Fleet World March 2014

March 2014

FLEETW RLD All that matters in the world of fleet

Driven BMW 2 Series, Maserati Ghibli

Fuel management Use less, spend less...

Plus...

XCiting times Selwyn Cooper on Volvo’s fleet future

Fleet Show preview

Better than an A-Class?

Merc’s brilliant new GLA put to the test

Wednesday 9th April 2014 Silverstone

Register for the show at... www.thefleetshow.co.uk

face to face with the fleet industry

fleetworld.co.uk

contents

March 2014

42

Behind the wheel of BMW’s new 2 Series coupe.

FLEETW RLD All that matters in the world of fleet

Driven BMW 2 Series, Maserati Ghibli XCiting times

Fuel management

Selwyn Cooper on Volvo’s fleet future

Use less, spend less...

Plus...

Fleet Show preview

Better than an A-Class?

Merc’s brilliant new GLA put to the test

27

Wednesday 9th April 2014 Silverstone

Citroën’s deputy CEO talks new C4 Cactus.

Register for the show at... www.thefleetshow.co.uk

face to face with the fleet industry

fleetworld.co.uk

Managing Editor Ross Durkin ross@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

32

Publisher Jerry Ramsdale jerry@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

Preview of the Fleet Show 2014 at Silverstone next month...

Editor Steve Moody steve@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Deputy Editor Alex Grant alex@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

face to face with the fleet industry

Business Editor Natalie Middleton natalie@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Features Editor Katie Beck katie@fleetworldgroup.co.uk VFW Editor Dan Gilkes dan@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Sales Director Anne Dopson anne@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Sales Executive Darren Brett darren@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

Sign up for the show on 9th April by visiting

Circulation Manager Tracy Howell tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

www.thefleetshow.co.uk

50

Head of Production Luke Wikner luke@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

Peugeot 308 gets SWOT’ed.

Designers Tina Ries tina@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Samantha Hargreaves sam@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

Published by

58 60

Selwyn Cooper of Volvo on why fleets should take note.

How newly-formed Police Scotland came into being.

VAN FLEETW RLD

75

Risk Management, New Transit, Transit Connect, Latest News, Fleet Academy.

04 / fleetworld.co.uk

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To subscribe to Fleet World visit: www.fleetworldsubscriptions.co.uk Certified circulation Jan – Dec 2012 17,724

Ford NEWS Transit Custom offers segment-leading whole life costs THE all-new front-wheel drive Ford Transit Custom 290 100PS short wheelbase high roof variant, costs £2,254 less to run over four years/80,000 miles than the outgoing Transit 280, according to independent whole life cost figures.

Those KWIKCarCost figures (depreciation plus SMR and fuel) published in January, mean a £225,427 advantage for a 100-vehicle fleet previously running the Transit 280. And according to KWIKCarCost’s figures there is a £520,000 advantage for fleets previously running 100 of a key competitor’s comparable vehicles and a £491,000 advantage over a second competitor’s comparable vehicles over four years/80,000 miles.

The residual value of the Transit Custom 290 100PS swb high roof is a hefty 27.44% of P11d value after 48 months/80,000 miles, against 18.50% for the outgoing Transit model.

The financial story is much the same for the low roof Transit Custom 290S 100PS swb, with a whole life cost figure £2,504 better than the equivalent outgoing Transit, which means a £250,400 advantage over 48 months/80,000 miles for fleets previously running 100 Transit 280 100PS models.

KWIKCarCost says that that means an advantage of £295,000 over one key competitor and £276,000 over another for the Transit Custom 290 100PS swb low roof, which has a forecast residual value of 27.82% of P11d price.

The Ford Transit Custom, “International Van of the Year 2013,” is the only van to achieve a maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating and has the longest service intervals in the class at two years/30,000 miles.

100 Transit Centres raise the standards THE 100 Transit Centres being launched by Ford across the UK by January 2015, offer new high-tech showrooms, elevated aftersales and service standards and extended opening hours.

They will enable the launch of Ford’s Transit24 CV service promise, which is aimed at minimising vehicle downtime and reducing whole life costs.

With a dedicated CV sales team, Ford-trained technicians and specialised workshop equipment, tools and training, each Transit Centre can manage all service, maintenance and warranty work.

Transit24 will offer while-you-wait servicing to suit the customer, including regular late night appointments, and will respond within 20 minutes to online service booking requests made through Epyx 1Link. Collection and delivery of vehicles can also be arranged and every vehicle leaves the dealership washed and ready for work.

For further information on any vehicle in the Ford range please contact the Ford Business Centre on 08457 23 23 23, email info@fordfleet.co.uk, or visit www.ford.co.uk/fordfleet

Ford News Feature // 05

inbrief

All-new Ford Transit hits the road THE all-new Ford Transit – designed, engineered and tested at Dunton and with diesel engines designed, engineered and manufactured at Dagenham – combines best-in-class cost of ownership with unbeatable load carrying capability, including van load volume up to 11 per cent better than the outgoing model.

It is class-leading for nonscheduled maintenance times, which significantly reduces regular maintenance and repair costs; for example, the labour required for a rear brake disc repair has been cut from 2.6 to 1.3 hours. Expensive fuelling errors are avoided by the unique, standardfit, Ford Easy Fuel system.

Available in front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions, the all-new Ford Transit also offers extended 2year/30,000 miles service intervals, with the time required for scheduled maintenance over 90,000 miles cut from 5.4 to 4.2 hours over the outgoing model.

The load area can accommodate key standard-length items including pipes or building boards, and has more vertical side walls and larger, more practical door openings. The side load doors now have a class-leading opening width of 1,300mm for easier loading and unloading with forklift trucks.

Vans are available in three lengths and two roof heights with multiple GVM options of up to 4.7 tonnes.

fleetreview This month, editor Steve Moody explains why the transport industry is crucial to economic recovery, and marvels at what 90g/km will get you nowadays.

The economic recovery needs you So the economic recovery continues apace. But as a nation not known for blind optimism, there’s been plenty of recent discussion that’s it’s the wrong type of recovery, led by house prices on the march again and the London economic bubble.

There may be some merit in this view, because it seems that per head of the employed population we are not as productive as we should be. An international comparison of productivity levels, undertaken by the Office for National Statistics, has shown that the output per hour of British workers is 21% lower than the average for Japan, Canada, Italy and, especially, America, Germany and France.

And the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, while acknowledging the strength of the British economy, also said much the same thing. It reported, that we must improve public infrastructure, especially for transport as low investment in public infrastructure has contributed to the congestion, hampering productivity.

This is at the nub of the matter for both organisations: our shambolic transport infrastructure is hampering our ability to grow.

So by extension, fleets are at the very epicentre of the regeneration of the British economy. The more efficiently they help companies operate, the stronger the recovery will be.

06 / fleetworld.co.uk

We need more investment in repairing and streamlining our road system, ways of getting those roads through the planning stages more quickly and ideas for helping businesses get their cars, vans and lorries running more cheaply.

Next month, we’ll run a feature on what the industry thinks should be done to achieve this. I’d be delighted to hear from you.

Don’t miss out on all the latest daily news! Visit fleetworld.co.uk

90g/km: you can have your cake and eat it I was driving the revised diesel Renault Megane the other day, which has CO2 emissions of 90g/km, and I was struck by how refined, comfortable and quick it was, alongside this ridiculously low emission figure.

It seems only a sliver of time ago that to drive a hatchback with even 100g/km meant driving round in a noisy plastic box with no punch. You chose an eco version and you would have to pay for it with a forgettable car. It never ceases to amaze me what incredible strides manufacturers are making.

Renault Megane CO2 emissions from 90g/km

face to face with the fleet industry

Show preview on page 32

LOOKS LIKE IT SHOULDN’T BE ON YOUR LIST.

THE NEW 129 G/KM XF R-SPORT. It’s natural to think that the Jaguar XF R-Sport shouldn’t be on your choice list. Think again. The XF 2.2 Diesel 163PS R-Sport with 8-speed automatic transmission delivers 129 g/km CO2 and sits perfectly within the 18% Write Down Allowance. And with an on the road price of £33,995*, isn’t it time you put the Jaguar XF R-Sport at the top of your list? To book a demonstration contact our Fleet Sales Specialist team on 0845 366 0342.

WWW.JAGUAR.CO.UK/FLEET

HOW ALIVE ARE YOU? Official fuel economy figures for the XF 14MY range in MPG (l/100km): Urban 16.7–48.7 (16.9–5.8). Extra Urban 32.8–64.2 (8.6–4.4). Combined 24.4–57.7 (11.6–4.9). CO2 Emissions 270–129 g/km. The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation. A vehicle’s actual fuel consumption may differ from that achieved in such tests and these figures are for comparative purposes only. *On the road price is the manufacturer’s Recommended Retail Price, plus First Registration Fee and Delivery Pack. Vehicle shown is an XF R-Sport with metallic paint and 18" dealer fit accessory wheels.

inbusiness

UK faces legal action for not meeting NO2 limits European Commission has launched legal proceedings against the UK for Theillegal levels of harmful air pollution and failing to meet nitrogen dioxide limits

set out in the 2008 EU Air Quality Directive.

In its report, the EU said air pollution limits were exceeded in 16 zones – Greater London, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Teesside, Stoke-onTrent (the Potteries), Hull, Southampton, Glasgow, the East, the South East, the East Midlands, Merseyside, Yorkshire & Humberside, the West Midlands, and the North East.

With reduction plans in place, it added that 15 of these zones would take until 2020 to reach the limits originally set out for 2010. Greater London, meanwhile, would take until 2025 to reach the original targets.

The UK has two months to respond to the Commission.

Research reveals Bentley Flying Spur on local council fleet Two local councils are running Bentley Flying Spurs on their fleet, research into public sector finances by Intelligent Car Leasing has revealed.

In terms of spending on cars the average council car is valued at £27,230.24 (based on the new RRP price and not current market values). The research also looked at the highest and lowest individual car values, with the Bentley Flying Spur at £140,900 and the Smart car at £6,841.40.

The Bentley Flying Spur is owned individually by both Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council whilst the Smart is owned by the London Borough of Hillingdon, helping to explain why these councils are in the top/bottom five average spenders of all that were surveyed.

fleetweet a few soundbites from a month in fleet

@SteveFowler Steve Fowler, editor-in-chief, Auto Express

Hyundai to launch its Genesis 5 Series rival in UK in right-hand drive this year! 3.8-litre V6 and four-wheel drive. #brave

@ChargeYourCar Official Twitter account for Charge Your Car EV recharging network

For the first time ever last week clocked up over 2,000 charging sessions, Mon-Sun! Excellent work everyone!

@AAPresident Edmund King, president, The AA

AA has rescued 3,000 flooded cars but too many drivers ignoring closed roads and taking chances.

@Venson_Fleet Venson Automotive Solutions official Twitter account

95% of fleet managers surveyed feel they'll spend same amount of money as last year on Risk Mgmt and 87% will spend the same on telematics.

@ harrismonkey Chris Harris, automotive journalist

You lay-low for a few days and BMW goes front-drive, then Renault makes a rear-drive city-car. Funny old world.

HAVE YOU SWITCHED ON TO THE BENEFITS OF TELEMATICS?

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And with in-built driver consent you can rest assured your employees will be kept on-side too.

aldautomotive.co.uk

0870 00 111 81

fleetworld.co.uk / 09

BAROMETER Making sense of the surveys

We’ve pulled together the pertinent points from the myriad of research done in the fleet industry this month to give you a clearer view of what’s really going on...

fleet outlook A new fleet survey has revealed a positive outlook for the industry, with many organisations planning to expand or increase the efficiency of their fleet operation over the next two years.

GE Capital International conducted a survey on 72 European fleet companies, which collectively manage more than 150,000 vehicles, on their aims for the next 24 months.

80% of respondents said they expect their fleet size to grow or remain stable over the next two years.

61% aim to improve driver behaviour, while 41% hope to reduce damages and accidents.

The report kick-starts The Fleet Debate; a year-long GE Capital programme engaging European industry leaders on areas including cost savings, efficiency and best practices in fleet management.

Majk Strika, new relationships development leader at GE Capital International, said: ‘The picture of fleet management painted by our survey is an overwhelmingly positive one, with substantial optimism for the year ahead.’

Source: GE Capital

48% have plans to improve their approach to fuel management.

54% intend to expand internationally, or are looking to optimise their global fleet.

61% of companies now have CO2 emissions restrictions in place, compared with just 38% in 2008.

distracted driving According to a new report carried out by IAM/Vision Critical, lapsed concentration behind the wheel is a worryingly common occurrence on British roads.

In a survey carried out on 1,500 drivers, 60% admitted to not being fully aware behind the wheel at all times.

24% cited daydreaming as the most common distraction, 22% blamed stress and 21% admitted that personal relationships had led to a wandering mind.

Younger drivers were most guilty of lapses of concentration, with 50% of drivers aged 18-24 admitting to distracted driving, compared with 47% of 24-34 year-olds, and 27% of over-65s.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: ‘Signs of not concentrating such as missed turnings or uncancelled indicator lights are commonplace. Simply not concentrating is a key cause of crashes yet it is not borne out in statistics because drivers rarely admit to it in police reports or on insurance forms.’

12 / fleetworld.co.uk

Source: IAM/Vision Critical

insurance A new Private Motor Insurance Market Report has revealed that there are currently 2.5 million uninsured cars in the UK, possibly due to the rising cost of insurance premiums.

The report, published by Lake Market Research, compared Department for Transport (DfT) data on the number of private cars in use and insurance industry data on the number of private cars insured.

Research found that following a peak of 100% in 2006, the proportion of private cars insured fell to just 91% in 2012.

Between 2010 and 2012, total net written premiums (insurers’ income) rose by 2.7% and net claims costs (insurers’ outgoings) fell by 16%.

However, this was offset by a 38% average increase in commission and expenses payments.

Source: Lake Market Research

Of the 6.9 million motorists who changed insurance provider last year, only 1% switched after a poor claims experience, and only 2% moved because of unsatisfactory customer service, suggesting the cost of premiums as a key factor for switching provider.

speeding Many fleet drivers habitually speed both at home and abroad, a report carried out by MiX Telematics has revealed. The survey was conducted during the summer of 2013 amongst 800 company car, van, truck, bus and coach drivers located throughout the UK, France, Germany and Spain.

Source: MiX Telematics

63% of respondents admitted to speeding while driving for work, with more than a third (34%) saying they speed every week.

37% cited ‘pressure to meet schedules’ as a reason for speeding, while 53% said they were ‘keeping up with traffic flow’.

Over the past 12 months, 17% of truck drivers received speeding penalties, compared to 14% of van drivers, 12% of bus and coach drivers and 9% of passenger vehicle drivers.

Drivers in Spain claimed to be the best-behaved behind the wheel, with 40% saying they never exceed the speed limit, compared to only 20% of Germans.

‘The knowledge that two-thirds of drivers in Britain, France, Germany and Spain routinely speed while going about their employer's business is a concern to companies in each of these countries,’ said Steve Coffin, marketing and operations director for MiX Telematics (Europe).

‘Our survey also found that more than three-quarters of all drivers – 77% – receive no training whatsoever related to speeding while driving for work.’

for the latest daily news from the fleet industry, visit fleetworld.co.uk fleetworld.co.uk / 13

WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR GOLF? NEW PEUGEOT 308

Data provided by KWIKcarcost New Peugeot 308 1.6 BlueHDi Active

Volkswagen Golf MK 7 BlueMotion 1.6 TDi

82g/km

85g/km

BIK at 40%

£83

£92

P11D Value

£19,040

£21,215

(combined drive cycle)

MPG

91.1

88.3

BHP

120

110

CO2

One look at its impressive numbers tells you exactly how the New 308 stacks up against the Volkswagen Golf.

But what you don’t get from the figures is just how dynamic the driving experience feels. Or how sleek the new interior looks, with its unique Peugeot i-Cockpit featuring a 9.7” touchscreen with satellite navigation+ and smaller steering wheel – for more intuitive handling. If you want to see how the New 308 compares to the competition, with independent data provided by KWIKcarcost, visit peugeotcompare.co.uk. You can also find out more by visiting business.peugeot.co.uk/New308 or calling 02476 884 644 for more information.

Official Fuel Consumption in mpg (l/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km) for the 308 Range are: Urban 35.8 (7.9) –80.7

MPG figures are achieved under official EU test conditions, intended as a guide for comparative purposes only, and may not reflect actual on-the-road driving conditions. Model shown is

NEW PEUGEOT 308

business.peugeot.co.uk /New308

(3.5), Extra Urban 61.4 (4.6) – 97.4 (2.9), Combined 48.7 (5.8) - 91.1 (3.1) and CO2 134-82 (g/km).

a 308 Feline with 18” Saphir alloy wheels. +9.7” touchscreen and satellite navigation available on Active level and above. Data shown in the table is independently provided by KWIKcarcost.

inbusiness

Easy money?

The Insider is seeing the number of parking tickets rise, and has a theory…

W

as it really only last month that I used that cliché “the camera never lies” in my column?

Coincidental then that I recently read news of a Bradford man whose car was briefly in a bus stop while in a stationary queue at a red traffic light.

He was photographed by a mobile enforcement camera, which subsequently issued a parking ticket. The photo was published online and, yes, it did look as though the vehicle was parked in the bus stop, but things weren’t quite as they seemed. The ticket was later overturned and an apology received.

Urban Britain is largely a network of higgledypiggledy lanes and streets following historic cart tracks, split by the occasional straight Roman road.

In town centres, traffic struggles to keep moving through antiquated layouts peppered with roadworks and faulty traffic light sequences. So parking – whether on road or in a car park – needs regulation, be that in favour of shopkeepers who want a quick turnover of customers, or workers who want somewhere to park all day (by the way, the government website www.direct.gov.uk has 23 pages of information relating to on-street parking signs. No wonder we sometimes get confused).

The only way to regulate is to issue fines, but enforcement should be fair and reasonable. Fines have turned into a massive business of their own, with some recipient companies admitting to paying figures in the millions annually. Businesses are an easy target.

Shop goods need to be delivered to store; money to be collected by security van. They need to park on location, not half a mile away, and they can’t all do so out of regular working hours, all of the time.

So they are an instant target for the civil enforcement officer or, more frequently now, the traffic camera or private contractor. Enforcement officers are taught to remain impartial and that it is their duty to issue a ticket in given circumstances. It is not up to them to show common sense nor judge-

16 / fleetworld.co.uk

ment, but for the recipient to contest the ticket if they feel hard done by.

Various bodies have worked hard to make regulation fairer. Wheel clamping on private land has been a criminal offence for some time, and the BVRLA succeeded in agreeing that its leasing and rental members could transfer liability to their customer, which at least meant the end user could appeal an unfair ticket in a timely manner. Previously lease companies paid the fine on behalf of the end user to prevent it escalating, and then passed on the charge to the customer. You can’t appeal if you’ve paid the fine, as that is considered an admission of liability.

But the trend in issuing tickets has changed and it appears that some are not playing fair. Perhaps 50% of tickets are issued when they shouldn’t be, on the basis that most people probably won’t challenge them. And that, to me, is scandalous.

Legally, private contractors are not allowed incentives for issuing more tickets but one must assume they are paid on the basis of number of tickets – or at least successful tickets – issued. Although it is hotly denied, it appears their operatives do receive daily targets. Well, you would have to: given the choice between confronting angry motorists and sitting on a bench in a park all day, I know which I would choose! Certainly in our business we are seeing more tickets issued than in previous years and I don’t believe that is down to increased regulation, nor carelessness on the part of our drivers.

It’s solely the parking companies trying it on.

As usual, all this means more work for the Fleet Department, which must weigh up whether the time spent checking and contesting each and every fine is worth the saving, against the cost of employing extra people solely to challenge them. I see the Freight Transport Association offers a PCN challenge service to its goods vehicle members; perhaps this is another niche area ripe for development elsewhere in the industry too?

Reduce passive smoking

Quit smoking and save thousands with petrol full hybrid

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Poor air quality kills*. Reduce CO 2 and NOx emissions and eliminate particulates whilst saving thousands of pounds by switching from diesel to petrol hybrid. Challenge us to prove it with our personalised fleet financial health check.

