 21 with grades announced within 24 hours; three days of intense instruction by experienced CAFM^®-qualified fleet professionals, and a re-test on Friday, September 25 on any modules not passed on the Monday.

The CAFM^® Boot Camp does not replace self-study. Candidates should cover the study materials prior to the seminar and be prepared to ask for clarification during the three-day review.

Still not convinced? Here is some of the valuable information that is covered in the curriculum:

Lifecycle Cost Analysis to select the right vehicle and recycle it at the optimum time
Vehicle Equivalency Units and maintenance staffing
Risk analysis to determine which organizational risks to retain, reduce, avoid, or insure against
Vehicle selector process to use important safety, cost, and environmental considerations in vehicle selection
Ethical decision making in order to make financially good and morally right decisions
Request for Proposal format and tips for writing effective tenders

Additional information on the program can be found at http://www.fleetcertification.org

Another point to note is that the program is not solely for fleet managers – it is open to any industry professional with at least one year in the field. We welcome fleet administrators, foremen, fleet management company representatives, OEM representatives, and various other professionals who sell products to fleets. Even if you aren’t sure you want to tackle certification at this time, you are welcome to attend the CAFM^® Boot Camp as simply an advanced seminar in fleet management.

As our jobs become more complex, our need for education and training to meet emerging challenges increases. The CAFM^® program puts the tools in your hands to meet the challenges and manage your work efficiently and effectively.

NAFA’s New York-InterCounty and Connecticut Chapters will be hosting a joint meeting on September 17 in Norwalk, CT. This meeting with feature Kate Vigneau as a speaker. More information about this chapter meeting is available in this issue of NAFAConnection. For additional details, contact New York-InterCounty Chapter Chair Ron Gitelman, CAFM^® at: ronald.gitelman@yale.edu or 203-432-2285.

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Kate Vigneau, CAFM®: Time to Get Certified!

Kate Vigneau, CAFM^®: Time to Get Certified!