The Great British Fleet Guide 2020

Welcome to this, the second Great British Fleet Guide, a helpful collection of expert fleet industry advice and bestpractice from leading fleet suppliers and partners of the Great British Fleet Event (GBFE) throughout 2020.

I’m delighted to report that January’s Event was extremely busy, comprising a popular networking exhibition and an expanded range of Masterclass Conference sessions –all of which were standing-room only. These were delivered by highlyknowledgeable speakers throughout the morning and I hope those that attended found them extremely beneficial. I was also pleased to catch up with so many Fleet World readers on the day.

The Great British Fleet Event 2020 was only the start of a jampacked day. The afternoon was spent celebrating the best fleet individuals, innovations, vans and cars at the Fleet World and Van Fleet World Awards 2020 gala dinner.

GBFE isn’t just about one day in January though. Our website (www.greatbritishfleetevent.co.uk) is the place for leading fleet suppliers to make closer connections with fleet operators, by providing all the latest industry news, interviews, white papers, case studies and more.

This ‘go to’ guide is designed to help fleet operators run their fleets more efficiently. An addition to the Event, Website and the Awards, it recognises the very best in the fleet world.

Finally, I’d like to express my thanks to all our event partners and look forward to seeing you again in January 2021!

Smart fleet management in the digital age IN TOUCH discuss how can

was The Great British Fleet Event’s second year, which proved bigger and better than ever. It is great to see how the event’s moved forwards, with more conferences, more exhibitors, and more visitors. Elsewhere, it was exciting to see so many fleet decision-makers and company vehicle operators networking – plus the enthusiasm over many new products and innovations on display.

EVENT PARTNERS

EVENT PARTNERS

fleet uncertainty due to Brexit, 2019 showed no slowdown in pace for the industry. The onslaught of challenges continues in 2020 too, with the switch to WLTP CO2 emissions for taxation, plus the 0% BiK rate and the adoption of electric vehicles to keep us busy over the coming year. So it was encouraging that the vibrant, thriving Great British Fleet Event welcomed even more fleet visitors than last year.

DESPITE

INNOVATION IN GREEN TRAVEL

INNOVATION AWARDS

INNOVATION IN COST REDUCTION

WINNER sgfleet

Presented to Chris Salmon, sgfleet by Steve Ratcliffe, of Geotab, sponsor of GBFE

( HIGHLY COMMENDED UBEEQO, E-CAR )

SGFleet’s eStart is an end-to-end planning solution. It is designed to help companies make the move towards a zero-emission fleet. It works by assessing a company’s goals, conducts vehicle reviews, inspects sites and finally determines infrastructure upgrades and the installation of charging points, and has been developed in partnership with industry bodies, suppliers and manufacturers.

INNOVATION IN TECHNOLOGY

WINNER VisionTrack

Presented to Simon Marsh, VisionTrack, by Scott Edy of Virta

( HIGHLY COMMENDED Jaama ) VisionTrack has an innovative self-designed device platform called Autonomise.ai that allows fleets using telematics to add video to their offering. It acts as a gateway platform, seamlessly integrating into other systems, offering a single visual overview and indisputable evidence following an accident, thus disproving fraudulent and exaggerated claims. This technology is getting results too, with one fleet insurer seeing a 24% reduction in the frequency of claims and a 34% decrease in claims cost.

WINNER Smart Fleet Solutions

Presented to Theo Kortland (Smart Fleet Solutions) by Nickie Hunt-Mason, of Trakm8, sponsor of GBFE

( HIGHLY COMMENDED Free2Move Lease )

Smart Fleet Solutions has enhanced cost and time efficiencies by introducing an end-to-end vehicle monitoring system and automated workshop loading and logistics application. Deployed with technicians via handheld technology, it monitors all aspects of repairs in real time. As a result, customers are saving an average of 2.5 days on each vehicle, reducing the downtime and reducing processing times by 30%.

INNOVATION IN CUSTOMER SERVICE

WINNER The Automobile Association

( HIGHLY COMMENDED Zenith)

The Automobile Association continues to innovate. Among these innovations is a nationwide, 24/7, SMR programme following the acquisition of Prestige Vehicle Servicing. Recall and Campaign Technicians, who work with several manufacturers and dealers, develop a unique and complementary service to support existing infrastructure. Rescue Tracker provides increased reassurance to fleet managers and their drivers stuck at the roadside with live tracking via SMS, saying how long it will be before a patrol arrives.

Presented to Kirsty Pendleton (The Automobile Association) by Peter McDonald, of Nissan, sponsor of GBFE

INNOVATION IN MOBILITY

EVENT

INNOVATION IN RISK MANAGEMENT

INNOVATION IN REMARKETING

WINNER DAVIS

WINNER

INNOVATION IN SMR

WINNER ARI Jason

INNOVATION IN TELEMATICS

WINNER Trakm8

FINANCIAL SUPERSTAR

OPERATIONAL FLEET SUPERSTAR

FLEET MANAGER AWARDS

FLEET MANAGEMENT SUPERSTAR

Altrad

Presented to Matthew Hammond of Altrad Services UK, by Richard Perham, of AirMax, sponsor of GBFE

Matthew Hammond, head of fleet, is responsible for more than 2,000 drivers and a fleet of 1,250 vehicles. Over the past three years, he has made impressive savings across key metrics including costs, emissions and safety. These have included reducing the total fleet mileage by 1.5 million miles.

East of England Co-Op

Presented to Neil Renaut, (East of England Co-Op) by Adam Naylor, of Northgate, sponsor of GBFE

The East Of England Co-Op has over 580 drivers in the business, who use a mix of owned and grey fleet vehicles. With the help of AA DriveTech, it has worked to educate drivers with training, to keep them moving safely and efficiently, despite a fair share of rural challenges.

ECO SUPERSTAR Milk & More

Milk and More has invested in more than 350 fully electric vehicles, and it plans to adopt more as the technology progresses. The journey began in May 2018, when it introduced 200 zero-emission, electric StreetScooter milk floats to its fleet. From June to October 2019, it has added 159 all-electric LDV vans to carry out larger rounds.

Presented to Mark Chapman and Gary Evans (Milk and More) by Geraint Isaac, of MG Motors, sponsor of the Great British Fleet Event.

Brecon Beacons National Park Presented to Kevin Booker of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, by Tony Greenidge, of IAM Roadsmart, sponsor of the Great British Fleet Event

The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority covers an area of 520 square miles and has leveraged cost savings by electrifying its fleet. Electric vehicles have proved to be more reliable and reduced downtime.