Rangeability

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brilliant for business *5000 premature UK deaths a year due to combustion exhaust. Environmental Science Technology – Public Health Impacts of Combustion Emissions in the United Kingdom 21/03/12 (COMEAP – Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution) Hybrid range fuel economy (mpg) Comb. 134 - 32.8; Urban 91.1 - 26.9; Extra Urban 80.7 - 37.9; CO 2 49 - 199g/km.

The mpg fi gures quoted are sourced from offi cial EU-regulated test results. These are provided for comparability purposes and may not refl ect your actual driving experience.

bites as bad as it The new BMW 2 Series Coupé represents a sporty yet efficient proposition for the corporate driver.

Featuring a new chassis with a longer wheelbase and wider track than the BMW 1 Series, the new model provides traditional BMW agility and driving dynamics.

Boasting the latest technologies as standard, the new model includes; BMW Emergency Call, Bluetooth hands-free facility with USB audio interface and Rear Park Distance Control, while achieving up to 64.2mpg (combined) and keeping CO2 emissions down to as little as 117g/km.

To find out more visit www.bmwcorporate.co.uk or call 0800 777 113.

THE NEW BMW 2 SERIES COUPÉ. UP TO 64.2MPG (COMBINED). FROM 117G/KM CO2.

Official Fuel Economy Figures for the new BMW 2 Series Coupé Range: Urban 25.9–54.3mpg (10.9–5.4l/100km).

Extra Urban 47.1-72.4mpg (6.4-3.9l/100km). Combined 34.9–64.2mpg (8.1-4.4l/100km). CO2 Emissions 189-117g/km Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions.

t Barks.

BMW Corporate Sales

bmwcorporate.co.uk Tel: 0800 777 113

The Ultimate Driving Machine

inbusiness

The missing ingredients Dealers are upping the quality of their services to meet the needs of fleet buyers, Curtis Hutchinson, editor of Motor Trader reports.

H

ow committed are car retailers to serving and satisfying your needs as a fleet boss? It’s a simple question with a myriad of answers, often dependent on how well your most recent interaction with a dealer went.

Dealers, especially those from the growing pool of supergroups dominating the upper echelons of car retailers, talk a lot about the importance of winning, serving and retaining fleet customers. But even while the best ones do it incredibly well, they can still be let down by a poorly handled job or a member of staff who has not gone the extra mile. While these might be one-off incidents they tend to be the ones that are remembered. Consistently and quality are key ingredients but are often missing.

Dealers know they have to offer a consistently good service all the time, every time. One of the most difficult challenges facing dealers today is winning new customers in the first place, it’s a competitive market with customers willing to travel to get the service they expect.

One group that believes it offers one of the best fleet services around is Marshall Motors. Based in Cambridge and operating as a regional East Anglia group for much of its 100 years, it evolved into a national group just five years ago through a series of acquisitions and has a brand portfolio ranging from Vauxhall to Maserati.

While the business has been built on the recovering retail market, it is also evolving into a major fleet retailer. It also runs the Marshall Leasing.

CEO Daksh Gupta, who has masterminded the group’s spectacular growth since 2008, knows exactly how important fleet customers are and how they should be served at a local level. The group’s fleet business has grown significantly from being a forgotten toe in the water to a major part of its growth strategy. Although he has no illusions about how difficult it is to be a credible fleet player.

‘Local fleet is hugely important for us. Five years ago we had no strategy so we took a decision to enter the market but it doesn’t happen overnight. Generally people don’t like switching suppliers, there has to be a compelling offer and usually that’s around service standards dropping.’

The timing was perfect because at the same time Gupta was growing the business into a scalable retail group through a series of acquisitions. This meant that under-performing dealer businesses were acquired and turned around with new

20 / fleetworld.co.uk

processes put in place with customer care and retention being at the forefront of their new culture.

Gupta provides an interesting insight into why fleet is important, arguing that while its high-volume, low-margin model can dilute dealer margins, it can also generate lucrative aftersales business through service and repair work. He also acknowledges the importance of strong relationships at local levels.

‘Some dealers don’t think fleet is important as it does dilute your sales. But I believe fleet operators are diverting volume to the people that they do business with because it’s an opportunity for them to leverage their position. Bearing in mind around 50% of all vehicles on the road are fleet, if you don’t play in that market then you are cutting yourself out of aftersales business.’

The best dealers serving the fleet market have an even split of retail to company car sales. Gupta acknowledges that his group still has a way to go but believes a 1:1 ratio is achievable and a lot of this will be down to staff training to develop the best possible local relationships. He also acknowledges that a cultural change is often needed within dealerships and is focusing attention on the better integration of the local fleet specialist within sales teams.

‘It comes down to people and management. Where we have really good people we do phenomenally well in fleet.’

The drive towards raising standards is not just coming from dealers. Renault, a brand which went through a miserable experience during the downturn with its product and dealer cull, has emerged slimmer and wiser and has just unveiled an unprecedented quality drive in its UK dealer network under the independent eye of JD Power.

The brand has launched a dealer excellence awards scheme and an online customer service voting scheme both in association with JD Power. It has also kicked off a comprehensive dealer staff training programme. All of this is now underway with the French brand setting itself a five year target to become a top 10 vehicle manufacturer in terms of independently assessed quality by 2017.

While Renault is coming from a low base, after the cull and the poor quality issues which plagued some of its product line-up in recent years, the initiative is laudable and, importantly, with JD Power being the final arbiter it has nowhere to hide. The end result should see the brand re-emerge with a stronger fleet business case than before.

inbusiness

What I’ve learnt Damian James, ACFO chairman, on dealing with the Government and getting fleet drivers on board with changes.

Making the move from running a fleet to advising others on theirs I have been in fleet management for 16 years.

During that time I have switched from being in charge of a 1,000-strong private sector fleet to a commercial vehicle-dominated public sector transport operation that has slimmed down to about 60 vehicles and on which I devote 10-20% of my role. I joined ACFO when I first started in fleet and, as a consequence of attending meetings and discussing issues with other fleet managers, I have learned a huge amount. I still have a lot to learn and I discover something new every day as the job is constantly evolving. Only by asking questions – no question is a stupid question – can ACFO through its membership continue to promote best practice.

Dealing with the Government As I work in the public sector I have an insight into the political sensitivities and pressure points that exist within the Government. When dealing with any government department, patience is required because nothing happens overnight, unlike in the private sector where a decision can be made and implemented almost immediately. ACFO has forged strong relationships with various government organisations – the Department for Transport, HM Treasury, HM Revenue & Customs and the DVLA, for example. But our civil service and ministerial contacts can change roles or leave and the relationships have to start again. Similarly, government policy can change mid-term and certainly post general election with a change of power. We have an opportunity to voice members’ views, which is valuable, but it does not always make a difference and you have to accept that the pace of change is beyond your control.

How the UK leads the way on fleet management It is frequently highlighted that the UK leads Europe and indeed many other countries due to the maturity of our market. Furthermore, ACFO during its more than 40-year history has been regularly asked to provide help and advice to similar organisations in other countries. Fleet deci-

22 / fleetworld.co.uk

sion-makers from overseas have visited the UK on fact-finding tours during which they have met ACFO members and ACFO representatives have spoken at fleet manager meetings in a number of countries.

Additionally, many UK-based fleet managers have responsibility for overseas vehicle operations, but I don’t see that exchange happening in reverse. For me, it is clear Britain has many very skilled and knowledgeable fleet managers who are influencing operations overseas. The UK can act like a consultant to the rest of Europe and further afield in terms of fleet management.

Getting fleet drivers on board with changes Fleet management is ever-changing and that means managers have to implement change and that also frequently means involving drivers. Changes to long-standing practices may have to be introduced at an employer level due to internal or external factors and sometimes resistance can be encountered. One of ACFO’s strengths is through its large and diverse membership it is able to provide support to fleet managers in implementing new measures. Almost certainly a perceived problem for one fleet manager has been encountered and managed by a fellow ACFO member. That is why networking and communication across the membership is critical.

The changing skills needed by fleet managers During my career fleet management has changed beyond all recognition and due to the diversity of the job it is difficult to nail down a specific skill set.

Financial, procurement and HR skills and knowledge are among those required, but fleet managers also have to understand technological change. Critically, fleet managers must also understand how changes outside of their control could impact on their business and the law of unintended consequences as introduction of one initiative may alter the dynamics in another are of existing fleet practice. Fleet managers are always being challenged and currently the changing face of technology across petrol and diesel engines and alternative fuels and the impact on running a cost-effective fleet is perhaps the biggest issue.

NEW INSIGNIA

BEAUTIFUL TECHNOLOGY

Power and efficiency - up to 76.3mpg from a 140PS engine.

Transformed by technology, New Insignia features sophisticated new engines, sportier exterior and all-new infotainment system. Championing the range ecologically are the 120PS and 140PS 2.0CDTi ecoFLEX models, with 98g/km CO2, 76.3mpg* (combined) and a range up to 1,175 miles; aided by class-leading aerodynamics. New Insignia showcases ingenious high-end technology, with incredibly low emissions. The future is beautiful.

Transform your business with beautiful technology: www.vauxhallfleet.co.uk/beautifultechnology Book your FREE** 3 Day Test Drive at www.vauxhallfleet.co.uk/testdrive or call 0870 240 4848

VAUXHALL FLEET Visit www.vauxhall.co.uk/fleet

Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). New Insignia range: Urban 24.8 (11.4)-62.8 (4.5), Extra-urban 46.3 (6.1)-88.3 (3.2), Combined 34.9 (8.1)-76.3 (3.7). CO2 emissions 189-98g/km. *

Official EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. All figures quoted correct at time of publication (March 2014). ** = Excludes fuel and lubricants; congestion charges; parking and speeding fines and the ÂŁ250 insurance excess (if applicable). 3 Day Test Drive vehicles are subject to availability and terms and conditions apply. Please refer to www.3daytestdrive.co.uk for full terms and conditions. Drivers must be 25 years or older and is available for Mainland UK only. Model illustrated features options at extra cost.

inbusiness

fleetonfleet Liz Hollands asks “poacher turned gamekeeper” Nigel Trotman about his view of fleet management now he works for a leasing company.

As an ex-fleet manager what was it like moving to the other side of the fence?

It was definitely a bit of a culture shock – I suddenly found myself part of a sales department rather than providing a service to internal customers. I also found it really fascinating, and gained some real insights into why my own suppliers sometimes struggled to deliver what seemed to me relatively basic services – systems constraints really do exist!

What do you enjoy the most about your current role?

Variety. No two weeks are the same, and I have been really fortunate to get involved in new products and services such as AlphaCity and AlphaElectric. I have also had the opportunity to develop new products of my own such as our Fleet Healthchecks, which are now being rolled out across Europe. Alphabet is an exciting place to be at the moment and long may that continue. Being involved in developing AlphaElectric across Europe has been particularly stimulating.

In your view, where are fleet managers missing a trick?

It still surprises me how relatively few fleets even now use whole-life costs as the basis of policy. I understand that changing a car policy is a big deal and as a result tends not to happen. However, fleet managers should be looking to ensure that policies are reviewed regularly – every two to three years as a minimum – and underlining the potential benefits of WLCs. Fleet managers also often miss opportunities to underline their value to their organisations. I come across a lot of people responsible for fleets (not always fleet managers as such) who are doing a

FIN fleet in numbers

fantastic job that is not really appreciated by their management – mainly because they don’t communicate their successes well.

What’s your view on complete outsourcing, with no fleet manager in place?

I would say you certainly need someone in the client company to make decisions and enforce policy. While at Whitbread I gradually outsourced more and more activities, but retained a small internal resource for billing and driver queries. Personally I was able to devote less time to fleet (I took on other responsibilities), but was still there to manage and advise as required. To me that is the right balance.

How can fleet managers get best value from their leasing supplier?

Simple – become their favourite customer. That doesn’t mean being a soft touch – it is about ensuring that the supplier really values their relationship with you and that any benefits are shared. That way, you will get the best service and the right deal, without the need for heavy-handed adversarial discussions that help nobody. I knew I had succeeded with one supplier when their MD told me they would do whatever was necessary to retain my business!

Time for a hobby outside of work?

My hobbies take place in the open air. For many years I have been a regular runner, having completed the London Marathon once and almost 50 half marathons.

I even still run cross-country races. I also have an allotment where I grow lots of lovely organic fruit and veg.

Up to 14% 1,100 Reduction in CO2 for new A6 “ultra” model, which spearheads a range of new ultra models.

SOURCE: Audi

Number of vehicles covered by new four-year agreement between technical service provider Imtech UK Ltd and ALD Automotive.

SOURCE: ALD Automotive

26 / fleetworld.co.uk

inbusiness

Q &A Yves Bonnefont, deputy CEO of Citroën, explains to Alex Grant how the new C4 Cactus offers a glimpse of a revitalised model range.

Why have you decided to re-invent the C line?

We are very happy with the development of DS. We launched something that was totally new and after four years we have sold 410,000 cars. We will continue to develop the DS line and the core line of Citroën globally. Clearly our strategy is to have the two lines.

After the success of DS we wanted to re-energise the core line so that’s what Cactus is about.

Where did the idea come from?

We started to work on the Cactus concept in 2007. At that time we were willing to try and do a minimal car, and over the course of the seven years we evolved a lot in our thinking and came to the car today. We want no compromise on what is important to the customer but at the same time we want an effective cost of ownership – this car will be 10% lower than the best competition.

Where will it be positioned within the Citroën range, and will there be other Cactus models?

This is a C-segment car – it’s addressing the largest segment in the world, and the only segment where we see some growth in Europe. So we want to diversify our offering.

I’m often asked what the direct competitors of this car are; it’s very difficult because there’s nothing like this on the market. This logic of focusing on the core expectations of our customers while having a very competitive cost of ownership will apply to all the products of the Citroën core range.

In the future we have the DS Line, which is premium, and we have the core line of Citroën, which is characterised by what we do with Cactus. I don’t know whether we will call the other cars Cactus, it’s really going to be the whole line which will have those attributes.

Will the C4 Cactus be sold outside Europe?

The car was designed very much for the European market; we did a lot of in-depth market research to come to what is really important for European customers. If you asked me a year ago I would have said we have no plans to sell the car in China, but the feedback we’re getting from our Chinese partners and those who know the Chinese market within the company is the car could be attractive to Chinese customers. So we are studying the opportunity to launch the car in China.

What inspired the “Citroën and You” customer feedback programme, and will it extend to fleets?

We have worked a lot to improve the quality of our service and it’s a way to make that known. We want to be positive, we want to be transparent and we want to take the opportunity to improve our services if there are issues. I see no reason why it wouldn’t apply to fleets.

Keeping it simple New C4 Cactus is targeting at least a 10% lead on C-sector running costs.

fleetworld.co.uk / 27

g fleet e k

Apple CarPlay

YotaPhone Launching towards the end of the year, YotaPhone combines the monochrome display of an e-reader with the high-definition touch screen of a smartphone. The phone displays alerts, messages and scannable passes and tickets on its low-powered “electronic paper” side, reducing battery drain from frequent use of a colour screen. This can also display information when the battery is flat.

Price: see yotaphone.com for details

Apple has partnered with 16 carmakers to offer CarPlay as standard built-in equipment starting this year. Designed to reduce distraction it allows calls and messages, maps, music and third party apps such as Spotify to use the car’s infotainment display and built-in controls, as well as providing Siri integration and voice control.

Price: see apple.com/ios/carplay for details

Samsung Gear 2 Neo Samsung has introduced an entrylevel version of its second-generation smartwatch, which does without the camera of the Gear 2 but offers all of the other functionality. Calls and notifications from Galaxy smartphones can be controlled via its touch screen, and features now include a standalone music player and infrared sensor capable of controlling home electronics.

Price: see samsung.com for details

Pioneer Soundbar More than just a bit of extra power for your TV’s audio, the Soundbar range connects to your home or office WiFi allowing video and audio content to be streamed wirelessly and played on screen. It’s compatible with Apple AirPlay and YouTube, and features Bluetooth output with an optional wireless subwoofer.

Price: £269.99–£369.99 from pioneer.eu/uk

apps of the month

Yahoo News Digest

Mail Pilot

CalCube

Aiming to make it quicker and easier to stay up to date with the latest news, this app summarises stories into a pair of daily digests containing key quotes, graphics, statistics and videos for simple and fast browsing. These “Atoms” are curated automatically and hand-checked, and supplied with a summary to provide only the highest quality content. More news, with less effort, twice a day.

Price: Free from iTunes Store

Described as an action-based e-mail browser, Mail Pilot organises your messages in possibly the most intuitive way. The app lets you set e-mails as reminders or to-do tasks, order them into lists for easy browsing, and check them off when they’re dealt with.

It also has a handy function putting messages to one side for later, and can be synced with a Mac desktop or laptop computer.

Price: £6.99 from iTunes Store

Sick of the fiddly new calendar app in iOS 7? CalCube takes the fuss out of organising your diary, flipping between weeks like they’re printed on the sides of a cube and entering new events as you would write them down in note form. It syncs with the same iCloud calendar as the iPhone’s included app, but also works with Google Agenda and iCal and provides weather forecasts.

Price: £1.49 from iTunes Store

28 / fleetworld.co.uk

Your credit licence expires 31 March.

Don’t let your business expire with it.

Consumer credit licensing is about to change.

To continue offering credit on sales and services after 31 March, you must register for Interim Permission by that date.

If you do not register, you risk committing a criminal offence if you carry on with any consumer credit-related activities from 1 April.

So to keep your business on the right side of the law, register now. It takes minutes – you just need to have a few details to hand: Your OFT consumer credit licence number

The number of branches your firm has

Your licence categories

Your bank or credit card details

Over 35,000 firms have already registered for Interim Permission. So don’t delay, join them now – go to fca.org.uk/clicked and follow our step-by-step guide.

Don’t put your business at risk – register for FCA Interim Permission by 31 March.

Have you clicked yet?

Register now at fca.org.uk/clicked

inbusiness

Thinking out of the box Recent months have seen a sharp rise in the number of apps being launched to assess driver behaviour. Natalie Middleton puts the GreenRoad app to the test.

WITH proven benefits for reducing fuel costs and increasing driver safety, telematics is increasingly finding its way on to fleets’ radars. But for some firms the cost, contracts and hassle involved will always be too much, which may explain why there is an ever-increasing number of apps available to offer some of the benefits of telematics in a much more digestible format.

I must admit to having some scepticism over whether such apps offer as detailed an insight as telematics though. And wondering how accurate they really are.

Already renowned for its expertise in driver performance management, GreenRoad launched just such an app last year – the GreenRoad Smartphone Edition – which we put to the test.

How it works Available for Android smartphones, the GreenRoad Smartphone Edition uses advanced, patented algorithms to detect how well the driver is doing and then provide real-time in-vehicle feedback. Just like the telematics-based GreenRoad system, the app measures driving style using green, amber and red alerts.

All the driver needs to do is download the app, log in and then activate the system on their journeys (automatic activation is also available). The system then uses functionality including GPS and built-in accelerometers to detect what the driver is doing.

Any actions deemed risky or fuel-inefficient, such as harsh braking, are flagged up with an amber or red visual warning and an audio alert. At the end of the journey, the driver is presented with a summary, which is also available to managers as part of the GreenRoad Central mobile and online accounts with fleet summary dashboards and driver-specific drill-down detail.

My own results I have to fess up to having gained a high proportion of red alerts during the time I tested the app – particularly for speeding as well as cornering, harsh acceleration and braking. However, in my defence I made no attempt to change my driving style. And in fact within a few weeks of running the app, I put the maximum speed limit up from 70 to 80mph as otherwise it would start giving red alerts from 65mph, which seemed a bit premature to me, but may explain my issues with speeding.

I was a bit sceptical about getting alerts over cornering and braking on straight stretches of road where I’d been keeping up a steady speed but Chris Deakin, UK account manager at GreenRoad, told me that the alert can appear up to 60 seconds after the infraction has been made and directed me to my own online results to check this out.

The driver/fleet benefits Chris added that a key part of the system is that drivers do have access to their own data and it was handy to log in after journeys to see not only where I’d been and the prevailing speed limit but also the course of the road to understand more about reasons behind the alerts.

