EOFY: Survival of the Fittest (and the Most Organised)

Written by Sarah Johnson

It’s that time of year again. The morning air is getting crisp, the office coffee machine is working overtime, and fleet managers across Australia are currently staring at spreadsheets and dashboards until their eyes cross.

End of Financial Year (EOFY) always feels like a mad dash to record every last odometer reading and justify every line item before the clock strikes midnight on June 30. But if we want to be less reactive in FY27, we need to stop looking in the rearview mirror and start looking through the windscreen at the road ahead.

The Budgeting Crystal Ball

When you’re sitting down to draft your FY27 numbers, please don't just copy andpaste last year’s fuel figures. With the current instability we’ve all experienced with fuel prices in this financial year and some more recent stabilisation, global supply chains are still unpredictable.

If your budget assumes fuel will stay exactly where it is today, you could be setting yourself up for a very awkward conversation with the CFO in November. You need to build in some breathing room. Assume the "worst-case bowser" scenario and work backward. It’s much easier to explain a surplus than a massive fuel-induced hole in the accounts.

Strategy: Your ‘North Star’ for the New Year

Flying by the seat of your pants is exhausting. As we head into the new financial year, you need a structured strategy that moves beyond just "keeping the wheels turning."

Are your replacement cycles realistic given current lead times? Are your vehicles actually fit-for-purpose, or are you still paying to fuel up heavy SUVs for predominantly metro travel? Having a formal plan isn't just about corporate box-ticking, it’s about giving yourself a roadmap so you aren't guessing which way to turn when the market shifts.

"Fleet Teams are often so busy in their day to day that they don't get the opportunity to step back and strategically plan for the next financial year. Taking the time now to formalise your strategy is the key to a successful year, allowing you to best prepare for the months ahead."

Sarah Johnson, Head Consultant at WLC Fleet Consulting

The Policy Pitstop

When was the last time you actually read your fleet policy? If it’s currently serving as a digital paperweight, it’s time for a refresh. Schedule a formal review for the start of the new year. A robust policy is your best defence; it’s where you "lock in" the expectations around driver behaviour, safety, and efficiency. Without it, your cost-saving initiatives are just suggestions, and with it, they’re part of your business’s DNA.

Shifting the Dial on Driver Education

We can talk about data and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) all day, but the biggest variable in your fleet is the person behind the wheel. Don't let driver education fall off the radar just because it’s a new year, make it a priority for FY27!

Keep the focus on the practical stuff that actually shifts the dial:

• The "Trunk Junk" Audit: Remind your team that hauling around unnecessary equipment is just burning money.

• Tyre Pressure: It’s boring, it’s basic, and it’s one of the most effective ways to lower fuel burn instantly.

• Smooth Operations: Aggressive driving is essentially a tax on your budget.

When considering what your FY27 driver training program looks like, ensure that you have a structured plan that looks at practical ways to shift behaviour both with in-car and digital learning.

If you need guidance on what this should look like, we are launching educational micro-learns for fleet teams covering three core pillars including human-centric safety behind the wheel. This will be delivered monthly via bite-sized training.

FY27 is coming for us whether we’ve finished our EOFY filing or not, and it is something that we are helping many customers prepare for right now. Make sure you take the time now to plan, so you’re in the driver’s seat for FY27, and should you need any assistance in building a roadmap towards excellence, reach out to the team at WLC.