FLEET HR SUPERSTAR

J M Hall Couriers Ltd Presented to Mark Cartwright on behalf of J M Hall Couriers, by Theo Kortland of Smart Fleet Solutions, sponsor of the Great British Fleet Event

Now one of Amazon’s largest delivery service providers, with up to 700 vans at peak, Hall has worked hard to improve the safety, personal development and wellbeing of its staff.

BEST FLEET SUPERMINI

WINNER RENAULT CLIO

Latest Clio gets our attention with its stylish looks, plus the premium feel to the cabin. There’s new sophistication in the way this Renault drives too, with added insulation making for a refined drive. Efficient engine choices complete the package, with an incoming hybrid version to look forward to. All of this adds up to a supermini, that has plenty of end-user fleet appeal.

BEST LOWER MEDIUM FLEET CAR

BEST UPPER MEDIUM FLEET CAR

WINNER BMW 1 SERIES

It is all change for the 1 Series, but the move to front-wheel drive for BMW’s third-generation hatch equals a bigger, more practical interior. Another strength is the new model’s connectivity, thanks to its ‘Live Cockpit Plus’, with an 8.8-inch touchscreen fitted as standard. Great to drive and impressively refined, the efficient and willing petrol engines are the finishing touch on this BMW class leader.

Face-lifting models is always a bit risky, but last year’s light update has strengthened the Superb’s hold on this sector. Styling tweaks keep it looking sharp, plus the interior remains classy and now boasts the latest tech. Add fleet-friendly plug-in hybrid versions to the already large choice of diesel and petrol engines, and it’s no surprise it’s still our favourite.

BEST FLEET COMPACT EXECUTIVE CAR

WINNER BMW 3 SERIES

The latest 3 Series offers more interior space, Saloon or Touring estate versions, a cost-efficient choice of petrol, diesel, plus even plug-in hybrid power, generous equipment, the latest tech and a keen drive. It really is hard to find fault with BMW’s compact executive, and it is deservedly our class favourite.

Mark Dickens from Renault with Martyn Collins, editor of Fleet World

WINNER SKODA SUPERB Matt Hattersley from Škoda with Martyn Collins, editor of Fleet World

Amanda Hook-Brown from BMW with Martyn Collins, editor of Fleet World

Brian Cox from BMW with Martyn Collins, editor of Fleet World

BEST FLEET EXECUTIVE CAR

CAR AWARDS

BEST FLEET LARGE SUV

WINNER MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS

With scaled-down S-Class styling that’s backed up by technology from the luxury range-topper, it’s no surprise that the E-Class is our executive car favourite. And Mercedes-Benz continues to innovate with a choice of petrol and diesel plug-in options.

BEST LUXURY CAR

The A8 is up against some strong competition from BMW’s recently renewed 7 Series and the MercedesBenz S-Class. However, what swings the award in its favour, is the 60 TFSI e plug-in hybrid. There’s a scarcely believable 450hp on tap, yet the high levels of refinement and comfort remain unchanged.

WINNER SEAT TARRACO

BEST FLEET SMALL SUV

WINNER SKODA KAMIQ

The Kamiq’s sharp looks hide an interior that is comfortable, high-quality, well-equipped and spacious – helped by having the longest wheelbase in its class. Great to drive, this baby Škoda SUV’s efficient diesel and petrol engines offer the low running costs that are so important to fleet these days.

BEST FLEET MEDIUM SUV WINNER RANGE ROVER EVOQUE

The Evoque is back in second-generation form, boasting proper Range Rover refinement, a revised and more luxurious interior and lots of clever tech. A comprehensive selection of engines, many with mild-hybrid technology, plus the fact that the D150 two-wheel drive version is already RDE2-emission compliant, equates to lower running costs for fleets.

Chris Behn from Jaguar Land Rover with Martyn Collins, editor of Fleet World

Calum James from Mercedes-Benz with Martyn Collins, editor of Fleet World

Sam Hothi from SEAT with Martyn Collins, editor of Fleet World

Tarraco is important for SEAT, as it’s the third member of the carmaker’s popular SUV family. It features upmarket styling and premium materials, plus impressive stowage, interior space and flexibility to carry up to seven.

WINNER Audi A8

Matt Hattersley from Škoda with Martyn Collins, editor of Fleet World

BEST GREEN FLEET CAR

EVENT

FLEET RISING STAR

WINNER RENAULT ZOE

Overhauled for 2020, the Zoe is our favourite green fleet car. This electric Renault now gets a more powerful 52kWh battery, delivering up to 245 miles range, for the most powerful version. New Zoe is also easier to charge, comfortable, practical and fun.

FLEET TECHNOLOGY AWARD

WINNER HYUNDAI

Hyundai is future proofing its range, now offering hybrid, plug-in, electric and even hydrogen fuel cell-powered models for sale. Spearheading Hyundai’s hydrogen future, the Nexo fuel-cell is easy to drive and genuinely efficient, with a 414mile range and zero emissions.

WINNER VOLVO

Presented to Steve Beattie (Volvo), by James Dewhurst, of Webfleet Solutions

Volvo has gone premium. Its fleet team, headed by Steve Beattie, is open to change too. Recent team revisions enable staff to spend more time with fleet. This has all resulted in Volvo’s true fleet sales figures of 17,035 for 2019, an increase of 20% on 2018.

FLEET MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR

WINNER BMW

Under recently appointed general manager of corporate sales, Rob East, BMW is a changed brand. East and the team have implemented sustainable channel management and aligned the BMW and MINI brands to complement, rather than compete, against each other.

BEST NEW FLEET CAR WINNER BMW 3 SERIES

Presented to Brian Cox (BMW) by Phil Daniel of Admedia

The 3 Series is BMW’s best-selling model and a mainstay for fleets. So, replacing it was not easy to do and took many years of development. At Fleet World, we’re big fans of the latest model launched just over a year ago, as it’s such a complete all-rounder, offering more interior space, impressive tech, combined with efficient engines to keep costs down.

GREAT BRITISH

Presented to Mark Dickens of Renault, by Matt Dale from ALD Automotive

Tim White from Hyundai with Martyn Collins, editor of Fleet World

Presented to Rob East, BMW by Jonathan Holland, ADESA with Martyn Collins, editor of Fleet World

VAN AWARDS

SMALL VAN OF THE YEAR

LARGE VAN OF THE YEAR

WINNER FORD TRANSIT COURIER

WINNER MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER

It is true that the small van sector has been shrinking, but these vans continues to provide the ideal solution for many urban LCV users. A 2.3m3 load volume and 600kg payload make the Transit Courier a decent working van, with a cab that delivers plenty of comfort and technology to assist drivers.