Management access to the system also means that fleets can create league tables – which GreenRoad says can play an important part in getting drivers on board and supporting the system.

The firm adds that whilst there are a growing number of driver behaviour apps out there, the GreenRoad Smartphone Edition is the first one that will consolidate the data across a whole fleet.

VERDICT It’s certainly a good insight into driver behaviour – my results concurred with other risk management systems I’ve tested – and for firms looking to cut their fuel costs and/or get to grips with road risk management, it can pinpoint those drivers that need further action without the need for a full-blown telematics system. However, though the app can be set up to automatically activate in a moving vehicle, there is always the option for the driver to switch off their phone altogether. And as with telematics systems, the fleet manager needs to analyse and act on the data generated to maximise the benefits.

30 / fleetworld.co.uk

renault.co.uk

NEW RENAULT MEGANE

Our Formula One inspired ENERGY engines deliver you more miles for your money.

We’ve designed a range of Formula One inspired ENERGY engines for the New Renault Mégane. Why? Because they deliver up to 21% better fuel consumption with CO2 emissions as low as 90g/km and a combined mpg of up to 80.7.

Oh, and because it’s nice to say, ‘I’ve got a Formula One inspired ENERGY engine under the bonnet’.

Visit renault.co.uk/business or call the Renault Business Team on 0800 040 7344

Model shown Mégane Hatch GT Line TomTom with optional i.d. paint metallic Malta Blue. The official consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the Renault Mégane core range are: Urban 30.1 (9.4) – 72.4 (3.9); Extra Urban 51.4 (5.5) – 88.3 (3.2); Combined 40.9 (6.9) – 80.7 (3.5). The official C02 emissions for the range are 159-90g/km. EU Directive and Regulation 692/2008 test environment figures. Fuel consumption and C02 may vary according to driving styles, road conditions and other factors.

Warranty applies to new vehicles up to a period of 4 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first (first 2 years unlimited mileage). Renault Assistance Roadside Cover is provided in association with the AA. Cover from months 0 to 36 includes assistance at the roadside and at home, national recovery, onward travel and European cover. Cover from months 37 to 48 includes Roadside and Homestart (including a local tow to an authorised Renault dealer). The provider of this cover is the Automobile Association Limited. Please refer to participating dealer for details.

in partnership with Consulting

Consulting

WEDNESDAY 9TH APRIL 2014 face to face with the fleet industry

SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT

Bigger and better...

The Fleet Show is a unique event which brings together the whole of the fleet industry in one place, on one day. It provides fleet decision makers with an opportunity to test drive the latest new cars and vans, meet new fleet suppliers, learn new fleet management techniques and network with peer-group fleet professionals. Test driving takes place on the world-famous International, National and Stowe circuits – as well as the 4x4 course and public roads – while the indoor exhibition and training workshops take place in the fabulous new Silverstone Wing.

32 / fleetworld.co.uk

Less fuel in.

More miles out.

Go further with the new Honda engine.

CR-V 1.6 Diesel

Civic 1.6 Diesel

Civic Tourer 1.6 Diesel

• Low fuel costs 62.8 mpg

• Low fuel costs 78.5 mpg

• Low fuel costs 74.3 mpg

• 119 g/km CO2

• 94 g/km CO2

• 9 9 g/km CO2

• Band C VED

• Zero VED

• Zero VED

• BIK rate from 18%

• BIK rate from 13%

• BIK rate from 14%

• Two wheel drive

• Insurance group from 15E

• Insurance group from 15E

honda.co.uk/corporate Fuel consumption figures for the Honda range in mpg (l/100km): Urban Cycle 23.2 – 70.6 (12.2 – 4.0), Extra Urban 40.4 – 85.6 (7.0 – 3.3), Combined 32.5 – 78.5 (8.7 – 3.6). CO2 emissions 201 – 94g/km. Fuel consumption figures sourced from official EU-regulated laboratory test results, are provided for comparison purposes and may not reflect real-life driving experience.

Models shown for illustrative purposes: Civic 1.6 i-DTEC S in optional White Orchid Pearl, CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC S in optional Passion Red Pearl and Civic Tourer 1.6 i-DTEC SR in optional Twilight Blue Metallic.

Powered by

WEDNESDAY 9TH APRIL 2014 SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT, NORTHANTS face to face with the fleet industry

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The INDOOR EXHIBITION AREA is the focus for those wishing to meet up with colleagues from the fleet industry and the unique �networking� opportunity provided by the show gives an invaluable means of keeping up to date with the latest fleet industry developments and meeting motor manufacturers and suppliers.

INDOOR EXHIBITION AREA The indoor exhibition takes place in the Silverstone Wing, a new state-of-the-art building that offers all the facilities required for a successful show.

For many visitors, the opportunity to discover and evaluate potential new suppliers is as valuable as the on-track test driving experience. And with over 60 different exhibitors expected to attend the show, there will be no shortage of interesting new service providers, exhibiting alongside some of the best known names in the fleet industry.

34 / fleetworld.co.uk

OFF-ROAD DRIVING EXPERIENCE Silverstone Circuit boasts its own off-road driving area for those who wish to put the latest 4x4 vehicles to the ultimate test. The offroad area will host a wide range of 4x4s that visitors can experience alongside a professional instructor.

CU THE CIR

ITS COPSE CORNER

WOODCOTE CORNER

TRACK DRIVING EXPERIENCE Silverstone Circuit offers a superb range of track driving opportunities on the National, International and Stowe circuits.

The National and International circuits which, when joined together form the Grand Prix circuit used in Formula 1 racing, provide the best possible testing ground for all the latest fleet cars.

NATIONAL PITS STRAIGHT BROOKLANDS CORNER

WELLINGTON STRAIGHT LUFFIELD CORNER

AINTREE CORNER

NATIONAL CIRCUIT Drivers using the National circuit will be accompanied by a professional racing driver. There is no speed limit on the National circuit and all drivers using this circuit will be required to wear a crash helmet at all times.

VILLAGE CORNER BECKETTS CORNER

ABBEY

THE LOOP FARM CURVE

INTERNATIONAL PITS STRAIGHT

CHAPEL CURVE

INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT Drivers using the International circuit will be accompanied by a representative of the relevant motor manufacturer. Drivers using the International circuit are required to observe a 70mph speed limit and are hence not required to wear crash helmets.

THE STOWE CIRCUIT The Stowe Circuit will host the Allstar Card Services Eco-driving hub, as well as a programme of safety technology demonstrations, and the final stages of the Fleet Driver of the Year competition. Visitors will be able to see live fuel consumption and CO2 emission performance for all vehicles on the circuit via data from Lysanda's unique Eco Log system.

MAGGOTTS CORNER

HANGAR STRAIGHT

CLUB CORNER

VALE

STOWE CORNER

face to face with the fleet industry

WEDNESDAY 9TH APRIL 2014 SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT

ALLSTAR CARD SERVICES ECO-DRIVING HUB The Allstar Card Services Eco-driving Hub will be the focus of a range of fuel and cost saving initiatives at this year’s Show, all designed to make fleet managers aware of the wide range of products and services available in this area of the fleet market.

Silverstone’s infield Stowe Circuit will be the site of the Eco-driving Hub for the day, where those manufacturers with strong low-CO2 subbrands will demonstrate not only the fuel efficiency of their cars, but also how they can be driven in the most economical fashion.

The Allstar Card Services Eco-driving Hub is a way of taking the economy driving message to a wider audience, incorporating as well the wide range of low-emission cars, fuel monitoring systems, eco-driving techniques and other fuel management systems on the market.

The partnership with Allstar Card Services on the Eco-driving Hub is a perfect fit as the organisation is the market leader in the fuel cards sector by some margin, and their expertise in the field will be of great interest to visitors.

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TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS Fleet managers are being offered the opportunity to try out the very latest emergency braking systems, which have been designed to reduce accidents, keep drivers safe and cut costs.

The initiative, demonstrated by the insurance industry-backed Thatcham Research Centre, alongside Bosch and RoadSafe, will focus on the very latest Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) systems, described as the most important primary safety technology that Thatcham has seen in recent years.

The AEB system works using technologies such as radar, lasers and optical sensors to identify other vehicles and, in many cases, pedestrians, and automatically applies the brakes if the driver does not respond in time, to avoid or mitigate a collision, potentially saving countless lives, injuries and inconvenience.

Thatcham are on a mission to prove the effectiveness of AEB in reducing accidents, cutting costs and slashing vehicle downtime, and at the Silverstone Show, fleet managers will be able to find out for themselves just how effective the system really is and which vehicles it is available on.

FLEET TRAINING SEMINARS A team of expert fleet managers will become trainers for the day when they host a series of workshop-style sessions at this year’s Fleet Show. This format will allow experienced fleet managers to pass on their knowledge and expertise in a series of interactive sessions where audience participation will be actively encouraged.

The team of fleet managers – including: • Andrew Houston from Altro Group plc; • Jan Kozlowski from Tristar Worldwide Services; • Dennis Dugen from professional consultancy WSP; • Glenn Ewen from Clear Channel UK; and • Richard Marmoy from Chiltern International Ltd have all agreed to give up some of their time in order to help inform those who are new to the profession, and to lead the discussion among more experienced fleet professionals.

The three sessions will cover: • 10.30 – 11.00am. The formulation and implementation of fleet policy; • 11.30 – 12.00pm. Environmental management; and • 12.30 – 1.00pm. Risk management.

Each session will be presented by two or three fleet managers and will last approximately 30 minutes.

Mercedes-Benz GLA

While it's hard to fathom where it fits, the new GLA is very good, says Steve Moody.

SECTOR Crossover PRICE £25,850–£30,680 FUEL 42.8–62.8mpg CO2 119–154g/km

T

he new Mercedes-Benz GLA is one of those cars that you start with a fairly fixed idea about, and the more time spent with it, the more those assumptions seem to melt away.

Why? Well, you may well think it is a compact SUV, or crossover, or something between the two. Or perhaps both. In fact, in the end, it seems neither. I couldn’t really fathom it, and yet liked it immensely.

Rather than the off-road side of the Mercedes-Benz family, the GLA comes from the same mechanical genetic code as the A-Class, a car that has been a tremendous success for the brand in accessing younger, upwardly mobile company car drivers. The GLA will prove to be exactly the same success and possibly more so.

But it is no chunky SUV. It’s nearly two inches lower than a BMW X1, itself not exactly a great big brick of a thing, and the styling has none of the obvious SUV proportions of an Audi Q3. In fact, it’s really quite hard to tell the difference from a standard A-Class, other than giving you the feeling that it’s a bit more toned and slightly betCDI 4MATIC, and two petrol engines, the GLA 250 ter looking. Sitting two inches higher than a standard 4MATIC and faintly daft GLA 45 AMG. Engines are comA-Class, it looks a little less bottom-heavy, which helps. bined with a six-speed manual transmission or with the When Mercedes-Benz comes to put it on 7G-DCT dual clutch automatic transmission. sale, marketing and positioning will be vital, There are two model lines, SE and AMG Line, FLEET FACT because drivers will need to know what it goes which are decently specced. The SE comes with up against (they’re like that), and that is not 18 inch five-twin-spoke alloy wheels, aluminium Emissions start obvious. Bigger than the X1, and much sleeker roof rails, privacy glass, reversing camera, and than the Q3, it seems no direct opposition for DAB digital radio as standard while the AMG from 119g/km, or either and the nearest rival to it is the A-Class, line has AMG bodystyling, Dynamic Handling 132g/km for the which pretty much sums up its slightly odd Package, sports suspension, and sports seats.

4MATIC versions. position in the market, and the issue Mercedes Inside, everything is much the same as the might have is trying to ensure it takes sales A-Class except the boot, which is somehow 40% from elsewhere and not just internal competition. larger in volume than the aforementioned, which again is Starting from £25,850, the GLA is available with a perplexing as it doesn’t seem especially spacious. It probably choice of two diesel engines, GLA 200 CDI and GLA 220 says more about the A-Class’s lack of carrying ability.

But it is driving where the GLA really excels. The diesel engines seem more refined, although by no means the quietest in the sector, and the chassis, MacPherson front axle and independent multi-link rear suspension allow the car to ride much better than the A-Class. I suspect the extra wheel travel allowed by the slightly higher ride height, especially in Comfort setting, has taken a lot of the crashiness of the A-Class out. While the seating position is marginally raised, it is barely noticeable when in the cabin, and certainly there is no impression of being in an SUV or crossover. But the overall result of these changes from the A-Class is a much more pleasant car to drive.

From a running costs perspective, CO2 emissions are about where to be expected, at 119g/km for the 220 CDI while the diesel model with four-wheel drive rises to 132, although again, you would have the 4MATIC system because it comes with the automatic gearbox (an option of the front wheel drive versions), not because it has any great off-road ability. As I said, it’s not really an SUV.

40 / fleetworld.co.uk

what we think

highlights 40% more boot space than an A-Class.

Higher riding, but sleek lines.

Two diesel engines: 136bhp 200 and 170bhp 220CDI.

It’s easy to say what the GLA is not: it’s not an SUV, and crossover seems too generic a title. What it is though is a better looking, better driving, more spacious A-Class. And company car drivers are loving that car, which bodes extremely well for the excellent GLA.

Four-wheel drive option.

key fleet model Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 CDI SE fleetworld.co.uk / 41

BMW 2 Series Coupé

BMW’s new 2 Series Coupé is an excellent car to drive, but lacks a little refinement, says Ryan Borroff.

SECTOR Lower medium coupe PRICE £24,265–£36,075 FUEL 34.9–64.2mpg CO2 117–189g/km

B

MWs rationale in rejigging nameplates across its product range was that even numbers would become the sportier variants of their odd-numbered siblings. Now that BMW’s 1 Series Coupé has officially graduated to the 2 moniker, expectations for the car have increased with its numerical upgrade.

Clearly the range-topping M235i model was always going to fulfil the sportier promise of the 2 Series, but can the 220d, which is expected to be the biggest seller in the UK, prove dynamic enough to justify its nameplate change?

It has some big shoes to fill. BMW sold 150,000 1 Series Coupes, 30,000 in the UK, in spite of its clunky looks.

Despite what to many observers will seem like subtle changes, the 2 Series Coupé looks less awkward than the car it replaces. It’s longer with a lower, more gently sloping roof and an increased track width to give it a wider look and stance. Visually the car looks faster and more athletic with wider wheel arches and a wider, more aggressive aesthetic.

BMW claims an additional 21mm has been relinInside the car feels very well built, though the styling quished by the increase in the cars length and it’s just is less successful. BMW’s familiar interior design theme about spacious enough in the rear. At 390 litres, stowage looks a little awkward in such a small car. space was never going to be generous, The result is a cabin that feels crammed though it’s 100-litres more than an Audi TT. FLEET FACT because it doesn’t quite look wide enough.

For now the 2 Series Coupe is available Functionality though, is excellent. Even the with a range of familiar engines, three petrol Half of the entry-level SE model gets a 6.5-inch colour and three diesel, including the halo 3.0 litre infotainment screen and iDrive controller, six-cylinder petrol engine. The 2.0-litre expected 5,000 the immediate effect of which is that one diesel and 2.0-litre petrol 220i engines iniUK sales will feels as if they are driving a more expensive tially on sale will be joined later in the year be the 220d. executive car. Other standard kit includes, by the 228i, 218d and 225d engines. sport multi function steering wheel, BlueOn the road the M235i and 220d are tooth/USB telephone and media connectivity, DAB radio clearly two quite different cars to drive. The automatic and single zone climate control plus parking sensors M235i has blistering pace and performance. Even the at the rear. published acceleration figures (0-62mph in 4.8 seconds) don’t quite do it justice. It’s a different experience from the manual 220d which requires a still perfectly decent 7.2 seconds to reach the same speed. Yet it’s testament to how good the 220d model is that it doesn’t feel like the lesser car.

Both cars share excellent ride and handling abilities.

The 220d model was able to soak up bumpy roads and carry itself admirably through the challenging twists and turns of mountain roads. And unlike the M235i, the sixspeed manual 220d will do 58.9mpg on the combined cycle while emitting a VED and BiK-busting 125g/km.

The refinement of the 220d is diminished somewhat by a noisy engine that intrudes considerably when stationary and which gruffly reminds you of its presence under acceleration. Add to that some wind noise apparent from the large wing mirrors and the 2 Series Coupé isn’t quite as refined as it could be. But it’s clearly a model that improves considerably on an already winning formula.

42 / fleetworld.co.uk

what we think

highlights Best-selling 220d returns 64.2mpg and emits 117g/km CO2 with the auto box.

Replaces outgoing 1 Series Coupe range, a fifth of which sold in the UK.

A two-litre diesel engine may not be the last word in excitement, yet BMW’s 220d Coupé delivers on its promise to be an exciting yet frugal daily driver with company tax busting economy and emissions.

It offers an excellent combination of attributes, let down only by a noisy engine.

Wider front and rear track than a 1 Series, contributing to excellent handling.

key fleet model BMW 220d Sport Coupé

fleetworld.co.uk / 43

Maserati Ghibli Diesel Does a focus on fleet blunt the Maserati’s driver appeal? Alex Grant finds out.

SECTOR Executive PRICE £48,830 FUEL 47.8mpg CO2 158g/km

M

automatic gearbox with an even smoother comfort setaserati might sound like an unlikely contender ting for motorway cruising. Yet it’s still a true Maserati in for fleet sales, but Ghibli is the start of changing Sport mode, holding onto each gear for longer, changing times. As the carmaker chases a ten-fold volume quicker and sharpening throttle and steering responses increase in the UK, a diesel executive saloon with to enliven the drive. Maserati purists might miss the fleet-friendly running costs is an inevitable addition for petrol exhaust note, but the Diesel makes a purposeful a premium brand. growl in Sport mode which is almost as addictive.

Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Maserati Mechanicals aside, it adopts Maserati’s new family has built a niche for itself as a manufacturer of grand tourstyling complete with a wide oval grille and aggressive ers and sports saloons. Both are ideal for retail sales but, headlights similar to the new Quattroporte’s. The cabin is with only petrol engines, there’s never been much fleet awash with soft leather and can be heavily personalised – potential or opportunity to grow from a niche brand. it’s fairly well laid out, though the large So, with 50,000 global sales as a tartransmission tunnel can make the back get by the end of next year, the range is seats feel a little cramped. Its infotaingrowing. The Ghibli saloon and forthment system with Garmin navigation is coming Levante SUV are both launching almost identical to the Chrysler 300C’s. into sectors with a high fleet content, Aluminium panels up the power-toand Maserati is laying out the groundweight ratio and contribute to remarkwork with an extended dealer network ably sure-footed agility on sweeping and ongoing work with leasing comparoads for a car of this size. However, it’s nies, RV setters and SMR experts to get worth testing the standard suspension the cars onto choice lists. setup before choosing one – the former The Ghibli isn’t a car aimed at toppling is far more suited to day-to-day driving the BMW 5 Series from the top of this and barely blunts the handling comsector, but it’s Maserati’s most efficient pared to the much stiffer sports option. model yet, and brings the range entry So is the Ghibli Diesel a compromise? point under £50,000. Engine options Not the cheapest in its Perhaps, but only slightly. This is a great are all turbocharged V6 units, with the segment to run, but the executive car, and feels every bit the 275bhp diesel expected to be most popuGhibli is an attractive downsized Quattroporte it should. With lar in the UK. It’s a rival for high performsensible targets in mind and no plans ance diesels in German rivals’ cars, entry point into the to blur the brand identity with ecorather than low-carbon units, returning Maserati range with friendly models, but with running costs 45.6mpg with CO2 emissions of 158g/km. plenty of aspirational This is as much power as most drivlow enough not to scare fleets away, this fleet appeal. ers could need. The diesel is incredibly is a convincing first entry into a very refined, paired with an eight-speed demanding part of the market.

what we think

44 / fleetworld.co.uk

Volvo S60/V60 D4 Drive-E The first of Volvo’s all-new engine family bodes well for its presence in fleet, reckons Alex Grant.

