The objective of the Forum is to bring together technical experts who are directly responsible for vehicle fleet management within humanitarian agencies to discuss common challenges, share best practice, develop appropriate solutions, mobilise expertise, and record learning. Topics covered include Road Safety, Training, Fleet Management Systems, Transport for Development, and setting standards.

Road circumstances are usually very rough in the locations where the humanitarian organisations operate, resulting in short lifecycles of vehicles, equipment and accessories, as well as spare parts and especially, tyres. Humanitarian transport and vehicle fleet management plays an important strategic support role in providing development and relief services. Vehicles represent a major proportion of an aid organisation’s assets and operational costs. Despite its importance, fleet management often lacks recognition when compared with the commercial sector.

In order to encourage agencies to voice their opinions and share knowledge and experience on road transport operations, a joint initiative was taken by former fleet managers from the International Federation of the Red Cross, the World Food Programme, World Vision International and TNT to convene the Fleet Forum, resulting in a first Forum organised in Geneva in October 2003.

The success of this first meeting led to a follow-up meeting in October 2004 in Amsterdam, which included representatives from 30 international aid organisations. During this meeting, it was agreed that the forum would convene on an annual basis.