MEDIUM VAN OF THE YEAR

WINNER RENAULT TRAFIC • NISSAN NV300 • FIAT

PROFESSIONAL TALENTO

Last year’s update to the Trafic, NV300 and Talento was not simply a tweak of the engine management, but a wholesale change beneath the bonnet. The vans now offer lower emissions, reduced fuel consumption and reduced SMR costs.

The heavy van market has seen key players raise their game in the past year, but none more so than Mercedes-Benz’s Sprinter. Front-wheel drive, rearwheel drive, all-wheel drive, manual, automatic, high-powered fleet stalwart, Sprinter continues to offer a model to suit every application.

PICKUP OF THE YEAR

WINNER FORD RANGER

We’ve always been big fans of Ford’s Ranger pickup. However, the previous generation of 2.2-litre engines failed to match the competition. Last year’s move to Ford’s EcoBlue 2.0-litre engines, along with the option of a 10-speed automatic transmission, has moved the game on in terms of power and efficiency.

COMPACT HIGH-CUBE VAN OF THE YEAR

WINNER CITROËN BERLINGO VAN• PEUGEOT PARTNER • VAUXHALL COMBO

Presented to Richard Hughes at Vauxhall, Simon Broome at Citroën and Matthew Weston at Peugeot, with Dan Gilkes, of Van Fleet

Last year’s winning trio continue to impress, offering a broad range of bodies and carrying capacities in this critical sector of the LCV market. Few competitors can compete with the vast array of safety and driver assistance systems on offer.

NOVOTEL LONDON

Neil Wilson, head of fleet, Ford UK with Dan Gilkes, editor of Van Fleet World

Andy Eccles at Mercedes-Benz with Dan Gilkes, editor of Van Fleet World

Mark Dickens (Renault), Peter MacDonald (Nissan) and Richard Chamberlain (FCA) Ian Webber, of Admedia,

James Cooper at Ford with Dan Gilkes, editor of Van Fleet World

VAN AWARDS

NOVOTEL LONDON WEST HAMMERSMITH

LIGHT TRUCK OF THE YEAR

VAN OF THE YEAR

WINNER ISUZU GRAFTER

Isuzu’s forward-control light truck continues to grow in popularity. The 3.5-tonne Grafter provides impressive payload, with compact overall dimensions, making it ideal for urban use. With a downsized 1.9-litre engine and a manual or semi-automatic transmission, operating costs are also kept low.

WINNER FORD TRANSIT CUSTOM PHEV

GREEN VAN OF THE YEAR

WINNER FORD TRANSIT CUSTOM PHEV

Our Van of the Year this year goes to Ford’s Transit Custom PHEV. Ford has managed to create an electric van without the concerns that many fleet managers may have about BEVs. It will happily run around the city centre in full electric mode, yet there are no concerns about range anxiety, thanks to that range-extending petrol engine.

VAN MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR

As we rush towards an electric future, Ford has taken a slightly different route to many of its competitors with the Transit Custom PHEV. Battery powered, but with a 1.0-litre petrol engine working as a rangeextending generator, the PHEV offers zero-emission urban use without the range-anxiety of a full BEV.

WINNER FORD

In a rapidly changing market, Ford continues to maintain an iron grip on the UK LCV sector. Transit Custom remains by far the best-selling van in the UK. It’s about more than making a good van, however. 95% of the UK is no more than 45 minutes from a Transit Centre. All of those dealers have extended opening hours with late-night service appointments available to keep customers moving.

Ford Mobile Service vans also bring service and maintenance to a fleet’s own premises. Providing reliable back-up is, for many operators, just as important as the in-cab experience.

Lee Tansley at Isuzu Truck, with Dan Gilkes, editor of Van Fleet World

James Cooper at Ford with Dan Gilkes, editor of Van Fleet World

Presented to Neil Wilson (head of fleet, Ford UK), by Sam Tester, of Admedia, with Dan Gilkes, editor of Van Fleet World

Presented to Neil Wilson (head of fleet, Ford UK), by Stuart Russell, of Europcar, with Dan Gilkes, editor of Van Fleet World

Award winning Selsia centrally manages accident repairs with its national approved network of over 200 car, van and HGV repairers. Working with the UK’s leading fleets, Selsia offers standard repair rates, 24/7 assistance, nationwide recovery, repair deployments, accident and end of lease repairs, windscreen repair and replacement, ADAS calibration, mobile repairs, progress chasing, central invoicing and online repair management. Selsia focuses on reducing vehicle downtime, controlling costs and the elimination of accident administration for its clients. Selsia’s unbiased tips to help fleet operators run their fleets more efficiently is the result of over 10 years of experience in managing fleet accident repairs.

Review the accident repair centres you are using

Vehicles should be repaired for the next accident. Use PAS 125, BS10125 and manufacturer approved repairers as they are regularly inspected and audited.

Reduce in-house accident repair management

42% of the cost of an accident is taken up in administration and the job can fall to employees who do not have skills in this technical area. If you can outsource this at no cost to the business, do it.

Reduce the time taken progress chasing repairs

You need experienced people to challenge repairers to ensure that your vehicles’ loss of use times keep to a minimum.

Review your average repair costs compared to industry averages

The average repair cost in the UK currently is £1,864 for cars and vans according to AudaStats. Paying over the average can affect your claims history and is detrimental to cash flow if you are self-insured.

Reduce end of lease bodywork damage costs

Leasing companies will hit you hard for bodywork damage which is beyond BVRLA Fair Wear & Tear guidelines. Make sure repairs are rectified prior to off-leasing.

Have standard repair rates across the UK

If you are not centrally managing your accident repairs, repair rates will vary. The average labour rate is currently £36.44 per hour, less if you outsource to a repair management company.

Monitor loss of use times

Having a vehicle off the road could cost your business up to £500 per day including hires. Monitor key-to key times and review management information and KPIs.

Use mobile repairers where practical

Using mobile repairers will reduce loss of use, lower your repair costs and exposure to end of lease penalties.

Reduce authorisation times

Understanding estimates calculations needs experience and the ability to challenge. Consider giving delegated authority and challenge the time it takes for your insurer to authorise repairs.

