‘Mike Just Gives Cars to People’

Mike Camnetar, fleet manager for General Mills, highlights the significant gap between actual fleet management responsibilities and organizational perceptions of the role. Many stakeholders view fleet management through narrow lenses such as simple procurement or employee benefits, often overlooking the complex data and operational requirements involved. Bridging this visibility gap is essential for fleet professionals to prevent costly, uninformed decisions regarding vehicle allowances and lifecycle management.

Mike Camnetar, who manages General Mills' North American fleet and serves on the NAFA board, argues that fleet managers must actively educate their organizations to counter the 'visibility gap.' He notes that depending on where a fleet department reports—whether procurement, HR, or operations—the focus often shifts too narrowly toward cost-cutting, employee satisfaction, or uptime. Without proactive communication and data-driven pushback, organizations may adopt ill-advised policies like universal car allowances without understanding the underlying financial math.

To combat these misconceptions, Camnetar emphasizes the importance of leaving the desk to observe field operations firsthand. He recounts a specific instance from his career where a client was spending $4,000 to $5,000 per vehicle on specialized upfitting that technicians were immediately removing and storing in warehouses. By identifying this disconnect through a site visit, Camnetar uncovered a 'million-dollar opportunity' to optimize vehicle specs and eliminate waste that a desk-bound manager would have missed.

Another critical misconception addressed is the belief that a vehicle becomes 'free' once it is fully paid off. Camnetar explains that while stakeholders often apply personal car logic to commercial fleets, the reality involves escalating costs in maintenance and downtime as vehicles age. By engaging with segment leaders and understanding their specific routes and schedules, fleet managers can shift the internal conversation from simple vehicle provision to strategic asset management and operational efficiency.