SECTOR Compact Executive PRICE £23,195–£35,045 FUEL 65.7–74.3mpg CO2 99–112g/km

V

olvo’s new Drive-E engine range may have arrived friction and featuring an advanced i-ART fuel injection as a single diesel unit, but this one engine is big system to minimise wastage and coolant system designed news. It marks the start of a competitive new for faster warm-ups, the engine brings CO2 emissions for the fleet-heavy S60 and V60 down to 99g/km, though the range of drivetrains, but also a step further towards indeV60 is restricted to smaller wheels and tyres to bring that pendence from former owner Ford’s parts bin. figure down from 103g/km.

The new drivetrains address several problems, top of It suits both cars perfectly. Performance is lively, reachwhich is a legacy of Ford-sourced drivetrain parts. Despite ing 62mph in around eight seconds with a strong shove of a compact model line-up, Volvo had to contend with eight torque from just under 2,000rpm. While the test route engines and eight different transmissions, each mounted didn’t lend itself to discovering the cars’ economy, 2.0differently and sharing almost no components. litres is a good fit for a vehicle of this size and it shouldDeveloped in-house, Volvo will have a Drive-E engine n’t be overworked, which will benefit for all of its familiar denominations by real-world efficiency. What was evident the end of 2015, removing this comis incredibly low noise, both from cold plexity. The range comprises four and while cruising. petrols, producing between 140 and Just as significant is the new auto300bhp, and four diesels from 120 to matic eight-speed automatic, which 230bhp. All are 2.0-litre, four-cylinder broadens the choice of low-carbon engines with plenty of shared compodrivetrains beyond manual models. nents and standardised mounting Eco and Sport driving modes mean points, while gearboxes are reduced to a gearshifts, throttle inputs and air consix-speed manual or eight-speed autoditioning can be tailored to the journey, matic, each with two different gear sets. and the former includes a coasting Standardising internals and mountfunction at low loads with Stop/Start ing points will drastically reduce technology to cut fuel consumption the number of unique parts, cutting further. It’s a big improvement on the manufacturing costs and allowing Strong on paper and old six-speed unit, offering smooth Volvo to shed further cylinders as equally impressive gearchanges but still with a tendency necessary. All of the Drive-E engines are on the road, the D4 is to hesitate on downshifts. also designed to work as part of a With investment under way to plug-in hybrid drivetrain, launching a real asset for Volvo. expand its fleet presence, Volvo finally in the XC90.

The rest of this new has the portfolio needed to get on the For now, though, the new D4 gives engine range can’t same page as the German premium Volvo a competitive diesel in the 60, 70 come soon enough. brands, and it looks like there’s plenty and 80 clusters without resorting to more good news to come. expensive hybrid technology. Low in

what we think

46 / fleetworld.co.uk

THE END OF THE DARK AGES

THE NEW INFINITI Q50 – LIGHT IT UP Defy convention with the new Infiniti Q50. Beneath the seductive curves purrs a 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine generating 170 PS and 400 Nm, with CO2 emissions from just 114 g/km – helping you achieve the perfect balance of power and efficiency.

·

Integral satellite navigation system Infiniti InTouch infotainment system with dual touch screen Rear parking camera.

·

Contact Infiniti Corporate Sales at Hannah.bishop@infiniti-ttl.eu

Model displayed: Infiniti Q50S Hybrid. Official fuel economy figures for the Infiniti Q50S Hybrid in mpg (l/100 km): urban 34.4 (8.2), extra urban 55.4 (5.1), combined 45.6 (6.2). CO 2 emissions: 144 g/km. Also available in 2.2d 6MT and 7AT. Official fuel economy figures for the Infiniti Q50 2.2d in mpg (l/100 km): urban 50.4 (5.6), extra urban 76.3 (3.7), combined 64.2 (4.4). CO 2 emissions: 114 g/km.

flashback a look back at the company cars of yesteryear

model Saab 900

S

era 1979-1993

aab may have had a turbulent history of post-GM bankruptcy and now niche-sized manufacturing under Chinese ownership but, when the 900 launched in the 1979 model year, it was a bit of a technological marvel.

Looking unlike any of its rivals, the upright aviationinspired windscreen and choice of three or five-door hatchbacks were unusual in a class full of three-box saloons, and innovation was high on the agenda. Selfhealing plastic bumpers, low rolling resistance tyres, a cabin pollen filter and some of the earliest downsized and turbocharged engines were among the unique selling points for the leftfield Swede.

But it was clever rather than frivolous. Based on the 99, drivers had great visibility from the wrap-around windscreen while orthopaedic seats guaranteed longdistance comfort. The dashboard was asymmetrical, a concave bank of instruments within easy reach of the driver, grouped so the most frequently viewed were just below the line of sight and uplit in green so warning lights were easier to see.

Saab followed demand and extended the range to include a four-door saloon shortly after the launch, a move which brought the 900 in line with most of the class at the time, while a convertible built by Valmet in Finland completed the four-model range in 1986.

With the exception of the short-lived 2.1-litre unit, the 900’s engine options were entirely made up of four-

48 / fleetworld.co.uk

UK sales 81,927

successor Saab 900/9-3

cylinder, 2.0-litre petrols with – unusually – the crank at the front, connected to a gearbox at the rear of the bay by chain-driven primary gears. Launch eight-valve engines, which ranged from 99 to 116bhp at the volume end, were steadily replaced with 16-valve units through its life cycle.

But Saab was really ahead of the curve with its turbocharged units. Instead of six-cylinder engines, the 900 was equipped with a 2.0-litre Turbocharged unit, which provided 145bhp in early versions and 175bhp towards the end of its life. Saab claimed 80-85% of driving could be done without the turbocharger, resulting in high efficiency.

Later models made even fuller use of turbocharging, with the 900S joining the mid-part of the model range using a low-pressure turbo to produce a relaxed 143bhp, while the new 16-valve, intercooled Turbo produced 175bhp. Fitted with the Aero package, which included streamlined bumpers, leather seats and uprated suspension, this could reach 130mph – blisteringly fast for an executive saloon at the time.

Ironically, it’s proved to be longer lasting than Saab itself. Two decades after production ended in favour of the Cavalier-based replacement, many now have over 200,000 miles on the clock, and one museum piece has a million miles on its original engine and turbo. A sign of turbulent times since, it’s perhaps Saab’s last great leftfield car.

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SWOTTeam This month the SWOT Team analyses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the new Peugeot 308 against its closest rivals. Here is what they have to say...

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

AC A massive improvement over the outgoing model, it is far more modern and stylish, quiet and a smooth and practical cruiser. Only the Auris offers lower BiK here.

AC The clean interior looks nice, but some will find it irritating having to go through touch screen menus to alter climate control settings, for example. I feel that the exterior design is far too safe and uninteresting.

AC Peugeot can now hold its own against its main rivals, including on efficiency, which gives customers another option when looking at their next car.

AC Threats now include an influx of new crossover vehicles following the impressive success of the Qashqai - this segment is extremely busy.

MJ The 308 needs to showcase the improvements in quality and desirability that PSA has been working on for the last five-plus years. Alongside new 208, Peugeot is building good credibility in these two huge sectors of the UK market.

MJ The competition in this vital fleet sector is strong and 308 needs to take on not only mainstream rivals but premium brands too. Peugeot would have hoped for better market conditions in mainland Europe, so UK good performance will be even more important.

MJ Fresh and classy, but conservative looks suggest benchmark was Golf. At 91.1mpg, the 120bhp Euro 6 1.6 BlueHDI engine returns a significant economy premium over the 115bhp Euro 5 car.

AS Massively improved over outgoing model, more space and sophistication with higher quality materials and a higher level of fit and finish. Running costs should be the lowest in the sector with 82g/km CO2 and a claimed 91.1mpg.

MW A great-looking car, with strengths especially in terms of CO2 and quoted combined fuel economy.

50 / fleetworld.co.uk

MJ Euro 6 engine requires AdBlue and will need top-ups between, and flush at, services.

Maintenance policy requires clarity although fuel savings should negate these costs.

AS In the Nineties the 306 diesel was arguably the sector leader. The 307 diluted this reputation considerably, the 308 even further. Moving back up the table will be the biggest hurdle for Peugeot.

MW Getting those quoted fuel consumption figures will be really difficult, unless you wear carpet slippers and don't want to get anywhere quickly.

AS This sector is still the most popular, helped along by fleets downsizing and the growing dimensions of new introductions. Peugeot now has a proper model to go up against the best of the competition. The low running costs will add to the appeal.

AS This car will have to battle against the ever-improving competition and also shake off the discounts and offers of the outgoing car. Buyer awareness will also be an uphill battle as 308 is mainly off the radar for many fleets.

MW Huge improvement mean this will appeal to fleets and drivers who may never have considered a Peugeot before.

MW The 308, despite a huge step forward in quality, could still be tarred with the same brush as Peugeots from yesteryear.

Martin Ward (MW) Manufacturer Relationship Manager, CAP

Peugeot 308

Alan Senior (AS) Director, Vehicle Information Publishing

Mark Jowsey (MJ) Commercial Director, KeeResources KwikCarCost

Strengths AC Second only to the Auris in BiK costs.

MJ Significant economy premium over the old engine.

AS Lowest running costs in the sector.

MW Good looks, low CO2 and high MPG.

Strengths

Toyota Auris Hybrid Icon

AC Excellent running costs and BiK. MJ Low running and tax costs, without the dowdy looks of the old Auris.

AS Recent model is much improved.

MW High technology, petrol auto.

Standard equipment: • DAB Radio/CD • Bluetooth, USB and Aux-in • Front/rear electric windows • Climate control • Rear parking camera Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £495 • Leather upholstery £650 • Satellite navigation £650 • Auto parking with sensors £350 • Comfort Pack (inc. auto lights/wipers, keyless) £550

AC Unengaging drive, bland interior.

MJ Hybrid still has some way to go to gain universal acceptance.

AS Real-world MPG. MW Viewed by many as a complex unknown. CVT whine.

OTR: £20,395 P11D: £20,340 Fuel: 74.3mpg CO2: 87g/km RV*: £6,422 (32%) BiK: 10% SMR: £1,469 Fuel costs: £4,754 Insurance: £1,650 Finance: £2,746 NI: £954 VED: £0 Cost per month: £710

Strengths

Volkswagen Golf SE 1.6 TDI Bluemotion Technology

AC Excellent all-rounder.

MJ The benchmark – sound, reliable and dependable.

AS Iconic Golf, safe bet and strong image.

MW All the others have nomenclature nobody understands.

Standard equipment: • DAB Radio/CD • Bluetooth, USB and Aux-in • Adaptive cruise control with auto brake • Front/rear electric windows • Manual air conditioning • Auto lights and wipers Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £535 • Leather upholstery £2,085 • Satellite navigation £750 • Auto park, F/r sensors £600

AC Hard to fault but some find it dull.

MJ Better economy elsewhere.

AS Too many around, small discounts.

MW Getting those quoted fuel consumption figures will be really difficult.

OTR: £20,990 P11D: £20,935 Fuel: 74.3mpg CO2: 99g/km RV*: £8,651 (41%) BiK: 14% SMR: £1,325 Fuel costs: £5,029 Insurance: £2,325 Finance: £2,826 NI: £1,329 VED: £0 Cost per month: £699

Strengths

Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi Acenta 2WD

Weaknesses

Nissan Qashqai

Standard equipment: • DAB Radio/CD with sat nav • Bluetooth & USB connectivity • Cruise control with speed limiter • Electric windows (front) • Parking sensors and camera • Auto wipers, all-LED headlights • Dual-zone climate control Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £525 • Leather heated seats £1,500 • Auto cruise control, AEB, lane-keeping £450

AC Potentially irritating touch screen, exterior design may be too safe.

MJ Threats from mainstream, premium and crossover rivals.

AS Off the radar for many fleets.

MW Memories of old Peugeot quality.

Weaknesses

Volkswagen Golf

Peugeot 308 BlueHDI 120 Allure OTR: £20,545 P11D: £20,490 Fuel: 91.1mpg CO2: 82g/km RV*: £6,937 (34%) BiK: 13% SMR: £1,923 Fuel costs: £4,232 Insurance: £2,655 Finance: £2,766 NI: £1,216 VED: £0 Cost per month: £733

Weaknesses

Toyota Auris

Andy Cutler (AC) UK Car Editor – Forecast Values Glass’s

AC The benchmark, now more efficient.

MJ The nemesis of many C-sector hatchbacks, improved throughout.

AS The real threat to all the cars here.

MW Offers so much more than a traditional C-sector hatch.

Weaknesses AC Practical rather than stylish.

MJ Not everyone wants a crossover, and plenty to choose from.

AS Fleets don’t always appreciate SUVs. MW Volumes could upset RVs.

OTR: £20,840 P11D: £20,785 Fuel: 74.3mpg CO2: 99g/km RV*: £8,368 (40%) BiK: 14% SMR: £1,763 Fuel costs: £5,029 Insurance: £2,775 Finance: £2,806 NI: £1,319 VED: £0 Cost per month: £727

Standard equipment: • Radio/CD • Bluetooth, USB and Aux • Cruise control with speed limiter • Front/rear electric windows • Dual zone climate control Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £525 • Smart Vision Pack (auto lights/wipers, lane departure warning, auto brake, front and rear parking sensors) £450

* 3yr/60k

fleetworld.co.uk / 51

FEATURE Fuel Management

The fuel complement There are numerous ways to save fuel, and some are more easily implemented than others. Katie Beck investigates.

54 / fleetworld.co.uk

Fuel spend is the black hole into which a large portion a fleet’s annual budget disappears.

As such, most fleets have room to cut their fuel bills considerably and various fuel management systems and approaches promise to save you money and boost efficiency.

But with so many options to choose from, how can you decide which strategy might be best for your company? We’ve explored the most popular solutions available and canvassed some of the biggest fleets in the UK about how much of a difference they can really make to those all-important figures...

‘Route optimisation is key to ensuring fuel efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions.’

alone. Idling, after all, gets zero miles to the gallon. With the aid of telematics, operators can monitor how long an engine is standing idle when out on the road, and educate drivers or investigate Stop/Start features accordingly.

Route optimisation is also key to ensuring fuel ef iciency. During a recent trial with Trimble, animal welfare charity the RSPCA calculated that it could save over 80,000 litres of fuel annually on its 730 vehicle leet by using route optimisation technology to determine which of their inspectors was nearest to a call-out location. As well as the considerable fuel saving potential, the study also revealed that annual CO2 emissions could be reduced by up to 60,500kg through a combination of route optimisation and idling control.

But of course, telematics can be expensive to install, and so that means doing the sums: is the initial outlay worth the savings, and can your provider back up the claims of reduced fuel spend?

Telematics

Fuel cards

Telematics are now a key feature of fleet management, measuring everything from a driver’s behaviour behind the wheel, to the amount of time an engine spends idling during a delivery. This data can be invaluable if it is filtered and evaluated correctly, offering huge potential to improve fuel efficiency and optimise the time a vehicle spends on the road.

The Energy Saving Trust (EST) estimates that if UK drivers switched off their engines for one minute rather than idling on every journey they make, this could save more than £500 million in fuel costs

Fuel cards function as payment cards for petrol, diesel and other fuels, eliminating the need for drivers to carry cash or submit expense reports. Fleet cards also enable operators to analyse time reports and set purchase controls on cards, helping them to stay informed of all business related activity when their drivers are on the road.

FleetCor owns fuel card reseller The Fuelcard Company, and offers a number of products including Allstar, the UK’s most popular and widely accepted fuelcard; and Keyfuels which offers discounted diesel prices for ixed periods.

Savings from using fuelcards can be fleetworld.co.uk / 55

¡

FEATURE Fuel Management

The fuel complement... ¡

signi icant. For example, companies using a Keyfuels card could save up to four pence per litre on all diesel purchases. But it’s not just savings at the pumps fuel cards can offer – for many leets hours of costly administration time saved are just as important as the fuel cost reductions.

For companies that have previously used a number of different fuel cards, consolidating down to one card could offer bene its. At Allied Pharmacies, which has 45 pharmacies across England and Wales, Ammar Nazir shared his experience: ‘Previously we had three or four fuelcards with countless individual receipts to process.

Allstar provides one weekly invoice for multiple card users and consolidated reports and this has made our company more ef icient'.

While fuel cards make it easier to control fleet spend by allowing a degree of surveillance at the pumps, it is easy for drivers to become disengaged with looking for the best deals when the money is not coming out of their own pocket. A driver with a fuel card is less likely to take the time to look for the best fuel rates or ill up strategically, and this issue is explored further in the “going it alone” section.

Engine remapping

‘For many fleets hours of costly administration time saved are just as important as the fuel cost reductions.’

Mileage capture Mileage capture solutions either import information directly from telematics software or allow employees to upload data using an internal portal. The data is then logged and made available for analysis.

‘Mileage represents a big opportunity to generate cost savings; especially when most research shows organisations typically pay out almost a quarter more in fuel and mileage expenses than they need to,’ says Nigel Trotman, strategic fuel consultant at Alphabet.

Independent supplier of car parts, Unipart Automotive, implemented TMC’s (The Mileage Consultancy’s) Audited Mileage Capture system in 2013, with the aim of reducing mileage costs by 5% on the leet of 1,200 company cars and vans.

TMC captures and processes all expense claims and fuel card transactions from Unipart Automotive employees, who categorise each expense item as they enter claims.

The company claims it found the amount of private fuel being used by fuel card users typically increased by between 5% and 20% following the implementation of Mileage Audit

56 / fleetworld.co.uk

Engine remapping or “chipping” involves monitoring a vehicle’s electronic control unit (ECU) to improve the fuel injection output with the aim of increasing fuel economy.

BT Group, one of the UK largest leets, underwent a well publicised and extensive programme of remapping in 2013, which saw more than 20,000 of BT’s light commercial vehicles remapped by Viezu Technologies.

‘Vehicle remapping offers leets a host of opportunities and we’re increasingly being asked by companies like BT to help them achieve their own environmental and cost reduction targets,’ explains Paul Busby, CEO, Viezu Technologies.

Working to BT Fleet’s speci ication, indi-

system, showing they were previously paying for a lot of fuel not used for work. According to Andrew Gerrish, project director at Unipart Automotive, that could mean savings of around £250,000 a year for the leet.

Another fleet manager, explained how up until 2011, the drivers of his 300 company car fleet recorded daily mileage on spreadsheets, leading to inaccuracies caused by the burden of submitting data manually and discrepancies between the mileage claimed by drivers and the true distances travelled.

After switching to the Mileage Audit system, the company claimed a £40,000 a year fuel bill saving as a result of improved accuracy and driver compliance.

Clearly for larger fleets, mileage capture could offer real fuel savings potential, as well as improve driver efficiency.

“You can only manage what you can measure”, as the saying goes, and mileage capture could help leets keep a closer eye on their fuel spend.

vidual, bespoke software iles were written for each vehicle by development engineers.

According to a BT Fleet spokesman, 24,000 vans have been tuned with Viezu BlueOptimize software to date, with the potential to deliver an estimated yearly fuel saving of £4million.

A number of the larger leets we spoke to have either recently entered into remapping programmes, or were consulting on the idea. The technology is clearly growing in popularity, and especially in van leets – a suggestion that Viezu’s increasing client base would support, as businesses grow ever more comfortable with new technologies and the opportunities it can offer.

Vehicle maintenance

As well as being imperative for road safety, tyre maintenance is also important in ensuring a vehicle is running as ef iciently as possible – something that the delegates who attended the Van Excellence conferences are clearly well aware of, given the high standards of the tyres tested there.

Studies suggest that fuel economy can be improved by up to 3.3% just by keeping tyres properly in lated. Under-in lated tyres lower fuel consumption by 0.3% for every 1 psi drop in pressure on all four tyres.

Proper vehicle maintenance also preserves assets by keeping vehicles on the road, reducing repair costs and lowering the potential for serious accidents. Vehicles that receive regular maintenance run more ef iciently and use less fuel, and many of the managers we spoke to now require drivers to carry out daily or weekly vehicle checks to ensure vehicles are in good shape.

Going it alone

Damage limitation

For SME fleets in particular, expense forms and spreadsheets still have a place in fuel management, with a number of the smaller fleets we spoke to preferring to reimburse drivers for fuel use manually rather than invest in telematics and mileage capture systems.

One method is to calculate reimbursement rates using the advisory fuel rate (AFR) and 85% of the advertised MPG of the speci ic model – an acknowledgement that it is dif icult for drivers to achieve of icial consumption igures in real world driving conditions.