Do not burden your finance department with multiple repairer accounts

If you are using repairers across the country, your finance department will be receiving invoices from many repairers. Reducing this cumbersome process with one invoicing source will help your efficiencies.

Ensure that you have access to real-time repair status

Use cloud-based real-time information to help reduce the number of calls you make chasing up repairs.

Ensure that you can report incidents out of hours

It’s essential that you can report accidents 24 hours a day in order that the repair process can begin as soon as possible.

Make sure that you are getting the best price for your salvage

Make sure you get several bids for your salvage to get the best price and your damaged vehicles should be collected free of charge, prior to the free storage period expiring.

Reduce the amount of time sourcing replacement vehicles

Ensure that you work with a company which can provide a range of vehicles which will suit your business.

Improve your cash flow with respect to uninsured losses

Work with a reputable uninsured loss recovery company. They can often recover more than 100% of your losses as well as improve your cash flow if you have paid up front for hires, for example.

Selsia Vehicle Accident Centres Ltd Capability House,Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedfordshire, MK45 4HR

To manage any medium to large-sized national or international fleet, it is important to keep all the fleet data up to date and accessible. An excellent database is key to making the best fleet decisions and reducing cost. Data could come from suppliers such as the leasing company, plus personal information on drivers. Finally, there could even be data from drivers on the process of returning a car.

Define your goals: Clearly identify your goals at the outset. What are you looking to achieve? This could be a mixture of Cost Reduction, Risk Reduction & Improved Efficiency.

Design your system: Working with the telematics supplier, you should decide the best way to implement your scheme and the level and type of data you want to identify.

Talk to your insurers: Evidence that you are taking steps to monitor driving behaviours and introduce safer driving practices.

Communicate with your drivers: Involve your employee groups as early as possible and explain why you are introducing your policies. Often it is to help protect them on the roads.

Create reasonable policies: Formally picking up every single overspeed with a driver will create friction not to mention the administration for you. Concentrate on your goals and start with the worst behaviours.

Baseline your performance: Do this at the start and then on an ongoing basis. This will help you track and prove the value of your investment.

Use exception reporting: Telematics must be practical for your organisation. Vast amounts of raw date will be produced, so it is key to design your system to ignore all but the most important data required.

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Follow-up on the data: Whilst you may see an initial improvement just from implementing a policy, drivers will soon recognise this and revert to old habits.

Reward good behaviour: Rewarding good driver performance and improved performance can be just as effective as punishing bad behaviour.

Preventative maintenance: Proactively booking in your vehicles for service or receiving early warnings alerts on your vehicles could allow a part to be replaced before it goes wrong, thus preventing serious damage to the engine.

Vehicle utilisation: How many vehicles do you need and how often are they being used? Review your fleet usage to ensure your vehicle deployment is correct.

Fuel usage monitoring: Identifying inefficient driving practices, such as drivers idling or frequently accelerating and decelerating harshly, can make a huge difference.

Driver safety: By monitoring driver behaviour, telematics systems when used correctly can help you educate and improve drivers or even give you a priority list for classroom or in-cab driver training.

Vehicle selection: Evaluate your vehicles for appropriateness to your needs. Continuous monitoring will help to pinpoint the most cost-effective vehicles for each individual and working role.

Continuous improvement: Don’t settle when you achieve your initial objectives, adopt a continuous improvement methodology to fleet improvement; the technology will help you re-evaluate the goalposts.

Driving is Britain’s most hazardous work activity. More than 1 in 4 fatal collisions involve a driver on a work journey, and road incidents account for 70% of work-related deaths in Britain each year. Managing driver risk is a hugely important element of every fleet’s operation, yet is often seen as too complex a challenge. IAM RoadSmart can help you to reduce your company’s driver risk, simply and at minimal cost.

Start with the basics – what’s your policy?

A robust driver policy should provide a comprehensive and reassuring guide for drivers, outlining your expectations of them, and business’s procedures for managing risk and maintaining compliance. If you don’t already have a policy in place, our account managers can work with you to adapt our policy template, for a perfect fit with your fleet.

Break it down

Industry bodies and campaign groups such as Driving for Better Business, the British Safety Council and the HSE have produced toolkits and best practice guides on workplace road safety. IAM RoadSmart produces regular whitepapers to help businesses stay abreast of the latest developments. These resources will help you to break down the various areas of responsibility and make sure all bases are covered.

Find out what good looks like

Take a look at some case studies and testimonials from similar businesses that have implemented successful driver training and risk management programmes, to find out how they overcame the challenges, and what benefits they went on to achieve.

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Understand your own data

Data from drivers’ licences, telematics, vehicle tracking, fuel receipts and even penalty notices will help you to build a picture of how safe and efficient your drivers may or may not be. Understanding this information is crucial in identifying higher-risk drivers, and helps manage the cost of training interventions.

Think long-term

The results will take a little time to realise in full, but the benefits are there for those prepared to persevere. Reduced incidence of collisions and improved fuel efficiency may not come overnight, but are benefits that all businesses can achieve, and support your business’s reputation and bottom line.

Remember that drivers are people

Drivers’ skills, knowledge, attitudes and moods are borne out in their behaviour, and human factors heavily influence a fleet’s risk levels and running costs. Every incident has a human impact. Consider the part played by people in your strategy: remember that their safety is your ultimate aim.

Establish a culture and maintain engagement

Take every opportunity to keep your staff engaged with road safety. Emphasise the importance of licence checks, vehicle checks and driver training, and share seasonal tips for staying safe while driving for work. Most importantly, lead by example.

Driver Training is an integral part of a fleet risk management programme. The ideal outcome, through training, is to reduce or eliminate risks encountered by fleet drivers. This training should also see a reduction in fleet costs by improving fuel economy, plus reducing accidents and even insurance premiums. In essence, creating an easily implementable culture of safer driving within an organisation.

Businesses must understand their Duty of Care to drivers as much as any other employee in the organisation. The Health & Safety Executive provide some core guidance on the importance of managing your fleet. www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/drivingforwork.htm

The Health & Safety at Work Act indicates that employers have a responsibility to ensure so far as reasonably practicable the health and safety of their employees and others who may be affected by their work activities. This includes the activity of driving on public roads.

It is always advisable to conduct a Fleet Risk Audit or survey to establish current practices and areas where there is opportunity to initiate a policy and approach, or areas where there is room for significant improvement and to work towards best practice and continuous improvement.

