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SEARCHNow in its 11th year, the award celebrates bold innovation and the next generation of fleet leadership.
At the 2024 AFLA conference in San Antonio, Ernie Garcia receives the award from Brad Burgess, then co-CEO of Merchants Fleet, the award sponsor.
Photo: Automotive Fleet
Note: Deadline has been extended to Wednesday, June 25 at 12 am Pacific Standard Time.
Do you know someone who is shaping the future of fleet management? Automotive Fleet is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Fleet Visionary Award, recognizing the next generation of fleet leaders who are innovating, inspiring, and driving meaningful change.
Now in its 11th year, the Fleet Visionary Award celebrates professionals who have brought a fresh perspective to fleet management, whether through technology, process improvement, sustainability initiatives, data-driven decisions, or people-first leadership.
Sponsored by Merchants Fleet, the award is open to fleet professionals who run private fleets and have 10 years or fewer of industry experience.
The 2025 winner will be announced at the AFLA Conference, taking place September 14-17, 2025, at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida, and will be featured in the Q4 issue of Automotive Fleet magazine.
The deadline for nominations was Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
Ernie Garcia, director of fleet and business systems for Gothic Landscape, was honored with the 2024 Fleet Visionary Award for leading a data-driven transformation of one of the largest landscaping fleets in North America.
Tasked with overseeing over 2,300 assets across California, Nevada, and Arizona, Garcia implemented innovative strategies that significantly reduced fuel costs and improved fleet efficiency. By launching a pilot EV program, gaining firsthand experience with both home and public charging, and assessing ICE versus EV performance, Garcia provided critical insight into sustainable alternatives.
When full EV adoption proved impractical for certain operations, he pivoted to hybrid solutions like the Ford Maverick, reducing fuel consumption by approximately 65% per unit compared to conventional pickups.
Garcia also restructured vehicle assignments based on job function, tailoring fleet specs to operational demands rather than defaulting to one-size-fits-all models. His work exemplified a commitment to continuous improvement and creative problem-solving, underpinned by deep research and a strong analytical approach.
Do you know someone who fits this description? Nominate them — or yourself — today to help spotlight the future leaders of fleet.
The Fleet Visionary Award name, logo, brand, and all associated branding materials are legally owned and operated by Bobit Business Media Inc. (BBM), and BBM's wholly owned Automotive Fleet brand. Permission for any commercial use must be obtained in writing by Bobit Business Media Inc. For further information, please refer to BBM's Terms of Use which can be found at: http://www.bobit.com/terms-of-use
Originally posted on Automotive Fleet
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