‘We introduced this mileage rate calculation when we changed the car scheme (more than 10 years ago) when we removed fuel cards for all fuel,’ one SME leet operator explained.

‘It’s still not a particularly well liked system – many of our drivers believe their mileage reimbursement doesn’t completely cover their fuel expenses.’

Employees being unhappy with reimbursement rates was one of the main negatives highlighted by the leet operators we canvassed, but one manager advocated the system to encourage greater driver awareness; ‘Fuel reimbursement rates that just about cover the driver’s fuel costs encourage careful driving.’

Although reimbursement policies might not be the most popular with drivers, all of the managers we questioned agreed that the system encouraged drivers to be more frugal, with one going as far as to call it: ‘the best initiative ever for fuel consumption in cars – make people pay for it and claim back at a ixed mileage rate. The last time I looked when people paid for fuel, consumption on like-forlike cars was better – for obvious reasons!’.

According to the AA, at least 150,000 vehicles are illed up with the wrong type of fuel every year. Not only does misfuelling a car mean litres of petrol or diesel are wasted, but it can also lead to catastrophic technical issues and costly repair bills.

No matter how well a driver is trained, mistakes such as misfuelling are a result of human error and are impossible to eradicate completely. Misfuelling caps can be a lowcost way of addressing the problem, and are offered by a number of companies, including Fuel Angel, Fuel Sure and SoloDiesel.

These devices are retro itted to the vehicle, and physically prevent the wrong sized nozzle connecting with the fuel tank.

If the unthinkable does happen and a driver misfuels, however, emergency drainage could be the best way to limit the damage to the engine. According to misfuelling specialist Auto Fuel Fix (AFF), 99% of problems can be recti ied at the roadside, eliminating the need for recovery and the subsequent garage repair bill.

Dave Palfrey, group operations manager at Westbourne Motors, told us how a client who misfueled was back on the road within 30 minutes of the arrival of an AFF engineer to drain the contaminated fuel from his Audi, allowing him to continue his journey with minimal fuss.

As an engine repair bill can vary from £400-£10,000 for a luxury vehicle, it pays to educate drivers on the importance of not starting up the engine if the wrong fuel has been pumped into the tank. It is considerably easier to rectify the problem if contaminated fuel is contained to the tank, and under no circumstances should a driver attempt to drive a misfuelled vehicle off the forecourt.

fleetworld.co.uk / 57

FEATURE Police Scotland

Union blues and twos Tony Chalk has merged the fleet operations of Scotland’s eight police forces into one unitary body. He tells Julian Kirk of the challenges in making it happen.

J

ust as criminals are using technology to carry out ever more sophisticated crimes, the police are adopting equally high-tech solutions in a bid to beat them at their own game.

And perhaps the most visible form of police technology is contained in the humble panda car, which is now regarded as a mobile police station for forces up and down the country.

But it is Hertfordshire Police, in conjunction with a number of technology suppliers and blue-light vehicle market leader Vauxhall, which is pushing the boundaries of mobile technology.

It is currently trialling 10 specially modi ied Astras which have been built at the Vauxhall Special Vehicles operation at Millbrook. These cars incorporate a Panasonic Toughpad mobile tablet which can be docked into the vehicle and then operated via a touchscreen monitor located on the centre console.

The trial cars also come with a 4G mobile broadband router located in the boot. The result is a police car with its own wireless hotspot (of up to around 30 metres from the car) which also has a direct link through the tablet device to various back of ice functions such as the police headquarters server, the Police National Computer and the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system database.

This mobile solution also allows for numerous time-saving applications. For instance, the police headquarters can send the location of a crime to the car’s built-in satellite navigation so of icers can

58 / fleetworld.co.uk

WHAT IS POLICE SCOTLAND? Police Scotland is responsible for policing the 28,000 square miles of Scotland, making it the second largest force in the UK after the Metropolitan Police.

There are 14 local policing divisions, each headed by a commander who ensures that local policing in each area is tailored to meet local needs. Each division encompasses response of icers, community of icers, local crime investigation, road policing, public protection and local intelligence.

Alongside the local policing divisions, there are a number of national specialist divisions. The Specialist Crime Division (SCD) provides specialist investigative and intelligence functions such as major crime investigation, public protection, organised crime, counter terrorism, intelligence and safer communities.

The Operational Support divisions provide specialist support functions such as road policing, air support, dog branch, marine policing and the mounted branch.

POLICE SCOTLAND in numbers 3,500 vehicles 150 staff 1,700 marked vehicles 14 in-house workshops 28,000 sq. mile area 3 main vehicle suppliers

be directed to the scene as quickly as possible. The integrated tablet also allows of icers to reduce paperwork by issuing online warrants and iling crime reports on the computer, as well as using the built-in camera to take photographs or video from a crime scene.

The initial response from frontline of icers to the new tablet and mobile solution in the car has been so positive that Hertfordshire has already ordered 50 of its current leet to be retro- itted with the technology. In total it will equip 86 vehicles with the mobile solution technology.

When Tony Chalk project managed to unify the leet operations of all of Scotland’s police forces into one, he had to quickly appreciate the scale of what was required to operate on day one of the new organisation.

Chalk was tasked to have all the leet arrangements for the new Police Scotland in place for the launch on April 1, 2013.

This meant centralising all aspects of the vehicle leet for the newly formed Police Scotland – a force second only in size to the Met and having around 3,500 vehicles and 150 staff in the leet department alone.

A year on, Chalk, Police Scotland’s transport manager, states modestly, it was “a fairly demanding time”. The process of unifying eight previously separate police forces across the country and two back of ice functions

‘The creation of Police Scotland has meant the centralisation of all purchasing for the police across the country.’

was, though, far from easy.

Chalk said: ‘We had to deliver the leet on day one, which is a fairly enormous task. We have 3,500 vehicles, 150 staff, the differing forces had different fuel card arrangements, we needed to get all of the vehicles rebranded with Police Scotland logos – we had to centralise and standardise.’

Luckily for Police Scotland, Chalk is a vice-chairman of the NAPFM (National Association of Police Fleet Managers) executive committee so he used his background and expertise to help manage the switchover to ensure there were no legacy issues from the previous regional framework of policing in Scotland.

He adds: ‘It wasn’t just the leet changing, but the entire policing operation in Scotland so it was demanding, but we have a tight team up here and we worked together.

‘The creation of Police Scotland has meant the centralisation of all purchasing for the police across the country, which improves standardisation and helps to reduce costs.’

You would imagine that policing such a diverse area, from bustling cities to remote island communities, would bring special demands on the force’s vehicles, but this isn’t the case.

The vehicles are all purchased outright through the Home Office procurement framework agreement; although there is some leeway in

specification, for instance specifying winter tyres for vehicles. Police Scotland has a higher percentage of 4x4s on its fleet than some other forces due to the varying terrain in the country, but otherwise it acts as any other constabulary in terms of converting its vehicles to accept technologies such as ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) systems and links to the Police National Computer.

Ford, BMW and Mitsubishi are currently the three key suppliers, with Ford supplying turn-key Focus estate models and Transit Custom and Connect vans, BMW supplying 3 Series, 5 Series and X5 models for motorway patrols and Mitsubishi delivering Shoguns and Outlanders. Elsewhere, there are a number of “personnel protected vehicles” – riot vans to you and me.

Of the 3,500 vehicles on fleet, more than half are marked vehicles which are on duty 24 hours a day, racking up to 40,000 miles a year. And because Police Scotland is now one force, the vehicles are not tied to their particular area as they were before. This negates the need for what is known as “mutual aid” whereby forces would divert resources to help one another out. Now, the vehicles can be deployed, within reason, in any part of the country.

As well as having all of the vehicles rebadged with the new force logo and wording, Chalk has uni ied the fuel buying process across the country, with one Arval fuel card now in operation along with some bunkered fuel across the force’s 14 in-house workshops which are in the main being retained because, as Chalk states: ‘We are

convinced that in-house is more ef icient’.

As with the purchasing side of things, Chalk uses his links to the NAPFM for remarketing – the association has a national disposal contract with British Car Auctions (BCA), which stages sales of de- leeted police stock every four weeks. This, according to Chalk, makes de- leeting the vehicles ‘a painless experience’, especially as the vehicle manufacturers have become a lot more accustomed in the way that they convert vehicles from the production line into blue light speci ication – there’s no more drilling holes in the roof to mount light bars and the dashboards are no longer peppered with holes from mounting points for various items of technology.

Although it has been 10 months since the launch of Police Scotland, Chalk still has some work still to do, with the next three years seeing the leet gradually replaced.

Around 250 cars are due to be changed by the end of March 2014.

He is also keeping an eye on the latest telematics technologies, such as the pioneering system introduced by Hertfordshire Police which sees their vehicles equipped to carry a special new tablet PC which uni ies many policing functions (such as requesting search warrants, posting appeals for missing persons, getting satellite guidance to a crime scene) into one carbased system. At present, there is no decision on what route to take.

Chalk said: ‘There are 44 UK police forces all buying different technology. We need to get a standard technology framework – it’s a big step.’

fleetworld.co.uk / 59

INTERVIEW Selwyn Cooper, VOLVO

Foundations for growth As Volvo readies a revolution of its model range, head of corporate sales Selwyn Cooper is overseeing an internal restructuring which will double its investment in the sector. By Alex Grant .

V

olvo is looking set for a formative 12 months. The New Year marked the launch of its all-new D4 diesel engine, the first developed in-house since the brand parted ways with Ford in 2010, and by the end of 2014 the Swedish carmaker will have unveiled the next XC90 SUV, using a new lightweight, modular platform which will eventually underpin the rest of its large cars.

It’s the final piece of a range which has been entirely refreshed over the last two years. V40 arrived in 2012, completing a range across all key fleet sectors and helping lift Motability sales last year, while a facelift across the 60, 70 and 80 vehicles last summer has brought fresh style to showrooms.

All of which are good news for head of corporate sales, Selwyn Cooper, now charged with streamlining the part of the business which accounted for 68% of its UK sales during 2013.

‘If you’re a company car driver and you’ve never considered a Volvo, now is the time that you should re-evaluate us,’ he says. ‘I genuinely think that, but you’ve been able to say that for two or three years. You’ve got rational reasons, those intrinsic core value reasons we’ve always had, but now with the styling you’ve got the emotional reasons too.’

Forthcoming products will reduce the number of unique parts and bring more of its technology in-house. But in the short term, the new Drive-E D4 engine puts Volvo into contention with the German premium brands, bringing CO2 emissions for the V60 and S60 under 100g/km and with a limited efficiency penalty for the new eight-speed automatic.

Cooper expects the D4 to account for 40% of V60 and S60 sales, and not necessarily at the expense of other engine derivatives. A downward push on CO2 emissions is core to the brand’s growth plans in the UK, and Volvo is re-focusing its advertising message to get the benefits across to customers.

‘What’s going to portray business sales success for us is year-on-year growth, over the next 12 to 18 months, of something near 20%,’ Cooper says. ‘What will underpin that success is product; with V40 the portfolio of cars we’ve got today is the most attractive they’ve ever been. Couple that with the engines, and the BiK and whole-life cost benefits they give, and the rational element of the decision is easier than it’s ever been for a business user – we’ve got the right products at the right time.’

Cooper is also confident about the future of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid. The diesel-electric estate is already on sale in the UK, but volumes have been limited as the carmaker prioritises the Netherlands, where tax incentives have made it a particularly attractive buy. Since these were withdrawn at the start of 2014, larger volumes will start to come to the UK.

XCiting times ahead XC Coupe Concept 60 / fleetworld.co.uk

‘Rather than limited supply that we’ve had, from next model year will have the supply which means we’ll be actively selling that product across a broader range of clients, and a broader range of acceptability. We’re in the stages of ordering a demo fleet for the new model year to get into the mainstream,’ he explains.

All of the Drive-E engines are electromobility-ready, and the XC90 Plug-in Hybrid arriving in the next generation car is seen as having even broader appeal than the V60. ‘I have three electric cars into a chauffeur business – they’ve been doing some evaluation of them for their fleet. The issue they have is they’re restricted to single driver occupancy, because of low carrying capacity. It’s a smaller car then they usually have, but they will take XC90 Plug-in hybrids when they come,’ Cooper says.

New products are only part of the equation. Volvo’s network of 16 business centres will expand to around 30 – final numbers are unconfirmed. To date, two thirds of the network has been focused on large businesses, backed by a full in-house department. With a third of Volvo’s UK business sales going to SMEs, new appointments will have a specialist on board seeking relationships with local businesses rather than larger leasing company business.

Internally, Cooper is performing a similar refresh of the recently retitled business sales department, which will double the investment in the diverse sector: ‘We think it’s a more intuitive term,’ he explains. ‘Business sales over the last three to five years have become more sophisticated, as people have opted out of company cars, we’ve got an everincreasing in growth personal contract hire to complement private contract hire and we’re getting the emergence of salary sacrifice programmes. These are all business products, but they’re not necessarily fleet products.’

Existing teams of account development and business development managers will be combined as the sales development team, albeit still managing their large and small business respectively, while a new strategic partnership manager will look after areas such as public sector and Motability. A new TCO manager was appointed last year, and Cooper is appointing a support centre as a central point of contact for customers.

With product and process set to change dramatically, Cooper is feeling bullish about the brand’s near future in fleet: ‘It’s about resourcing our growth now, based on that opportunity we see through an increasingly relevant portfolio of business products,’ he says.

‘It’s not just blind growth – it’s based on our confidence that the products are relevant to the business community.’

‘If you’re a company car driver and you’ve never considered a Volvo, now is the time that you should re-evaluate us.’

fleetworld.co.uk / 61

MARKET OVERVIEW Daily Rental

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental

Alliance Asset Management

Built on service, growing by reputation

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental is one of the UK’s largest, independently owned rental companies with over 40 years experience in the provision of long and short term tailor-made economical fleet solutions for corporate and retail clients.

With access to a nationwide, multi-franchise fleet of over 55,000 vehicles in branches throughout the UK and close links with vehicle manufacturers, Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental offers extremely competitive rental rates on a range of the most up to date cars and vans.

An on-line booking facility for both retail and corporate clientele is available and business users can also benefit from a dedicated on-line management reporting facility.

Contact: Business Centre Tel: 0845 702 3946 central.reservations@arnoldclark.co.uk www.arnoldclarkrental.com

Contact: Riane Cooke Tel: 0844 4142998 rcooke@fleetcentre.com www.fleetcentre.com

Europcar UK Group Burnt Tree Vehicle Rental Burnt Tree offers the widest range of hire vehicles in the UK. We work hard to find our customers the best solution whether it’s daily rental, mini-lease or contract hire.

Our 17,000-strong fleet operates from 21 strategically located sites throughout England, Scotland and Wales and we invest over £70 million annually to ensure that as well as being the most comprehensive ours is the youngest, most reliable and efficient fleet possible.

Contact: Andrew Hill andrew.hill@burnt-tree.co.uk www.burnt-tree.co.uk

Tel: 01743 457 596

Contact: Martin Fisher businesssolutions@europcar.com www.europcar.co.uk

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Founded in 1957, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is an industry leading multinational company with more than 1 million vehicles in its fleet and over 6,700 offices worldwide – making it the largest car rental company in the world.

This year, Enterprise celebrates 20 years in the UK and in this short time it has gone from strength to strength and now operates the largest vehicle rental network and fleet in the UK. Enterprise specialises in the provision of replacement vehicles and courtesy cars, as well as daily and weekend rental for private or business use. The company also leads the way with grey fleet support and advice for implementing total transport solutions In the UK, Enterprise operates more than 60,000 vehicles through 370 corporately owned rental branches. The size of this branch network means that 91% of the UK population is within 10 miles of an Enterprise location.

Contact: Tony Francis Anthony.B.Francis@ehi.com

62 / fleetworld.co.uk

Europcar UK Group provides access to the UK’s leading fleet of over 45,000 cars and vans, through its network of more than 200 locations across the UK and a presence in 140 countries worldwide. We have a proven track record of innovation, great service delivery and a quality fleet.

Europcar offers flexible short term and long term products to suit all business requirements - including delivery and collection, diesel only models, corporate loyalty programmes and a range of payment options. These services are supported by innovative online solutions to help businesses monitor and manage vehicle use and to support cost efficiencies, duty of care responsibilities and address environmental concerns.

www.enterprise.co.uk

Tel: 0871 384 0201

Nexus Vehicle Management Nexus is the UK's leading provider of vehicle rental supply, management and software to end users and intermediaries across the fleet, corporate and public sector.

We provide a fully managed rental service covering over 1,700 locations with access to approximately 500,000 vehicles nationally including 100,000 commercial, specialist and adapted vehicles. Nexus, through our award-winning IRIS software platform, provides customers with a revolutionary rental management solution, ensuring seamless delivery, advanced reporting, swift billing and exceptional customer service at competitive terms, each and every time.

We are adept at sourcing precise specifications and bulk orders on standard, specialist and adapted vehicles.

Contact: Paul Russell paul.russell@nexusrental.co.uk www.nexusrental.co.uk

Tel: 0871 984 1940

How many vehicles does your company operate?

How many rental locations does your company have?

Do you offer a one-way rental facility?

Does a driver get given a proof of condition receipt on handing back their hire car?

Do you have a rapid check-in system?

Do you offer a chauffeur drive service?

Do you offer an on-line billing facility?

Do you offer an on-line management reporting facility?

Can a driver guarantee a specific make & model of car when booking?

Do you offer cars fitted with satellite navigation systems?

Do you charge a fee for non-cancelled bookings?

Do you charge excess mileage rates on pre-agreed contracts?

Do you offer hybrid & Electric Cars?

Do you offer an hourly rate for hire?

FLEETW RLD

Alliance Asset Management

260k

1.5k+

No

Yes

-

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental

6.6k

34

-

-

-

No

Yes

-

Burnt Tree Vehicle Rental

17k

21

-

-

-

Yes

Yes

-

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

60k+

370+

-

-

-

No

No

Europcar UK Group

45k

200

-

Yes

Yes

228.7k 1.2k

-

No

Yes

Yes

-

Key to services

Service provided

-

Service unavailable

Leasedrive Group

5k

150

-

Yes

Yes

Nexus Vehicle Management Ltd.

500k

1.7k

-

-

No

Yes

-

Thrifty Car and Van Rental

18.5k

94

-

Yes

Yes

-

Hertz

Register for FREE now at

www.thefleetshow.co.uk Thrifty Car and Van Rental Thrifty Car and Van Rental has 94 UK locations, offering a full range of cars, commercials, 4x4s and luxury vehicles. Thrifty has a dedicated Central Reservation Team, providing an immediate response to enquiries and offering highly competitive rates, with access to a quality fleet of vehicles nationwide and an efficient delivery and collection service. Fast, accurate billing and detailed management information is available along with a dedicated account manager. For longer-term car hire, Thrifty’s Flexi Fleet programme enables customers to rent vehicles on a short to medium term basis without being tied into a long term commitment.

Contact: Caroline Gallagher sales@thrifty.co.uk

Tel: 01494 751568 www.thrifty.co.uk

fleetworld.co.uk / 63

“THE QUARTIX SYSTEM HAS HELPED REDUCE OUR FUEL USAGE AND IMPROVE OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE THROUGH INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND BETTER RESPONSE TIMES TO REPAIRS.” ROB THOMAS, HEAD OF PROPERTY SERVICES, VALLEYS TO COAST HOUSING LTD.

Award-Winning Vehicle Tracking

• FREE for first 3 months • Then £22.90/month • 12 month contract • FREE installation • On-site warranty • inc. Driving Style Monitoring

Van Fleet World

*Limited Offer.

0870 013 6663 enquiries@quartix.net www.quartix.net

SPECIAL FEATURE Telematics

A clear case for telematics A

lthough vehicle telematics has been around in one shape or form since the 1990s, it’s only now appearing on the radar for many fleets – particularly car operators – as the abilities of telematics systems grow ever more sophisticated whilst the requirements for running a fleet become increasingly complicated.

In its simplest form, telematics can be used to trace a vehicle’s whereabouts, either to keep the end customer informed on ETAs or for security reasons, but there are a multitude of applications that benefit fleets in terms of efficiency, cost, greener operation and improved road safety that helps fleets meet their duty of care.