DriveTech recommend as part of your commitment to drivers that you have a clear Driver Safety Policy that is published and clearly communicated to all drivers driving for or on business. We can help with this.

Ensuring your drivers are legal to drive (and in the correct vehicle categories!) is a fundamental starting point, which then leads onto understanding and measuring their safety and behaviours on road.

At the start of employment in a driving capacity, and throughout their driving career, ensure regular assessments and relevant training interventions are part of the programme – continual learning and continuous reminders of good safe driving practice are important to move back regularly to front of mind. Start at new staff inductions!

A sensible combination of online driving assessment, online learning and on-road driver training interventions for those judged as higher risk drivers is our normal recommended strategy.

Use C.O.A.S.T! Concentration, Observation, Anticipation, Space and Time – this forms an important part of our DriveTech driver training – explaining the importance of each to safe driving good practice.

Ensure your drivers are legal to drive. It’s recommended that you recheck your drivers’ licences at least every 3 years but many businesses choose to do this more frequently, especially with higher risk drivers or drivers with higher points totals on their licence.

Consider a permit to drive programme which ensures that only staff who have had their licence checked and gone through driver training can drive on behalf of the company.

Grey Fleet –ensure all grey fleet drivers have had their licence checked and have the relevant insurance cover. Check out the DriveTech whitepaper on Grey Fleet on our website.

Provide your line managers with the relevant training to manage the work-related road safety programme as part of their health and safety responsibilities.

Provide specialised training courses for drivers of specific types of vehicles, such as off-road training – DriveTech do this!

If your company uses telematics, this can provide an accurate picture of how your employees are driving and what training interventions are required – we can use telematics data to help inform and improve individual driver training interventions.

Check out the drivetech.co.uk website – we have driving tips & advisories, whitepapers and a whole host of other useful information to help you manage your drivers and their exposure to risk on-road. Contact us to see if we can help you. t 01256 610907

TIME TO GO ELECTRIC

Electric cars are out there now, let alone waiting until 2035 and they can fit into your fleet easier than you might at first think. Leading up to magazine, out in March this year, EV Fleet World looks at what’s available now.

Audi e-tron

The e-tron impresses with up to a 248mile range, plus has clever optional technology, such as camer-as substituting wing mirrors. Since launch, Audi has introduced less potent derivatives that start from £59,900*.

Ford Mustang Mach E

Ford’s first all-electric SUV. Entry-level models will offer the choice of either 75kWh battery and 254hp motor, or 99kWh battery and 285hp motor. Range is expected to be 280 and 370 miles respectively –it’s available from October this year.

BMW i3

The i3 might be seven years old now, but its attractive, forward-looking design still looks fresh. Also, the i3 drives like a proper BMW, with sharp steering and keen handling –yet it’s still capable of up to 188 miles of range. From £35,350*.

Honda e

Unusual retro/modern five-door styling, with the choice of 134 or 151hp motors and a 35.5kWh water-cooled battery pack. The result is up to 137 miles range, and it is scheduled to arrive later this year. From £29,660*

*Excluding government grant

Hyundai Kona Electric

This game-changing electric SUV, is powered by a 64kWh battery, which is capable of up to 278 miles between charges. The Kona Electric also looks great, is well-equipped and priced from £38,600*.

Kia Soul EV

The all-new Soul EV adds to the old car's modern and funky style, but now offers up to 280 miles range on a single charge, from the 64kWh battery pack. The music-inspired Soul EV is priced from £37,295*.

Hyundai Ioniq Electric

Recently refreshed, the Ioniq Electric is Hyundai’s alternative to the popular Nissan Leaf, and is priced from £32,950*.

Powered by a 38.3kWh battery, this equals a range of 192 miles.

Kia e-Niro

Think Hyundai Kona Electric’s more conventionally styled and spacious brother and you have the e-Niro. Just the one 64kWh/201hp version is available, priced at £34,495*. It is capable of an impressive 282-mile range.

Jaguar I-Pace

World Car Of The Year 2019, the I-Pace is multi-talented, with a 292-mile range, spacious interior and a keen drive. The IPace is priced from £60,995*.

Mercedes-Benz EQC

EQC is Mercedes-Benz’s first all-electric model and is a crossover SUV. The EQC is powered by two electric motors, one on the front axle and one on the rear plus an 80kWh battery. The result is 403hp and a range of up to 259 miles. From £65,720*.

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MG ZS EV

Practicality, low running costs and aggressive pricing are what mark out MG’s first EV. The ZS EV boasts a 44.5kWh battery, powering a single motor, which equals a 231-mile range. The MG ZS EV is priced from £22,495*.

Peugeot e-208

This is the all-new, all electric version of the second-generation Peugeot 208 supermini. It offers up to 217 miles of range, from a 50kWh battery pack and is powered by a 134hp motor. Prices start at £32,750*.

Mini Cooper SE

The electric Mini swaps the combustion engine at the front for the 181hp electric motor from the BMW i3S, with a rearmounted 28.9kWh battery. This allows for a range up to 181 miles — prices start at £24,400*.

Peugeot e-2008

Second-generation B-SUV version of the 2008 small SUV. Offers a range of 208 miles, from the same 50kWh battery pack and the 134hp motor as the e-208. The e-2008 is priced from £31,650*.

Nissan Leaf

The current Leaf is well-equipped, good to drive, and now offers up to 239 miles of range, due to a large 62kWh battery. It is priced from £26,345*, for the 40kWh version.

Porsche Taycan

The first all-electric Porsche produces 616hp. Despite the performance, it offers up to 282 miles to a charge and it’s priced from £83,367*.

*Excluding government grant

The Zoe is Renault’s surprisingly accessible electric supermini, featuring the latest 52kWh battery that offers a competitive 245-mile range, and it’s priced from £25,670*.

Tesla Model S

With a range up to 379 miles, Model S is the defacto choice for long journeys and is the car that made Tesla famous. Prices start at £77,700*.

Smart EQ Forfour and Fortwo Electric only now, both cars follow the same formula with an 80hp electric motor, and an urban-centric range up to 70 miles. Prices start from £20,350*.

Model X adds a bit of theatre to electric SUVs with its “falcon wing” rear doors. It’s also highly capable with up to 314-mile of range and can carry up to seven passengers. It’s priced from £82,700*.

Tesla Model 3

The Tesla Model 3 offers an impressive range of up to 340 miles. It is also one of the fastest-charging EVs around and uses the common CCS standard. Prices start from £38,500*.

