Director Erin Gilchrist Named Fleet Manager of the Year
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Safelite® Group, the nation’s leading vehicle glass services and recalibration company and owner of Safelite® AutoGlass, is proud to announce that Fleet Director Erin Gilchrist was honored as Fleet Manager of the Year by the Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association at their annual conference in Phoenix.
Gilchrist oversees a fleet of more than 8,000 vehicles and heads up a team of four. She came to Safelite 15 years ago as a process analyst. She credits the support of her colleagues, friends and family in helping her achieve the success and recognition that led to this award.
“It’s just a tremendous honor,” Gilchrist said of the achievement. “When I look back at past winners, nominees and finalists, it’s such an elite group, and I am thrilled and honored to be amongst them, let alone win. It’s a testament to my team, Safelite, and my peers and friends in the industry.”
Gilchrist, who was also a finalist for the award in 2018, was honored in part due to her successful implementation of telematics and driver safety/behavior management at Safelite. She’s also implemented other initiatives such as idle reduction, engine calibration technology, CNG and electric hybrid vehicle piloting and significant light-weighting of the box truck fleet. Together, these initiatives have yielded more than $8 million in savings and reduced fuel consumption by more than 5 million gallons.
One of Gilchrist’s most significant achievements was earning executive buy-in for the implementation of its current telematics program, she said. The initial pilot for the telematics program helped Gilchrist show the company what telematics can offer, and also demonstrated her tenacity as a fleet professional.
“You cannot manage what you don’t measure,” Gilchrist said. “We were able to show the organization through a thorough and extended pilot that we could not only modify behind the wheel driving, but we could certainly reduce our carbon footprint through the visibility the device gives us. It was a good learning experience collaborating with our field partners, HR, legal, risk, and many others, and making sure they were onboard. Once we got that pilot completed and implemented the concept, it’s been a great story ever since.”
The Fleet Manager of the Year award was created to recognize a fleet manager who has demonstrated exceptional business acumen in developing and executing key management policies in all areas. The award is sponsored by Wheels Inc., AFLA and Automotive Fleet.
About Safelite Group
Safelite® Group exists to make a difference and bring unexpected happiness to people’s everyday lives through an array of services. The company is comprised of three major businesses: Safelite AutoGlass®, the largest provider of vehicle glass repair, replacement, and recalibration services in the U.S.; Safelite® Solutions, the nation’s leading fleet and insurance claims management service partner; and Service AutoGlass®, a sophisticated vehicle glass wholesale supply chain and distribution operation. Together, the businesses serve 10 million customers annually through close to 8,000 MobileGlassShopsTM and facilities. Safelite Group employs 15,000 people throughout the United States. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the company has been in business since 1947.