However, the decision to install a telematics system into a fleet is not one to be taken lightly. We ask the telematics specialists for their advice on how fleet managers can build a business case to support their proposal to implement a telematics system. And we also look at the instant and more hidden benefits of such technology.

in association with

fleetworld.co.uk / 65

SPECIAL FEATURE Telematics

¡ 1 The instant benefits BOOST DRIVER PERFORMANCE The Quartix system will rate each driver with a performance-based score by collating data on rates of acceleration, brake application and steering characteristics. This data can help illustrate any potential driver safety concerns such as concentration during travel or adherence to speed limits.

Furthermore, driving scores are presented in the form of a league table for easy driver comparison and to foster friendly competition within a fleet.

Preventing vehicle wear and tear is equally as important. Fleet drivers who embrace the reports processed by the Quartix system will exercise greater care when driving on the road, staving off vehicle depreciation and inflated maintenance costs as a result.

SOURCE: Quartix

SAVE ON FUEL EXPENSES A pivotal feature of the Quartix software’s capabilities is its Driving Style Monitoring, which gives you the ability to evaluate the driving style of each driver operating a tracked vehicle. The system’s sensors gauge levels of excessive speeding, hard braking, rapid acceleration, and aggressive steering. Using this information to encourage better driving results in considerable savings on everyday fuel expenses.

Indeed, Quartix customers have repeatedly shown evidence to support this. Ginsters Ltd have recently reported an 18% improvement in fuel consumption, whilst Larne Borough Council have seen 14% fuel reduction across their fleet.

SOURCE: Quartix

in association with

66 / fleetworld.co.uk

IMPROVE ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES The extended reports available on the Quartix system let you keep on top of administrative duties and comply with regulations. By checking the timesheets directly on the system, you can also monitor drivers’ hours and verify payroll, and maintenance alerts can send reminders of insurance renewals or tyre check-ups, for example.

Companies such as Contract Flooring Solutions primarily use the system’s convenient timesheets to keep abreast of worker times when they are out on jobs. Accurate data ensures their fleet managers can deliver exact wages according to each driver’s recorded working hours.

SOURCE: Quartix

ENHANCE CUSTOMER SERVICE Customer service is naturally enhanced when the Quartix system is implemented into fleet operations. Specifically, businesses whose customers rely on receiving accurate delivery or arrival times can greatly benefit from live tracking. Other features like the postcode search allow fleet managers to determine the closest vehicle to a particular job site, reducing downtime between trips.

For instance, recovery operator Beeches Recovery can more reliably reach their customers by knowing which team operative is closest to a particular job. This also allows them to consistently inform customers on estimated times of arrival, and has transformed the fleet’s efficiency on the road in terms of both performance and safety.

SOURCE: Quartix

¡

SPECIAL FEATURE Telematics

¡ 2 Challenging the objections

A

ccording to TRACKER, with fleet managers having so many telematics options at their fingertips building a successful business case and selecting the right telematics provider at the same time can prove an issue.

‘Importantly, businesses need to engage with prospective telematics providers to help them build a balanced business case, in order to encourage buy-in from all areas and all levels within a company. Focusing on the end goal of what a company requires from its investment in telematics will help fleet managers meet least resistance,’ says Stephen Doran, managing director at TRACKER. The firm has compiled some common “objections” it has encountered from customers to help fleet managers build a balanced case for a business to invest in the right telematics solution.

“We don’t have the resource to analyse and act on the data.”

The key to a truly effective telematics solution is its ability to be tailored to meet the needs of each individual business. The level of data and frequency of its delivery must be realistic to a business’ resources.

TRACKER Fleet provides reports that are emailed, containing clear and concise data, both on an individual basis or as a group, for easy and efficient monitoring.

In addition, TRACKER Fleet’s reporting suite allows users to select their own Key Performance Indicators to be highlighted on their customised dashboard.

“Drivers would think they were being spied on.”

The purpose of vehicle tracking technology is not to spy on drivers, it’s employed to increase the financial position of companies, improve driver safety and help businesses run more efficiently.

Only 21% of customers we surveyed said they got resistance from staff when they introduced telematics to their fleet and 45% said that staff changed their attitude towards telematics once it had been introduced and they experienced the benefits it had to offer the business.

“It would be difficult to prove the business case.”

The reality is that telematics solutions can be used for various reasons and for some companies it may not be about cost savings alone, different sectors use telematics in different ways.

For example, in many instances, businesses in the plant and construction markets use telematics to monitor how vehicles are used within set parameters.

Geofencing can be used to present an area where each vehicle should be used. If a vehicle crosses the boundary an alert is sent to the fleet manager.

“Can it lower insurance premiums?”

The majority of insurance providers offer discounts to companies using telematics, reducing premium costs.

‘The reality is that telematics solutions can be used for various reasons and for some companies it may not be about cost savings alone, different sectors use telematics in different ways.’

in association with

68 / fleetworld.co.uk

“Fuel consumption is a big issue” Fuel consumption is a key issue for many businesses, but the ability to accurately determine when a journey truly starts or an engine’s running time have all been notoriously difficult. Choose a provider that has the technological capabilities to detect electrical noise to accurately determine engine use and therefore provide the most precise idling data available.

“There is so much choice how do I pick the right supplier?”

There are only a small handful of telematics providers that combine service and systems experience, built on market knowledge and longevity. Check out the company’s history to be sure the telematics partner you pick has the credibility and financial stability to be with you for the long term.

“Are there any cost-saving guarantees?”

With fuel continuing to be the largest cost facing fleet operators, TRACKER is the first telematics provider to offer businesses a fuel saving guarantee or their money back. New customers, who don't achieve a minimum 10% saving in year one, get their subscription refunded. The aim is to ensure businesses understand how to use telematics efficiently to achieve lower fuel bills as quickly as possible.

¡ 3 The hidden gains PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS You know about growing revenue, and cutting costs. But what about legal compliance as a way of protecting your bottom line? A good way to build any business case is future protection for the company; and implementing vehicle tracking can aid in how the business complies with the HMRC’s Business and Private mileage laws. HMRC expects and demands from businesses that they have a system in place that ensures that all private mileage is accounted for and repaid accordingly. HMRC handed out more than 15,000 fines to businesses (big and small) in 2011 for incorrect mileage claims and it is the business’s responsibility to prove compliance to HMRC. Installing a telematics system with in-cab privacy buttons allows each driver access to their own monthly report, offers automation of the process, as well as allowing the fleet manager visibility for reporting for their whole fleet. Management becomes easier

through constant, automatic recording of your vehicles when they're in use and the miles they travel. Introducing a telematics system will reduce time spent in the office on paperwork, and also helps your drivers as they will no longer need to submit manual mileage sheets and fuel expense claims. Not only will it reduce reporting errors, it will give you and your drivers time to focus on more important aspects of your jobs.

And it may well save you getting fined!

SOURCE > Road Angel

IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT TRACKING JOURNEYS! One of less obvious attributes to vehicle tracking is the ability to “fence” your vehicles using both time and location. Being able to log in and see where your vehicles are at any one point is better than going out and looking yourself, but can still be time consuming. “Geo-fencing” is a feature of telematics that lets your vehicles tell you where they are without the need for you to look. By setting a perimeter around your work yard, base or office HQ you can set your trackers to alert you if your vehicle moves out of that perimeter – meaning that without even looking you can know that all your vehicles are where they should be. To add to the proposal you can also set alerts on your vehicles’ movements using time; “timefencing” – meaning if they’re not supposed to be used at evenings or weekends you can set the alerts to warn you of movements outside of those time parameters.

SOURCE > Road Angel

FLEET TRACKING MADE EASY

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 01327

Tamper-proof tracking Tough Track is a unique tamper proof tracking device with its own self contained power supply making it suitable even for tracking high value assets with no power supply.

855586 www.roadangelfleet.com

our fleet Peugeot 2008 Feline 1.6 e-HDi 92

OUR 2008 has left the fleet after a brief four-month stay, impressing with its build quality, design and general ease of use.

Peugeot really has raised its game when it comes to build quality and the interior of

the 2008 is Germanic in its solidity. But there’s also a fair degree of Gallic design flair which makes the 2008’s cabin a really nice place to be – the lovely flourescent blue lighting was a particular highlight.

But there are a few niggles… average fuel economy fell well short of the claimed 70.6mpg (we averaged 55.3mpg in mixed driving conditions), the parcel shelf not lifting with the tailgate was something of an annoyance, and the “aviation-style” hadbrake was awkward to use.

Our top-spec Feline test model came fitted with the Grip Control system. Not once

did I venture near the rotary dial down by the handbrake to access its various traction control settings – and I suspect not many owners will. It’s a bit of a gimmick, and rendered virtually pointless because our car was fitted with winter tyres anyway.

But these niggles can’t detract from the overall feeling of favourability we feel towards the 2008. It may be a niche car, but it also offers something a little bit different from a run-of-the-mill hatchback.

And for less than £19,000 it also represents good value for money.

Julian Kirk

Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG SE AFTER a four-month stint on our fleet, our Skoda Octavia estate is departing us, leaving a gigantic hole to fill – in many ways.

With its cavernous boot space of up to 1,740 litres, the Octavia offers practicality in spades.

But it’s actually the capacious cabin space – both front and rear – that I’ve appreciated the most over the last few months.

Also worthy of note is the fact that the cabin is suitably durable and more than up to the rigours of everyday life. It goes back to its maker looking pretty much pristine in spite of everything my kids have thrown at it (literally).

I have to say that I’m also going to miss the 148bhp 2.0 TDI with the DSG gearbox and Stop/Start engine functionality. It’s slightly on the noisy side but offers peppy performance with fair economies of 119g/km and 62.8mpg. Over recent weeks I’ve kept the Driving Mode Selection in the Eco setting for the engine set-up, steering, transmission and air

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con, helping to get the fuel consumption up to 56.0mpg on its penultimate, mainly motorway journey. But I couldn’t resist stretching its legs slightly for the last journey, even then achieving 51.7mpg.

Although fuel economy (and speed camera) considerations have curbed my right foot, having extra welly when needed has been much appreciated. As has the capable, confident handling, though the ride is on the hard side and can be upset by bumps and potholes.

And it’s also been well specced, with our SE trim offering a good level of kit and I’ve even grown accepting of the optional lane assistant (with light assistant too) that guides you back if you get too close to the white lines, although I still wouldn’t pay £460 for it.

But there really is very little not to appreciate about the Octavia estate – it’s dependable, driveable, capable and very likeable.

Natalie Middleton

the figures OTR PRICE £22,190 POWER 148bhp @ 3,500–4,000rpm TORQUE 236lb.ft @ 1,750–3,000rpm 0-62mph 8.7 seconds TOP SPEED 132mph COMBINED MPG 62.8mpg CO2 119g/km (18% BiK)

Audi A8 SE 3.0 TDI quattro

Vauxhall Ampera Electron THE Ampera is now reading 108.2mpg which, with a few long range-extended trips under its belt, is really impressive. It’s occurred to me that this car perfectly suits my wife’s driving patterns. Not only does she love driving it, but she could easily do her 25-mile commute on electricity, even based on a winter range of 30 miles, and most of her journeys are within battery power too. I reckon she’d get through one, maybe two tanks, of petrol per year – which as a rough calculation is around 642mpg, or “fuel” costs equivalent to 128mpg if you count the electricity used.

Alex Grant

Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid SE Estate I have done some long journeys in the E-Class and despite the wind, rain and terrible traffic I have got 47.8mpg on average and 50.5mpg at best on one 200 mile round trip.

If I was a driver, I would be delighted that my massive, luxurious, 119g/km estate car was saving me lots of tax. If I was a fleet manager I would be delighted my driver's massive, luxurious estate car was doing 50mpg.

In the first week or two I suspected this diesel-hybrid was going to be the very best on the market, and after a couple of months it is resolutely proving that. In short, it's a brilliant car.

Steve Moody

the figures

IT’S hard not to be impressed by the A8. The first impression is one of size, but it’s in balance and well proportioned. Like any large car, if you get into it after driving something smaller for any period of time, you’re going to spend your first few days driving in the middle of the road for fear of clipping something on your nearside. But it gets smaller with each passing day and after two weeks it is starting to feel easier to position and increasingly relaxing to handle.

The interior is impeccably finished with an infinitely variable driving position, every driver aid imaginable and so much muscle from the 3.0-litre V6 TDi that it really is a challenge to stay below the motorway speed limit. Teensy-weensy downside of this is that I could probably get a few more miles per gallon than I’m currently seeing, but I would save far more by buying a cheap blended Scotch instead of my favoured Lagavulin and I’m not going to do that either.

It’s an incredibly clever car too. Adaptive cruise control picks up deflection in the steering wheel so that the car doesn’t slow down if you are passing another vehicle on a motorway as it bears to the right.

There’s masses of driving information portrayed very clearly on the dashboard screen and the system even fooled me into thinking it could read my mind.

Pulling out of my drive one cold, wet and windy Monday morning I could see that the inside of the windscreen was starting to mist up, and the side glass was covered in rain. I was just about to reach for the heater control when I saw “Cleaning Windows” appear on the little information screen. ‘That is brilliant’, I thought until I realised it was the title of the Van Morrison song that had just loaded on the CD player… honestly.

Ross Durkin

OTR PRICE £58,800 POWER 258bhp @ 4,000–4,250rpm TORQUE 428lb.ft @ 1,750–2,500rpm 0-62mph 5.9 seconds TOP SPEED 155mph COMBINED MPG 47.9mpg CO2 155g/km (27% BiK)

fleetworld.co.uk / 71

our fleet Suzuki S-Cross 1.6 DDiS SZ-T ALLGRIP THERE is a small control button in our S-Cross, just behind the gearlever, that signifies our car has Suzuki’s ALLGRIP four-wheel drive.

The S-Cross always starts in Auto mode, prioritising front drive for optimum fuel efficiency and switching to 4WD if wheelspin is detected.

Turn the rotary switch to the right and you engage Sport mode, with a corresponding change to the message at the top of the dash.

This is said to ‘actively engage 4WD based on accelerator inputs, to make driving more responsive on country lanes’.

Snow mode is reserved for snow, ice, heavy rain and mud, while the Lock button to the far left only acts in Snow mode, engaging permanent 4WD for deep snow or mud.

The thing is, Sport mode also alters the throttle pedal’s sensitivity, bringing the car to life making it a much more entertaining drive. It has

BCA Tel: 0845 600 66 44 bca.co.uk

accident management Total Accident Management Tel: 0845 078 4157 www.totalaccman.co.uk

therefore become my default driving mode, one that I reach for as soon as the engine fires.

I’m not sure of its effect on fuel consumption, but given that even in Sport the Suzuki’s incredible 1.6-litre diesel is regularly returning 55mpg, with 60.1mpg showing on one motorway trip, I think I can live with it.

Dan Gilkes

Renault Clio 1.5 dCi Dynamique S THE Clio was Europe’s third biggest-selling car last year, and it’s starting to become a frequent sight on UK roads. It’s not hard to see why, because the fourth generation of Renault’s supermini is dripping with aesthetic appeal.

Five-door models tend to look clunky in this segment but the Clio’s silhouette is closer to a small coupe, helped by a broad shoulderline, sloping roof and rear door handles relocated to the C-pillar – as on the ZOE and new Twingo. The downside of the latter point is I’ve had several passengers convinced it’s a three door, enough to wait for me to get out so they can get in.

auctions & remarketing

I also rate the interior – it’s surprisingly large, incredibly well built and very stylish while the optional R-Link infotainment system is a worthwhile upgrade, adding TomTom navigation and internet connectivity.

Systems like this can be fussy but Renault has got the interface spot on – I’ve yet to try tweeting from the screen though.

It’s not just me who’s impressed. The Clio’s attention to detail, comfort and agility has sold itself to a friend who was a recent passenger, and European sales volumes suggest he’s one of many to fall for Renault’s brilliant newcomer.

Luke Wikner

fast fits & tyres ATS Euromaster Tel: 0870 066 3624 www.atseuromaster.co.uk

fleet insurance insureFLEET Tel: 0333 202 3133 www.insurefleet.com

driver licence checking Jaama Tel: 0844 8484 333 www.jaama.co.uk

eyecare Specsavers Corporate Eyecare Tel: 0115 933 0800 www.specsavers.co.uk/corporate

vehicle data International Decision Systems Tel: 01256 302 000 www.idsdata.co.uk

rental systems & programmes White Clarke Automotive Solutions Tel: 0870 787 2211

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www.whiteclarkeauto.com

FLEETW RLD SUPPLIER DIRECTORY contract hire, leasing & finance

daily rental

fleet management software

risk management Roadmarque Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

Sofico

Cardinus Risk Management Tel: 01733 426015

Venson Automotive Solutions Tel: 08444 99 1402 www.venson.com

Alliance Asset Management plc Tel: 01480 475000 www.fleetcentre.com

Arnold Clark Car and Van Rental Tel: 0845 702 3946 www.arnoldclarkrental.com

Mycompanyfleet Tel: 0845 077 7760 www.mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Alphabet (GB) Limited Tel: 0870 50 50 100 www.alphabet.co.uk

Promote your company here and online for just £500/year.

Apex Car Rental Tel: 01323 745444

Tel:0121 288 5935/07815 601622

www.apexrental.co.uk

www.soficoservices.com

www.cardinus.com

Maxxia 020 7520 9450 www.maxxia.co.uk

Tel: 0845 769 7381 www.lexautolease.co.uk

Nexus Vehicle Management Ltd Tel: 0871 984 1947 www.nexusrental.co.uk

Jaama Tel: 0844 8484 333 www.jaama.co.uk

ARI Fleet UK Tel: 0844 8000 700 www.arifleet.co.uk

JCT600 Contracts Limited Tel: 0113 250 0060 www.jct600contracts.co.uk

Contract Hire a Car Tel: 0370 218 8015 www.contracthireacar.com

Europcar Tel: 0871 384 0201 www.europcar.co.uk

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

MAC GB Ltd Tel: 01745 828180 www.reduceroadrisk.com

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Fleet Alliance Tel: 0845 601 8407 www.fleetalliance.co.uk

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tel: 01784 221 300 www.enterprise.co.uk

Civica Tranman Tel: 01454 874002 www.civica.co.uk/tranman

AA DriveTech Tel: 01256 495732

Tel: 0845 603 4590 www.acvm.co.uk

Lex Autolease

www.AAdrivetech.com/fleetsafe DriveTech

For more information, please contact Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or email

Pendle Vehicle Contracts Tel: 08456 025697 www.pendlelease.co.uk

Budget Rent-a-Car Tel: 0844 5338 08701544 56 56 56 www.budget.co.uk

Enterprise Software Tel: 0161 925 2400 www.essl.co.uk

IAM Drive & Survive Tel: 0870 120 2910 www.iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk

Concept Vehicle Leasing Tel: 0800 043 2050 www.conceptvehicleleasing.co.uk

Zenith Tel: 0113 348 8667 www.zenith.co.uk

Alliance Asset Management plc Tel: 01480 475000 www.fleetcentre.com

Drive Software Solutions Tel: 01438 317731

RAC Risk Management Tel: 0870 606 2606

www.drivesoftwaresolutions.com

www.racfleetriskmanagement.co.uk

Motiva Group Tel: 0800 054 6555 www.motivagroup.co.uk

sgfleet Tel: 0845 154 0721 www.sgfleet.com

tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk fleet events

misfuelling

fuel management

The Fleet Show Tel: 01727 739160 www.thefleetshow.co.uk

AFF Tel: 0844 879 4770 www.autofuelfix.com

Esso Fuel Cards Tel: 0800 626 672 www.essocard.com

Trakm8 Tel: 01747 858 444 www.trakm8.com

TRACKER Network UK Limited Tel: 0845 602 3981 www.TRACKER.co.uk

Quartix Ltd Tel: 0870 013 6663 www.quartix.co.uk

The Fuelcard Company Tel: 0845 073 0873 www.fuelcards.co.uk

Fleetmatics Tel: 0800 975 4566 www.fleetmatics.co.uk

Teletrac Tel: 0870 460 5693 www.teletrac.co.uk

Promote your company here and online for just £500/year.