Vauxhall Corsa-e

This is the all-new, all electric version of the sixth-generation Vauxhall Corsa supermini. Closely related to the latest e-208, it offers up to 209 miles of range, from a 50kWh battery. Prices start at £22,000*.

Renault Zoe

Tesla Model X

We know fleet management. Having worked with some of the most progressive vehicle leasing and finance companies, fleet operators, mobility providers and daily rental businesses for over 30 years, we have created a fleet management platform based on industry best-practice, knowledge and expertise.

The job of fleet management has always been complicated, and that’s not going to change anytime soon. While platforms such as ours continue to evolve to tackle many of those complexities, there are central principles that, if adhered to, will carry on delivering significant financial and operational benefits:

Select fuel-efficient vehicles – fuel accounts for 20-30% of operating costs. Make fuel consumption a priority when selecting fleet vehicles.

Seek advice to lease, rent or buy –which usually depends on whether the vehicle is a company asset, used daily to carry out business, or simply a means of transporting people or light goods occasionally. As there is no straight-forward answer, it’s best to seek expert advice.

Choose the correct lifecycle for vehicles – find the sweet spot between when vehicle depreciation begins to go down and maintenance and repair costs begin to rise.

Schedule regular vehicle inspections and preventative maintenance –oil changes, tyre inspections/rotations and vehicle safety checks. Fleet management software with service reminders and supplementary mobile inspection apps can be invaluable.

Pay attention to TCO (total cost of ownership) – keep an eye on maintenance costs, manufacturer’s warranty and its impact on TCO and residual values.

Clearly communicate company policy with drivers –make sure they are aware of their responsibilities and company vehicle use policy and that they know what to do in the event of accidents or repair issues.

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Get drivers to check tyre pressures regularly –ensure they understand the importance of optimising tyre pressure for the seasons, plus its impact on vehicle handling, wear and tear and fuel efficiency.

Use your fleet data effectively – only collect what’s valuable to meet your goals. Focus on: procurement, utilisation, fuel, maintenance, accidents and compliance. Your fleet management software should help you collect, analyse and report fleet data that can enable you to monitor performance and make informed fleet decisions.

Make legislative compliance a priority – non-compliance can be costly in off-theroad costs or fines. Your fleet management software should help you manage regulatory compliance and alert you when tax, licence renewals and so on are due.

Telematics and vehicle tracking tools can be impressively valuable for fleet managers in terms of optimising fleet performance.

Keep your driver policy up-to-date – driver safety should always be a priority. Work closely with HR and Health & Safety departments to manage risk and develop driver monitoring and training plans.

Keep up-to-date – fleet management, business, compliance and regulation all change constantly, as does technology (both in-vehicle and in terms of fleet management). Find ways to keep up to speed such as joining an industry association, reading quality trade publications and specialist blogs.

Be open to change and ready to adopt new ideas –greater fleet utilisation may be possible, with the added benefit of positive contributions to the environment, by implementing car-sharing or vehicle-pooling policies, all of which can be supported by modern fleet management solutions.

Consolidate your fuel and maintenance invoices

Paperwork’s the bane of every fleet manager. The first thing to do is consolidate as much as possible. Companies like Fuel Card Services offer all-in-one solutions.

Automate your monthly reporting

The more micro tasks you can get off your desk, the more you can focus on the big picture. Automation’s your fast track to reducing your to-do list.

Check vehicle service histories online

You don’t want drivers digging around for their log-books. Instead, make your life easier with online records for every vehicle.

Ensure fleet maintenance data’s accessible from anywhere

It’s no good if your maintenance data’s on your desktop when you’re out. Or on a laptop that goes wrong. Upload it to the cloud so you can access it from anywhere.

Track unlimited vehicles

Getting real-time updates from each vehicle means you see when servicing is needed, even before your drivers. Prevention is cheaper than cure, and there’s no tracking limit.

Pre-negotiate discounts

The best fleet servicing solutions pre-negotiate discounts for you with garages all around the country and, in the case of MyService.Expert, can save up to 30% on parts and labour.

Maintaining your fleet is key to managing it. As one of the UK’s leading providers of integrated fleet management solutions, Fuel Card Services shares their tips for easier and more cost-efficient servicing.

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Make sure tyre replacement and repairs included

Tyres wear down and costs soon add-up. Check tyre replacement and repair are included with the fleet servicing solution you choose.

Be part of an extensive nationwide garage network

Networks, such as MyService.Expert’s, include Ford, Honda, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Renault, Skoda, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

Get costs approved online

One of the benefits of a fleet maintenance solution is agreeing all costs before you commission work – an invaluable help with budgetary control.

Validate costs by manufacturer data

Pricing’s tricky, if you’ve no reference point. By accessing each vehicle’s manufacturer data online, it’s easier to see how much you should pay for parts.

Receive calendar alerts

Forget manually entering service plans into your diary; get it automated! Receive alerts for every aspect of every vehicle, so you’ve time to respond.

Approve work directly with garage

There’s nothing more annoying than work exceeding budget estimates. By approving everything directly with the garage, you can control the spend.

Make sure your system’s secure

Hackers get savvier every day. You need to know your maintenance solution uses the highest levels of security, as does MyService.Expert.

Make sure there are no hidden costs

Watch out for hidden costs when choosing your fleet maintenance solution. MyService.Expert has no joining fee, or minimum contract. Everything’s transparent.

Geotab can help you manage the switch to vehicles

Our EV strategy helps you...

Go Electric

Geotab’s Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessment (EVSA) uses telematics data to understand fleet characteristics and recommend best-fit EVs based on model availability, operational costs, range requirements, and carbon footprint.

Operate Electric

Geotab’s reporting platform offers fleets the ability to monitor EV operations in one place, including:

+ Real-time state of charge

+ Live map positions to identify who needs to charge

+ Assign ‘no-charge time’ rules to eliminate peak time charging | info@geotab.com

Cost analysis assurance Environmental impactfit analysis

LEASING

Contract Hire, Finance & Leasing are often the best solutions for fleets as they help alleviate the financial burden of an up-front investment or depreciation. Long-term loan agreements ensure fleets are able to run the right vehicle for the right job at the right time. In addition, operators can benefit from the fleet expertise of leading funding providers who have a range of financial options –including fleet management services –to suit their business needs. Here is some helpful funding advice...

Choosing suppliers

Choosing the right supplier involves much more than scanning price lists. Ideally choice should depend on a wide range of factors such as value for money, quality, reliability and service. How you weigh up the importance of the different factors will obviously depend on business priorities, operational objectives and overall business strategy.

A word of caution

When tendering, remember it’s a ‘snapshot in time’ and over time the supplier’s range of products and services may change. It can be dangerous to base supplier selection solely on a tender response with price the arbiter. Prequalification meetings can help, allowing you to ‘get under the skin’ of the supplier to find out if they are a good fit for your business.

Future flexibility

With contracts typically 3-5 years what is bought today needs to flex for the future. A supplier who demonstrates knowledge of the latest legislation, taxation and marketplace developments will help ensure that a decision you make today is also the right one for your fleet longer term.

Beware the cookie-cutter!

As every business is different, when sourcing a supplier beware of the companies that apply a “cookie-cutter” or “one-size fits all” approach to your fleet management and funding needs. Instead look for suppliers who will be ready to offer flexible solutions tailored to your organisation and who make sourcing the right vehicle their primary focus.

Whole life costs

Vehicle whole life costs are one of the least-considered but most important factors when it comes to selecting vehicles for a fleet policy. It may seem simple but having a fleet supplier that provides information that takes into account all aspects of running a vehicle, including tax, maintenance, fuel and insurance, means that a fleet manager can take a look at two models with an identical list price but be able to choose the one that is most cost effective for their fleet over the vehicle’s life.

With over 30 years’ experience in fleet management and delivering vehicle conversions, Venson are proud to have worked with organisations across all sectors. Our customers, many of whom are household names, choose a mix of services that best suit their requirements. Some contract out specific aspects of their fleet such as maintenance/servicing and duty of care whilst others look to us to manage their complete fleet process from vehicle funding and procurement to vehicle conversion and end of contract vehicle disposal. All services are delivered through our own operations with a focus on providing high quality service and tangible business benefits to our clients.

Comprehensive leet management.

Let us help steer your f leet in the right direction.

For more helpful tips when procuring fleet and choosing the right provider email sales@venson.com to request our white paper, Procuring Fleet: Buyer Beware. sales@venson 947

Is it time to tighten up your grey fleet policy? Getting your grey fleet under control will not only ensure that you’re legally compliant, but it will also help to minimise occupational road risk, and even help lighten your carbon footprint. Spot the pitfalls of this increasingly popular mode of business travel and make simple changes now to reduce your organisation's costs.

Legal obligation

An employer has a legal responsibility to ensure that any vehicles used on company business are safe and appropriate to use. The rules apply for ALL vehicles – including those owned or leased by employees.

Every mile counts

However infrequent the journey, or however short the distance, EVERY MILE COUNTS. If a vehicle is only driven once a year for a work-related journey, it is classed as a grey fleet vehicle and should be checked accordingly.

Driver checks

At the absolute minimum, employers should carry out regular licence checks to ensure that firstly, the employee has a valid driving licence and secondly has the correct licence entitlement for the vehicle they are driving. Whilst there is no legislation on the frequency of checks, we would recommend checks are scheduled 1-4 times a year based on a variety of factors including driver risk (insight from licence check results) and how frequently the employee drives for work.

Innovation in Risk Management DAVIS

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Vehicle checks

Employers MUST have appropriate measures in place to ensure that grey fleet vehicles are ‘reasonably suitable for the purpose’ and are taxed and MOT’d in addition to being properly maintained and insured, helping to protect not only your employees, but also members of the public.

Insurance checks

Business use insurance is not normally included in a car insurance policy without a specific request. Whilst it is the responsibility of the driver to obtain the insurance policy, the employer should check not only the certificate of insurance, but also the policy to ensure that business miles are covered.

Environmental impact

As grey fleet vehicles are generally older than company-owned cars and are known to contribute the bulk of the road transport CO2 emissions, taking steps to reduce your company’s carbon footprint is now possible. When setting up accepted vehicle rules, you may wish to exclude certain vehicles, for example, by capping CO2 emissions.

Change perception in the workplace

Consider alternatives to grey fleet business travel such as telephone or video conferencing, public transport, car rental, car clubs and car leasing. Encourage employees to think differently and not always assume that driving is the best solution.

Manage the vehicles as if they were company owned

Storing and documenting vehicle data is paramount for managing a grey fleet. This includes registration details, age of vehicle as well as MOT and even copies of insurance documents. Storing this data and carrying out regular checks will help provide an audit trail and keep your grey fleet in check.

Who knows what 2020 will bring, but whatever the opportunities and challenges, running efficient fleets will be key to success for many businesses. And that means working with partners that offer them flexibility – whether that’s the solutions delivered or how they are financed.

Don’t go grey

For some businesses, letting employees use their own vehicles – a ‘grey fleet’ – feels like it makes sense. But the reality is that it adds a whole new burden. Managing travel expenses becomes more complicated; monitoring vehicle suitability is onerous and reduced control can present serious duty of care risks. To minimise the reliance on a grey fleet, work with a partner who can offer a range of mobility solutions, from hourly and daily vehicle rental to longer term options, or even taxi and chauffeur services.

Dive into a car pool

Carpooling also enables companies to tackle the challenge of grey fleet usage without compromising on staff mobility. There is the environmental credit too. Carpooling helps address issues with congestion and parking by reducing the physical number of vehicles on today’s roads. And electric vehicles as well as modern hybrid fuel options are becoming more widely available through car sharing schemes. Costs can be reduced further where journey sharing technology is also adopted.

Keep cash flow healthy

Look at mid-term rental options that provide access to the latest motoring technologies and no commitment or heavy upfront payments linked to long-term leases or outright purchase.

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Take a ‘one-stop shop’ approach

Choose a partner who can offer a complete range of solutions and vehicles to meet all your transport needs. This will keep the time and use of internal management resources to a minimum – helping to ensure a close, collaborative relationship which enhances your business, and maintains the momentum to keep your people on the road.

Learn from insight

As business mobility needs change, it’s vital to be able to understand usage patterns so that the services accessed can continually adapt to remain fit for purpose. Good management information is crucial. Insight on driver behaviour can also help create the right mobility options through the use of telematics and dashcam technology.

Be prepared for changes to local legislation

As more areas introduce Clean Air Zones and Workplace Parking Levies, make sure your business isn’t penalised. Work with partners who offer access to the latest low emission vehicles, including electric, hybrid and even hydrogen, and consider solutions that support usership over ownership.