Motrak Tel: 0800 054 6555 www.motivagroup.co.uk

BP Oil UK Ltd Tel: 0845 603 0723 www.bpplus.co.uk

Telogis Tel: 0203 005 8805 www.telogis.co.uk

Navman Wireless UK Ltd Tel: 0845 521 1188 www.navmanwireless.co.uk

MiX Telematics Europe Tel: 0121 717 5360 www.mixtelematics.co.uk

SageQuest Tel: 0808 163 9309 www.sage-quest.co.uk

Shell Fuelcards Tel: 0800 7 31 31 37 www.shell.co.uk/euroshell

Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229 www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

telematics & tracking

Tel: 0845 815 0019 www.dayscontracthire.co.uk

fleetworld.co.uk / 73

commercial vehicles

The tricks to a safe & efficient van operation Matt Dale, newly appointed LCV operations manager at ALD Automotive, looks at how fleets can manage costs through a safe and efficient van operation.

F

or most firms, running a vehicle fleet is one of their biggest costs alongside payroll and premises. Yet whilst fleet vehicles will never be a profit centre, there are many opportunities for fleets to take costs out, particularly with the unrelenting need to manage budgets.

This especially applies to vans – the workhorse of our economy. Last year saw over 327,000 new vans and trucks registered in the UK, up 14.7%, said to be a key barometer on the state of the economy.

Yet, whilst much attention is often paid to the upfront costs of acquiring and running a van fleet, there are some behind-the-scenes aspects of managing vans that can often slip by the wayside. Many of these are common sense, but is your business focusing on them...?

THESE INCLUDE: DAILY WALKAROUND Simple checks undertaken every morning by the driver can help ascertain any issues with damage, lights not working, tyre issues etc whilst once a week they should lift the bonnet and checks all levels and tyre pressures. Although drivers may find such checks onerous, they are vital in terms of making sure vehicles are roadworthy and also reducing costs – for example, ensuring tyres are properly inflated can improve fuel economy and reduce tyre wear. To help get drivers on board, think about incentivising them.

ly weighed. There are many public weighbridges and it only takes a few minutes to use one. By managing the load on a van you will also reduce wear and tear on items such as clutches and brakes and obviously optimise fuel economy.

Fines for overloading can run into thousands of pounds, not to mention the potential personal loss if the vehicle is involved in an accident...

USING TECHNOLOGY Downtime is one of the biggest costs that van operators come up against. A van off the road is not just an inconvenience, it is actually costing the operator money – and that is true regardless of fleet size.

There are a number of technologies that can save an operator money by keeping the fleet on the road.

Telematics can provide an effective tool to help manage fuel and driver efficiency, such as ALD Automotive’s award-winning ProFleet2 telematics technology which, with over 30,000 units installed and integrated seamlessly within our contract hire offer as standard, is unique within the marketplace.

However, there are also other simple solutions that fleets can employ such as fitting reversing sensors and in-vehicle cameras – these can reduce both damage and vehicle downtime, far outweighing their costs. Meanwhile speed limiters can help improve fuel economy while sat nav can assist the driver getting to where they need to be.

OVERLOADING It’s very easy for an operator to overload a van, but the results of doing so are dangerous and could lead to somebody being killed or seriously injured. A fleet operator wouldn’t put 6 people in a car that only has 5 seats, so why put 1,400kg in a van that only has a 1,200kg payload?

The difficulty is that weight is not always a visible object and operators or drivers may not realise that a vehicle is overloaded. The simple option is to get the vehicle regular-

DRIVER TRAINING Investing in driver training, such as that run by ALD Automotive in partnership with a number of best-in-class service providers, will not only help run a fleet more efficiently but will also make it safer in everyday operation. Training can start with online assessments and lead to classroom or on road training. This will assist in reducing damage, improving fuel economy and getting the best out of drivers. It can also help with safe vehicle loading and understanding more about how a van works.

“There are some behind-the-scenes aspects of managing vans that can often slip by the wayside.”

To find out more about how ALD Automotive can work with you to help run a safe and efficient van operation, please contact ukinfo@aldautomotive.com or phone 0870 00 111 81.

Contact ALD Automotive:

74 / advertisement feature

t 0870 0011181

e ukinfo@aldautomotive.com

w www.aldautomotive.co.uk

VAN FLEETW RLD

March 2014

p82 Ford has obviously put the hours in to ensure that the Transit success story continues in the UK.

at a glance driven

Ford Transit & Ford Transit Connect

plus...

Fleet Academy, Risk Management & LCV Round Table 2014 vanfleetworld.co.uk

Now in your range.

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Each vehicle comes with a comprehensive Mercedes-Benz support package as standard*. Which adds up to lower whole life costs and reduced downtime.

Contact our Fleet Business Centre for full details today on 01908 245835.

www.mbvans.co.uk/fleet *3 years’ unlimited mileage warranty, 24 hour roadside assistance and MobiloVan UK as standard, plus flexible, competitively priced, fi xed rate Service Care plans. Terms and Conditions apply. Please contact the Fleet Business Centre for further details.

FEATURE 2014 LCV Round Table

LCV Expectations Fleet managers have to deal with an increasingly complex range of concerns, from rising costs to legislation, a demand for increased safety and an incredible amount of information from telematic systems and other forms of data. VAN Fleet World's inaugural LCV Round Table asked a panel of experts from van manufacturing, rental, telematic suppliers, auctions and residual value specialists, what they think the future could add to that list. Dan Gilkes reports.

As the move from Euro 5 to Euro 6 engine technology approaches with the adoption by most manufacturers of selective catalytic reduction (SCR), how will van fleets cope when dealing with exhaust additives such as AdBlue?

DP: ‘It is mainly problem of communication.

We are already seeing it with minibus builders who have to meet Euro 6 this year.

How do they communicate the changes in operating to people like teachers, who are using their minibuses?’

TG: ‘While some might think that AdBlue will be a service item, that’s not necessarily going to be the case. Some vehicles won’t see a dealership potentially for up to two years, so there will be a requirement to top up AdBlue tanks.’

DA: ‘As customers, we still don’t know exactly what all of the manufacturers are going to do in relation to Euro 6. It really will be about communication.’

The LCV panel AA – Alan Able, Isuzu UK DW – Duncan Ward, British Car Auctions

DW: ‘This isn’t just about the first customer either. On the used market a van can go on to have another two or three owners. Euro 6 will have an effect on used values, as buyers will want to stay with Euro 5.’

DP: ‘Certainly it is the owner in 5-6 years time that will be the one with issues.’

MF – Matthew Freeman, CAP GA – George Alexander, Glass’s Information Services TG – Tony Grove, Arval DP – David Petts, Ford Great Britain DA – Dave Adderley, Burnt Tree Vehicle Rental and the BVRLA AW – Andy Walters, Quartix SM – Scott Michael, Citroën UK JS – Jeremy Smith, Citroën UK

78 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

Some fleets have experienced problems with DPF regeneration in urban operation. Could we see a return to petrol engines in vans, increased interest in LPG/CNG gas, or finally a move towards electric vans?

TG: ‘We have found that it is much less of a one-size- its-all solution for our customers these days. We have to look at individual driver use and ind the right van for each operation.

‘However for an electric van you have to be

depot-based, not home-based. A lot of our customers have to go in and out of London and generally speaking they are home-based outside of London, so range and recharging become a problem.’

GA: ‘You also can’t have multiple drivers for an electric vehicle.’

DA: ‘The fleet concern with alternative fuels and technologies is what if it goes wrong. We are all expecting that battery technology will improve very quickly, but until that happens we don’t see the demand.’

DW: ‘I have to say, the used market for an electric van is simply non-existent.’

JS: ‘I still believe that, at present, driver education is a cheaper means to improved fuel savings.’

Once the vehicle purchasing choice has been made, the three main factors of operating cost are the driver, fuel and residual values. How can fleet managers improve their resale values and cut whole-life operating cost?

DW: ‘I think this is going to be a bigger challenge going forwards. Operators are enjoying very high prices at auction at the moment, due to low supply of good used vehicles. Even in these market conditions the highest prices are still being achieved by clean vehicles, though recently that seems to have gone off the agenda as prices are so high.

‘The difference can be as much as £1,500 on a £5,000 van. There are some fleets that really take it seriously, but there’s just not enough of it going on.’

AW: ‘The good fleet manager knows who the good and bad drivers are. Telematics give them the statistics that they require to really look at drivers. The driver who is using more fuel is often the one who gets through brakes and suspension components too.’

DW: ‘It’s true, those vans that have been equipped with speed limiters are usually going to be a good van on the used market.’

TG: ‘There are a number of issues however, there is a trend towards procurement and HR people having to run the leets with little or no experience.

Also, 95% of the people who drive our vans wouldn’t call themselves van drivers.

‘We recommend that customers put in a regime of inspecting a van every month.

We also have some companies who work on team peer pressure to improve driving standards, with driver incentives.

Putting reverse sensors on a van also pays you back very quickly.’

DA: ‘It’s also about the quality of repairs that get done and how quickly they are carried out. None of us wants to hit customers with end-of-term charges.’

DW: ‘While condition is vital, speci ication is also an important factor in residual value. Manufacturers and irst owners are blinkered into thinking that there will only be one user of the van, but there will be two or three.

‘Air conditioning will make a van more attractive and some colours sell better than others.

‘Big fleets all buy the minimum specification, cheapest van, but that’s no good to the second user. The best working environment will usually give the best residual.’

TG: ‘Government out sourcing has seen a lot of companies growing up in that sector and they look at contract hire as a natural way to finance their fleet.’

JS: ‘Customers should be careful though and look closely at what they are buying.

Cheap deals on the internet aren’t always what they seem.’

We have seen massive growth in telematic systems, both in the number of companies offering the service and in the amount of data that can be supplied.

How have telematics made the fleet managers life easier and will “connected” vans add to that?

AW: ‘Growth has been very strong for us, up 60% last year, with leets up 20%.

That growth is predominantly from LCV leets. Around 29-30% of LCVs in the UK operate with some form of telematics.

That igure is much lower in Continental Europe. I think we have reached the point in this country where van drivers expect to have telematics in the vehicle.’

As the UK economy continues to recover, we are told that the banks are once again interested in financing vehicles, though manufacturer-owned finance organisations have grabbed a large slice of the market. Is van purchase getting easier, or are there alternatives that businesses should be investigating?

SM: ‘As a manufacturer that offers a telematic system as standard in many vans, the number of fleets asking us what else the black box can do has gone up exponentially. The number of fleets taking our fleet management system has grown massively, but not in the area we thought. We expected it to be adopted by big fleets, but it has been the 15-50 vehicle SMEs that are seeing the benefit.

‘That said, we get a lot of customers saying that telematics are great, but they don’t know what to do with all of the information.’

TG: ‘It’s not about low interest rates, but the unwillingness of the banks to lend to small businesses. It is still very dif icult for SMEs to ind inance from banks.

‘Our van leet has rapidly outgrown cars over the last couple of years.’

AW: ‘It is very much a question of tailoring reports. For SMEs it is about money in their pocket and faster decision-making.

You’re always going to get the best out of a driver if every time they come into the of ice they can see on a screen their performance.’

DA: ‘We’re certainly seeing growth in all types of rental at the moment.’

DA: ‘One of the barriers that we see to telematics is that there is too much choice and a lot of it is bad.’

TG: ‘That’s true, comfort speci ication is a yes, but alloy wheels remain a big no for leets, as they are too easily damaged.’

SM: ‘We’ve also seen a real move from SMEs where they don’t have to commit for as long. Four-year deals are being replaced by two-year contracts. We’ve also seen a move into contracts for converted products too, tippers and minibuses.’

DP: ‘We encourage our dealers to put monthly and even weekly payment terms on the side of the van now.’

JS: ‘That is true. What needs to come is a standardised set of reports from any black box, to make life easier for the leet manager with a mixed leet.’

AW: ‘We are working towards that.

Around 70-80% of our R&D spend now has nothing to do with the black box itself.’

vanfleetworld.co.uk / 79

inbusiness

Nissan Cabstar updated

inshort bitesize stories from a month in the van fleet world...

L200s aid relief Mitsubishi Motors has loaned two L200 pick-ups to Somerset County Council to help with the flood relief effort. The council will insure the trucks to allow volunteers from the Flooding on the Levels Action Group to continue their relief work.

Smith takes CV role

N

issan has updated its Cabstar light truck, now adopting the NT400 Cabstar name. The trucks use a range of Euro 5b+ compliant engines – the 2.5-litre motors offering 121hp and 250Nm, 136hp and 270Nm, or a new output of 145hp complete with up to 350Nm of torque.

This high output version replaces the previous 3.0-litre engine, yet offers the same torque output. Nissan claims the engine is up to 45kg lighter and it delivers up to 22% better fuel consumption than the larger capacity motor. Service intervals on all three engines are extended to 25,000 miles.

The 121hp engine gets a five-speed manual gearbox, while the two more

powerful engines benefit from an extra forward gear. The 136hp and 145hp engines are available in 3.5-tonne and 4.5-tonne models, while all three engines can also be had in 2.8-tonne and 3.2-tonne trucks.

NT400 is available from the Spanish factory with a choice of tipper, box or dropside bodies, or as a chassis cab for a range of conversions. Both single and double cabs are available and there are three different wheelbases and five maximum weight options.

Inside the cab there are new fabrics and a heated driver’s seat is available for the first time. Updated audio equipment includes USB and AUX-in connectivity and Bluetooth.

Volkswagen introduces Euro 6 to Crafter range

V

olkswagen is to offer Euro 6 engines as standard in the heavier models of the Crafter range of vans. The move only applies to 5.0-tonne GVW models, or those vans with kerb weights between 2,355kg and 2,815kg. Volkswagen is achieving Euro 6 through the use of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with an exhaust additive, and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). The engines also feature a diesel particulate filter (DPF).

The Euro 6 engines are available at 114hp and 163hp. In addition the 114hp engine can now be specified with Volkswagen’s BlueMotion Technology package to offer up to 35.3mpg and emissions of just 210g/km.

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Citroën has appointed Jeremy Smith as head of commercial vehicles and business sector operations.

He replaces Scott Michael who is leaving the company to join Motability Operations. Mr Smith has worked with Citroën for 21 years in a variety of roles.

LCV values rise Market analysis from Manheim shows that average LCV values at auction rose by 8.5% in January, setting a new record for a van at auction. Manheim however warns that the market is shows clear signs of a two tier structure, with volume split between vehicles under three years of age and those over five years old.

Ford Transit The wait is over. Dan Gilkes finally gets behind the wheel of Ford’s global Transit.

W

ith both Transit Custom and now Transit Connect picking up International Van of the Year gongs, the pressure for Ford’s big Transit to succeed has never been stronger. Add in 48 years of UK market leadership and the realisation that this version of Transit is going to have to compete across the world, and you can see why Ford had everything crossed as we finally got to drive its heavyweight LCV. We’ve seen the big Transit at shows for some time now of course, so it was good to get behind the wheel at last. The cab is a familiar place to be too, sharing much of its layout and appearance with the smaller Transit Custom. You finally get an adjustable steering column with this generation, so it’s even easier to find a comfortable driving position, while in Trend trim the cab is well equipped. That includes a heated windscreen, heated mirrors, auto lights and wipers, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, Bluetooth, electric windows and Ford’s SYNC audio system.

There are familiar engines under the bonnet, with three updated version of Ford’s 2.2-litre Duratorq diesel offering 100hp, 125hp and 155hp. All drive through sixspeed manual gearboxes and Transit comes with a choice of front, rear and all-wheel drive. There is a £500 jump between 100hp and 125hp engines, with a further £750 to pay for the 155hp motor. Going to AWD will set you back around £4,000.

Though not required by legislation yet, buyers can also opt for Euro 6 versions of the two more powerful engines in rear-drive format. This carries an £850 premium how-

82 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

what we think Ford has obviously put the hours in to ensure that the Transit success story continues in the UK. The challenge now is convincing the rest of the world.

specification MODEL

Ford Transit 155PS RWDL4H3 Trend BASIC PRICE £30,870 ENGINE 4-cyl/2,198cc FUEL INJECTION Common-rail POWER 155hp @ 3,500rpm TORQUE 385Nm @1,600-2,300rpm Weights (kg) GVW 3,500 KERB WEIGHT 2,312 PAYLOAD 1,113 MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 2,800 Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH 4,256 LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,784 LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 2,025 LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) 710 LOAD VOLUME 15.1m3 Cost considerations FUEL TANK CAPACITY 80 litres COMBINED MPG & CO2 36.2mpg/210g/km OIL CHANGE 2 yr/30,000 miles WARRANTY 3 yr/100,000 miles

ever. Euro 6 is standard on the new 18-seat minibus, as its higher unladen weight tips the van into the heavy duty test cycle.

Ford is offering six versions of its fuelefficient ECOnetic model this time around, with gross weights up to 3.5 tonnes. These vans all come with a modified version of the 125hp engine, with Auto-Start-Stop and Acceleration Control as part of the package.

The benefits are a claimed 44.1mpg and 169g/km of CO2.

We tried both front and rear-drive models, with 125hp and 155hp engines. The revised 2.2-litre motor pulls well and offers a quiet, refined driving experience. There is plenty of low-down torque for trickling through traffic and on the open road the big van is happy to cruise at motorway speeds.

Even the largest L4H3 Jumbo model, which now delivers a 15.1m3 load volume, is easy to thread through traffic, with light steering and excellent visibility. Talking of load areas, all models offer at least 10% more internal volume, thanks to much more upright body sides and careful bulkhead design. Side load doors now get a 1,300mm opening width, making it easier to access the load area with a forklift and palleted goods.

All panel vans now come with a high-grip step built into the rear bumper too, making it easier for delivery drivers to gain regular access and providing Ford with a classleading step height.

Transit is available in three body lengths with two roof heights, while chassis cabs come in four wheelbases and ive frame lengths. There are also three minibus options, offering seating for 12, 15 or 18 people.

WE SPEAK WITH FACTS. www.fiatprofessional.co.uk

Ford Transit Connect Ford is hoping to reclaim lost ground with Transit Connect. Dan Gilkes takes a drive.

D

espite the fact that Ford sold more than 170,000 of the previous-shape Transit Connect since its launch in 2002, there was no denying that the compact carrier was starting to show its age.

Strong competition from VW’s Caddy, Fiat’s Doblo Cargo and the PSA Berlingo/Partner duo, plus a renewed challenge from Vauxhall’s Combo, the revised Renault Kangoo and now Mercedes’ Citan, have seen Ford falling off the pace.

A facelift was never going to cut it against such strong competition, so when we first drove new Connect last year it came as little surprise to see how far Ford had moved the high cube game forward. Taking International Van of the Year, one year after bigger brother Transit Custom, demonstrated that we were not alone in liking the new van.

You can still get L1 and L2 Connects, though the roof height is the same on both models now. Carrying capacities are up, with L1 vans offering 2.9m3 of load volume with a bulkhead and the L2 van up to 3.6m3.

With the option of multi-folding twin front passenger seats and a load-through hatch in the bulkhead, you can also carry loads up to 3m in length in the L1 van and up to 3.4m long in the larger model.

Ford is expecting the split to be 60% L1 and 40% L2, with panel vans accounting for 90% of sales. There is a double-cab-invan option available on both models, accounting for 7% of sales and the remaining 3% are expected to be the L2-only Kombi people carrier.

Along with the greater volume, payloads have risen too, with L1 vans carrying

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what we think With orders for 4,000 Connects already, Ford is hoping to sell 14,000 in the UK this year, rising to 20,000 in the short term. We wouldn’t bet against it.

specification MODEL

Ford Transit Connect 1.6 TDCi LWB Trend BASIC PRICE £17,221 ENGINE 4-cyl/1,560cc FUEL INJECTION Common-rail POWER 115hp @ 3,600rpm TORQUE 270Nm @1,750-2,500rpm Weights (kg) GVW 2,135 KERB WEIGHT 1,419 PAYLOAD 716 MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 1,200 Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH 2,153 LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,538 LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 1,269 LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) 599 LOAD VOLUME 3.6m3 Cost considerations FUEL TANK CAPACITY 60 litres COMBINED MPG & CO2 57.6mpg/128g/km OIL CHANGE 2 yr/20,000 miles WARRANTY 3 yr/100,000 miles

625-825kg and the L2 models 706kg to 1,004kg, offering a real alternative to the smallest Transit Custom for those looking to downsize.

Under the bonnet, the old 1.8-litre Duratorq has been replaced by a 1.6-litre diesel, offering 75hp, 95hp and 115hp. The two lower-powered engines continue to drive through a five-speed manual gearbox, while the 115hp motor gets six gears for more refined cruising.

Though offering similar power outputs, these engines deliver up to a 30% fuel economy improvement over the outgoing model, with ECOnetic models offering a claimed 70.6mpg and just 105g/km of CO2.

Service intervals are also almost doubled to 20,000 miles or two years.

Also available, though only expected to account for 1-2% of UK sales, is Ford’s three-cylinder, 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine. This delivers 100hp and also gets a six-speed gearbox. It returns a claimed 50.4mpg and 129g/km and is expected to appeal to urban businesses that don’t need the long-legged abilities of the diesel engine.

Certainly out of town the 1.6-litre diesel delivers the goods with ease though, offering enough torque to propel the L2 Connect along smartly. The handling is typically sharp and ESC stability control is now standard, incorporating a host of electronic driver aids such as Load Adaptive Control and Torque Vectoring Control.

The new cab is a great place to spend the day too, particularly in generous Trend specification.

THE UK’S BIGGEST COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SHOW The number one road transport and logistics event in Britain, catering for every operator’s business needs, the CV Show has become the leading meeting place for suppliers and operators alike – a true one stop shop for the industry.

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GET YOUR FREE TICKET REGISTER TODAY WWW.CVSHOW.COM Exhibitor enquiries call +44 (0) 1634 261 262

MANAGEMENT UK Fleet Forum

UK connecting the UK’s fleet community

Join the

~ Formerly Fleet Academy

Is England’s first motorway pub one too many?

Natalie Middleton, Business Editor, Fleet World

Fleet World magazine’s UK Fleet Forum – formerly Fleet Academy – provides a forum where fleet industry experts can exchange views on a wide range of topics, from taxation to speeding fines.

At the heart of the UK Fleet Forum is a team of fleet professionals who play a key role in the industry, either as fleet managers, consultants or fleet suppliers. These fleet experts provide a regular feed of information that is posted on the website forum in the form of discussion topics.

Typical areas of interest include, but are not limited to: taxation, finance and accounting, legislation, environmental issues, fleet safety, insurance, fleet management, supply issues and security.

Fleet suppliers are permitted to respond to queries if it is felt that their response represents honest and impartial advice. This aspect of the service is strictly moderated in order to ensure that the quality of information provided remains of the highest standard.

We have already attracted a strong network of fleet professionals, and our expert contributors have submitted a number of thought provoking discussion topics, a few of which are previewed to the right.

We hope you will consider joining us in this exciting new venture into the world of fleet.

To find out more about the UK Fleet Forum and request membership, please visit:

theukfleetforum.co.uk

86 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

Already causing a stir with motoring and road safety groups across the country, England’s first motorway-side pub opened its door at the end of January.

The Hope and Champion bar and restaurant is run by JD Wetherspoon at the Beaconsfield services on the M40 and is open from 4am until 1am seven days a week. It is licensed to sell alcohol from 9am.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Pete Williams, head of external affairs at the RAC, said: ‘We appreciate the vast majority of motorists drive responsibly and that alcohol is already available in shops at motorway services, but for many this decision seems to be at odds with common sense.

In our view this is a risky and frankly unnecessary move.

‘The temptation to drink and drive can only be increased by easier access to alcohol. We therefore urge JD Wetherspoon to do all they can to convey the antidrink-driving message as strongly as possible at this particular pub.’

The Daily Telegraph adds that the pub chain has promised to include the national Drink Drive Awareness logos on menus and remove all alcoholic promotional deals.

The latter sounds like a sensible move but is being in a pub environment likely to counter road safety messages of “none for the road”? Clearly drivers should be treated like adults but will the Hope and Champion be putting too much temptation in front of them?

Michael Hutchings, Director, DMN Logistics Ltd replied...

I don’t think so - pubs have always been a roadside institution so why are we getting so upset because one happens to be near a motorway? Incidentally, access to Beaconsfield services is by local roads and they are not only for motorway users.

A Fleet Manager replied...

I tend to agree with Michael. There are plenty of pubs just off any road, motorway or not, and this one is accessed off

debate...

in association with

Meet the experts...

The first in a series of profiles about the UK Fleet Forum’s expert contributors. a junction off a normal A road. Like it or not, Wetherspoon’s offer great value for money on food and drink (not only alcoholic) and are a viable alternative to the other franchise’s on this site. I think there are only a few other pubs in the near vicinity, so it could also become a local for some people. Most drivers are responsible and/or fearful of the dreadful consequnces of drink driving, so putting aside the few who might drink (and probably would anyway) what about the coaches/passengers of other vehicles that use these services? It is easy and safe to condemn such a facility opening up but I would love to have seen the planning/licensing authorities response to the original request from Wetherspoon’s, I would have thought they had all the reasoning clearly and carefully included?

Les Owen, Senior Compliance Associate, Compliance Bureau replied...

My fellow members make a point about availability of pubs on many streets. However the temptation to visit the pub at the motorway service station is greater since the drivers stop there for a break - this is not the same as the deliberate decision to visit a pub when on the high streets. I also take the point about Beaconsfield being off the motorway but again the likelihood of locals going there for a drink or break is slim but for motorway drivers is high since the location is the first (or last dependant on direction) out of London. It is a busy service station.

The principle should be that we do not increase the risk of any drinking and driving and placing the pub here is exacerbating the risk. Added to which the cynical attitude of Wetherspoons making soft drinks cheaper to tempt drivers into the pub and then the temptation is great (for some) to have “just one” alcoholic drink. Any alcohol adds to the risk when driving.

We are yet to reap the statistics to prove one way or another if this adds to risk, but it is an experiment too far.

Andrew Houston, Head of ICT & Fleet, Altro Limited Andrew worked in manufacturing supply chain roles in planning, purchasing, warehousing and transport for 25 years before moving onto business transformation project management and then into IT and fleet, a role he now holds in the Altro Group of companies.

Aside from a lifelong passion for all things automotive, and a dally into motorsport in his early years, Andrew retains a keen interest in motoring and all that it encompasses.

David Rawlings, Director, BCF Wessex David has been involved in the fleet industry for over 25 years. Before setting up his own business car consultancy practice, he led the car consulting team for Deloitte where he designed fleet solutions and policies for some of the UK’s biggest names.

David writes for most leading industry publications, and is a regular speaker at automotive seminars, webinars and conferences.

Alex Grant, Deputy Editor, Fleet World Trained on Cardiff University’s renowned Postgraduate Diploma in Motoring Magazine Journalism, Alex is an award-winning motoring journalist with seven years’ experience across b2b and consumer titles.

A life-long car enthusiast with a fascination for new technology and future drivetrains, he joined Fleet World Group as motoring editor in April 2011, contributing across the magazine and website portfolio and editing the EV Fleet World website.

vanfleetworld.co.uk / 87

MARKET OVERVIEW Risk Management

The ALL NEW vanfleetworld.co.uk

AA DriveTech

Employers have a duty of care DriveTech for staff who drive for work.

As one of the UK leaders in road risk management and driver education, AA DriveTech works with you to deliver driver risk management solutions throughout the UK. This includes ‘driving for work’ programmes, actions plans, licence validation, driver assessment (paper, on road and online) as well as in-vehicle work workshop training for all vehicle drivers including Driver CPC. Visit our website to find out what customers have achieved from implementing occupational road risk strategies with us. Case studies include: • Center Parcs • Cordek • Feedwater • Thatcham – The Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre • Sainsbury’s Online • Shred-it Contact: Francesca Hill tellmemore@AAdrivetech.com www.AAdrivetech.com/fleetsafe

Tel: 0845 299 6131

ALD Automotive The ALD Automotive group is the second largest vehicle leasing operation in Europe and manages 960,000 vehicles across 37 countries worldwide. Within the UK ALD is widely recognised as one of the industry’s leading service providers, with a proven portfolio of award winning products for major plc’s, small businesses and individual drivers alike.

An integral part of ALD’s product range is its award winning DriveSafe programme offering a straightforward, practical and cost effective solution to help establish a lasting road risk reduction programme for all employees who drive on business. Utilising the expertise of specialist partners DriveSafe provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated solution, all managed under ‘one roof’ and uniquely delivered via ALD’s threesixty online portal.

Contact: Helen Fisk helen.fisk@aldautomotive.com www.aldautomotive.co.uk

Tel: 0870 00 111 81

Cardinus Cardinus Risk Management has built up an enviable reputation of being able to provide our services and solutions to fleets of all shapes and sizes ranging from below 10 to the tens of thousands.

Many blue chip, insurance and vehicle leasing companies use our wide array of fleet solutions which include consultancy, risk assessment, e-learning, practical training, licence, MOT and business insurance validation on a day to day basis.

We can also offer non-fleet solutions to cater for your wider health & safety requirements.

Our wider portfolio of solutions includes risk assessment, e-learning and practical solutions that cover fleet, property, environmental, DSE (display screen equipment), ergonomics, homeworking, fire, asbestos and risk engineering.

Contact: Christian McKay christian.mckay@cardinus.com www.cardinusfleet.com

Tel: 01733 426 015

IAM Drive & Survive

RoSPA

IAM Drive & Survive provides Driver Risk Management Solutions to the fleet and business community. With a national network of 100+ highly qualified trainers who can be deployed throughout the UK and over 25 years fleet experience, IAMDrive & Survive can help you: • Improve health and safety compliance • Reduce fleet operational costs • Improve corporate social and environmental responsibility • Safeguard the welfare of employees who drive as part of their work activity.

• Ensure the all-important Driver CPC compliance.

If you would like more information for van, LGV, PCV and car drivers, contact IAM Drive & Survive today.

RoSPA’s driver trainers are Fleet Approved Driving Instructors (not just ADI qualified) and hold a DSA Grade 5 or 6, making them some of the most highly qualified instructors in the UK. In addition all our trainers have passed RoSPA’s Advanced Driving Test at Gold grade and hold RoSPA’s National Diploma in Advanced Driving Instruction.

RoSPA offer a range of fleet solutions second-to-none including: • Driver training • Fleet consultancy • Risk assessment • Advanced driving and riding • CPC training and much more.

Contact: Rahma Hussein Tel: 020 8996 9663 rahma.hussein@iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk

Contact: Nicola Griffiths Tel: 0121 248 2233 enquiries@rospa.com www.rospa.com/drivertraining

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VAN

Do you offer on-line LCV driver appraisal?

Do you offer psychometric driver profiling?

Do you offer risk assessment for LCV’s as part of your programme?

Do you offer an on-the-road LCV driver training programme?

Do you offer a classroom-based LCV driver training programme?

Do your instructors provide a demonstration drive?

Do you offer operator licence training?

Do you offer CPC Training?

Do you offer Driver CPC Periodic Training?

Do your instructors carry out a driver eyesight test?

Do you offer a licence checking facility?

Are your training programmes Insurance Company approved?

Do you offer Post Accident Investigations training?

Do you offer e-training as part of your programme?

FLEETW RLD

AA DriveTech

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ALD Automotive Drivesafe

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Cardinus

IAM Drive & Survive

RoSPA

ROADMARQUE®

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RVM Fleet Services Limited

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Key to services

Service provided

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Service unavailable

ROADMARQUE® Reduce risk, protect your people, save money. These are the benefits you can realise by using Roadmarque®. We understand that no two organisations’ requirements are the same. We focus on delivering the best return on investment for you, following an analysis of your objectives.

Roadmarque® contains a number of elements: Compliance (licence check and grey fleet management), Mileage logs, communication, factual Driver Survey, Aptitude assessment, Training recommendations / implementation.

We don’t impose a fixed programme, but provide the flexibility for you to achieve your aims and comply with legislation.

We work with organisations of all sizes delivering practical and effective solutions. As an independent provider we guarantee that we won’t sell you what you do not need.

Contact us now to find out more…

Contact: Dr Gerhard Manogg hello@roadmarque.com

Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

RVM Fleet Services Limited The mission of RVM Fleet Services is to help fleets control road risk, protect drivers and reduce the frequency and cost of accidents.

We aspire to become the most trusted and recognised provider of driver-focused road-risk-reduction schemes designed to help fleets to work genuinely towards a crashfree culture. We protect drivers and the public at large by introducing appropriate culture-change tools to drive the safety message home.

Thanks to our unique perspective, bespoke software and collaborative approach, our clients achieve cost savings, a safer driving culture and a much greater knowledge of their driving risks.

Contact: Angela Sorley sales@rvmfleetservices.co.uk www.rvmfleetservices.co.uk

Tel: 01132 248898

vanfleetworld.co.uk / 89

ontheroad Parking biffs and alloy wheel scuffs: Anthony Ffrench-Constant is feeling your wear and tear pain.

O

ne of the great heartbreaks of testing lovely press cars is in returning the odd one, shamefaced, to the press office sporting some form of damage.

I’d like to claim that I’m not entirely to blame. Massive degradation in ride quality to the standard of pull-along toy duck pliancy aside, the worst attribute of the increasingly in-vogue combination of ultra-low profile tyre and paella pan-sized alloy wheel is the alarming ease with which the latter – these days sitting more or less flush with the wall of the attendant rubber – may be kerbed; a glowing quiz show needle of guilt wincing ever further round the dial the more protracted that ghastly-sounding gruuunge becomes. And I’m sure it’s an issue you have to deal with, especially at end of contract time.

You could say it is an unforgivable error. After all, kerbs don’t suddenly leap out of bushes at you. But all it takes is one dropped kerb stone, and I defy anyone who racks up serious mileage every year to tell me they haven’t done it. Especially during the first few weeks of ownership, when unearthing Atlantis proves a somewhat lesser task than accurately locating the corners of today’s high-waisted, stunted-glasshouse cars.

Unfortunately, my ongoing resolution to steer clear of kerbs wherever possible is not helping my pressed metal preservation cause in the slightest because, no matter how careful I may be, the rest of the car is still wide open to assault from all comers. And I’m not talking the bona fide biff of a proper accident here, merely the damage inflicted by other people’s parking.

Of late I’ve come to wish that my office window didn’t afford me such a good view of my local town square’s steeply sloping car park. Because, from here, I bear daily witness to a succession of Mudfordshire yummy mummies sporting hip-slung babies and craniums full of cappuccino and calico cuddly toy stuffing allowing the doors of their parked crossovers to flail willy-nilly into the increasingly bruised flanks

Given that people are not going to suddenly become less callous overnight, the real problem, I fear, lies in parking space size.

90 / fleetworld.co.uk

of my latest pristine victim, before applying the universal “oops-silly-me-titter” cure-all of a quick rub with a licked finger followed by hasty flight.

Sadly, through an abject failure to fall with any style down three flights of stairs sufficiently fast to make an interception, I have also, as yet, been entirely unsuccessful in my efforts to lambast any of the culprits face-to-face.

Such careless behaviour drives the sentient crazy because, of course, this relentless, piccicato panel punctuation ultimately takes a serious toll. I still vividly remember, 30 years ago, taking my pretty Mk 1 Scirocco GTi back whence it came for a trade-in, only to be told; ‘There isn’t a clean panel on it,’ and promptly offered half the readies of my reckoning. Thing is, so stealthily had the plethora of minor blemishes burgeoned, I hadn’t even noticed.

More recently, and to my shame, a similar eight month-long accumulation of diminutive biffs sent a handsome estate back to Mazda more flayed than the raffle prize car out of which the hapless Ted attempted to beat the most minuscule of dents in my very favourite episode of Father Ted. So what’s at the root of this? Given that people are not going to suddenly become less callous overnight, the real problem, I fear, lies in parking space size.

Why, of all the modern motoring eras available from which to take an average vehicle size, do car park designers still insist on plumping for that of the Ford Anglia and Morris Mini?

The other day I finally shoehorned a Range Rover Sport into a particularly tight spot, only to discover, despite interior clambering freneticism matched only by a hot, mad spaniel, that I actually couldn’t then get out of any single door. I have a nasty suspicion that local authority revenues may lie at the heart of the matter.

With all of the above insoluble, then, we’re left waiting, with some trepidation, for the manufacturers to deliver us from our svelte, 21st century, integrated bumper and colour-coded everything school of hard knocks to a more lumpen, injection-moulded world wherein cars wear their airbags on the outside.

And that’s why I was studying the overgrown bubblewrap door panel of the new Citroën Cactus with more than a little interest at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

VAN SUPPLIER DIRECTORY FLEETW RLD auctions & remarketing

contract hire, leasing & finance

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BCA Tel: 0845 600 66 44 bca.co.uk

LeasePlan UK Ltd Tel: 0844 493 5810 www.leaseplan.co.uk

Bott Ltd Tel: 01530 410600 www.bott-group.com

DEL Equipment (UK) Ltd Tel: 01993 708811 www.del-uk.com

Mycompanyfleet Tel: 0845 077 7760 www.mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Full listings online at

Zenith Tel: 0113 348 8667 www.zenith.co.uk

Sortimo Central Tel: 0121 511 2303 www.sortimo-central.com

Penny Hydraulics Tel: 01246 811475 www.pennyhydraulics.com

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Tevo Limited Tel: 01628 528034 www.tevo.eu.com

Ratcliff Palfinger Ltd Tel: 01707 382880 www.ratcliffpalfinger.co.uk

Civica Tranman Tel: 01454 874002 www.civica.co.uk/tranman

fleetworld.co.uk daily rental Budget Rent-a-Car Tel: 0844 5338 08701544 56 56 56 www.budget.co.uk

Apex Van Rental Tel: 01323 745444 www.apexrental.co.uk

Tel: 0141 332 2626 www.acvm.co.uk

UKVANLEASING

Tel: 01708 511071 www.ukvanleasing.co.uk

For more information, please contact Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or email tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

telematics & tracking Europcar Tel: 0871 384 0201 www.europcar.co.uk

Nexus Vehicle Management Ltd Tel: 0871 984 1947 www.nexusrental.co.uk

Lex Autolease

Tel: 0845 769 7381 www.lexautolease.co.uk

Trakm8 Tel: 01747 858 444 www.trakm8.com

Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229 www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

Avis Rent A Car Tel: 0844 544 5000 www.avis.co.uk

Venson Automotive Solutions Tel: 08444 99 1402 www.venson.com

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tel: 01784 221 300 www.enterprise.co.uk

Fleet Alliance Tel: 0845 601 8407 www.fleetalliance.co.uk

EV FLEET WORLD Tel: 01727 739160 www.evfleetworld.co.uk

Alphabet (GB) Limited Tel: 0870 50 50 100 www.alphabet.co.uk

Full listings online at

fleetworld.co.uk vehicle ventilation

accident management

Flettner Ventilator Ltd Tel: 020 8200 2321 www.flettner.co.uk

Total Accident Management Tel: 0845 078 4157 www.totalaccman.co.uk

Tel: 0845 055 8555 Ctrack www.ctrack.co.uk

Quartix Ltd Tel: 0870 013 6663 www.quartix.co.uk

TRACKER Network UK Limited Tel: 0845 602 3981 www.TRACKER.co.uk

fast-fits & tyres ATS Euromaster Tel: 0870 066 3624 www.atseuromaster.co.uk

vehicle data International Decision Systems Tel: 01256 302 000 www.idsdata.co.uk

Full listings online at

fleetworld.co.uk risk management

TomTom Business Solutions Tel: 020 7255 9774 www.tomtom.com/business

Teletrac Tel: 0870 460 5693 www.teletrac.co.uk

IAM Drive & Survive Tel: 0870 120 2910 www.iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk

fuel management

BP Oil UK Ltd Tel: 0845 603 0723 www.bpplus.co.uk

Roadmarque Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

Shell Fuelcards Tel: 0800 7 31 31 37 www.shell.co.uk/euroshell

Esso Fuel Cards Tel: 0800 626 672 www.essocard.com

Promote your company here and online for just £400/year.

VAN FLEETW RLD SUPPLIER DIRECTORY For more information, please contact Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or email tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk vanfleetworld.co.uk / 91

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