The right partner for agile business

Flexibility is crucial to maintaining a healthy business – so when those unexpected business opportunities arise and you need extra capacity or where staff mobility needs to fluctuate throughout the year, daily car and van rental can be a cost-effective option.

Find out more about the Europcar Mobility Group UK solutions that can improve the efficiency and sustainability of your organisation at www.europcar.co.uk/business/business-services

SAFETY

Having ready access to data about deliveries, driving behaviour, and operational metrics gives you valuable information to both improve and measure the effectiveness of your actions. Video telematics combines video data, vehicle data, machine vision, and artificial intelligence technology to provide greater visibility into your fleet operations – giving you the information you need to continuously improve.

Below are a few nuggets of information for how you can improve your fleet operations with video telematics.

Video and telematics data uncovers previously missed risky driving behaviours. Reinforce your safety culture by encouraging and celebrating safe driving behaviours.

Obtain both video and audio context in the case of collisions so that you can see exactly what happened inside and outside of the vehicle.

Focused coaching propels a dramatic drop in violations and risky habits tend to be reduced after a single coaching session. Get data to help you meet compliance requirements.

Using video telematics, you can deliver the highest quality customer service, while also improving your productivity, lowering costs, and increasing business.

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Fleet telematics with video empowers you to:

a. Keep track of vehicle locations and status to provide real-time updates and delivery estimates (without having to track down a driver) to customers and keep them informed.

b. View relevant video immediately to see what happened and promptly respond to customer inquiries.

c. Reduce your Customer Effort Score (CES) while improving your Net Promoter Score (NPS).

d. Use telematics data to protect and retain drivers.

e. Improve productivity by re-routing your driver as needed when sudden traffic jams or adverse weather conditions strike.

You can use video to exonerate innocent drivers and improve retention. When drivers know that you will support and protect them, they are more likely to remain loyal to your company and provide great customer service.

Maintain efficient routing and reducing collision risks, drivers can return home safely and get adequate rest they need to perform at their peak.

Reduce operating expenses associated with collisions and claims.

Improve company and brand reputation on the road.

Track mechanical functions to minimize downtime and reduce maintenance and fuel costs.

SOFTWARE TO ACHIEVE FLEET COMPLIANCE

Fleet management software is widely used to provide the framework by which modern-day fleet demands can be met. Software increases fleet efficiency in many different areas, from driver licence checking, through to sophisticated risk, fleet and fuel management solutions. Here are some tips to help choose the right provider for your fleet management system.

Ensure software is future proof: The fleet industry is continually evolving and so should fleet software. Your chosen software provider must deliver a highly sophisticated online system, and be fully focused on continuous product development. For example as a certified Microsoft GOLD® development partner, Jaama use the latest technology to provide its customer base with cost control, operational & administrative efficiencies, the tools to ensure legislative compliance & simplified management reporting. Regarding future system upgrades, check to ensure that they are included in the actual solution when initially purchased and not a costly extra. It could quickly leave you with an outdated system.

Develop a partnership: Acquiring fleet management software is not like buying a tin of beans. Fleet decision-makers and their colleagues must feel confident forming a longterm business partnership with their chosen supplier to maximise operating efficiencies and support.

Acquire customer testimonials: Do not buy a software system in the hope that it might do the job. Contact existing users of your preferred system; talk to them about the benefits and go to their offices to see the system operating in a real-world environment.

Don’t fall into the bespoke trap: Select a standard software system that can accommodate upgrades and new functionality from your chosen provider. If tailored requirements are necessary, your technology partner should be able to develop suitable modules to add to your system.

Bear in mind future requirements: Try to anticipate the long-term requirements of your software system and do not simply focus on today’s driver and vehicle allocations.

Innovation in Technology Jaama

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Just as technology evolves so do organisations, thus selecting the ‘right’ fleet management system capable of reflecting future strategic change is critical.

Establish key objectives before ‘bells and whistles’: Establish the business objectives that you want to deliver with your chosen fleet system. Too often decision-makers are wowed by the ‘bells and whistles’ without consideration as to whether key objectives are met.

Keep an open mind: In establishing your immediate business objectives keep an open mind as to how additional modules and future developments may further improve operations. Ask to see the software provider’s product road map to ensure future legislative changes and developments are scheduled.

Management information access and integration: Entering data into a fleet management system is one thing, but accessing it effectively is a different matter. Therefore, ensure that a system has a good report writer and interactive dashboards that enable real-time data to be swiftly obtained for analysis and reporting. Ensure that if required, your chosen supplier has data feeds in and out of the system e.g. to HMRC for p11D, p46 and ‘Making Tax Digital’, to the DVLA for instant driver licence checking and the DVSA for Earned Recognition as well as fuel card imports, mobile app integration etc.

Supplier experience: Investigate the reputation and experience of your chosen fleet management software supplier. Analyse their existing customer portfolio and talk to existing system users; read case studies and press comment; and check if the company has won industry awards, independent recognition and are members and active partners of industry organisations.

Supplier viability: Select a software partner fully focused on fleet system development and aftersales support –not a ‘bit part’ provider. Additionally, investigate the long-term viability of your preferred partner to enable tomorrow’s needs to be met.

Quartix has delivered real-time vehicle tracking and telematics solutions to mobile fleets for over 19 years. Its vehicle tracking system is installed in over 500,000 vehicles and helps more than 13,000 businesses cut costs and save on fuel every day. Businesses choose Quartix because of the cost-efficient solutions that are easy-to-use from installation through reporting. Providing commercial fleet tracking for cars, coaches and vans throughout France, the UK, US and Europe, the award-winning system offers a host of valuable features for fleet managers. With Quartix, businesses can gain actionable insight into vehicle movements, driver timesheets, driver behaviour, fuel consumption and more.

Hold your employees accountable for their trips, hours, vehicle use and general driving behaviour with a vehicle tracking system that offers timesheets, driving style analysis and idling times.

Drive down fuel costs by improving driving styles and eliminating unnecessary hours.

Improve safety and reduce the likelihood of accidents, vehicle repair costs, staff injury, insurance premium hikes and pay-outs.

Protect your company and your staff from false claims with the valuable evidence provided by a vehicle tracking system. Route maps, Driver ID and integrated dashcams are all great tools for this.

Operate a greener fleet by encouraging eco-driving habits. A tracking system will often allow you to actively measure and reduce your fleet’s carbon emissions, which will in turn reduce fuel costs and improve safety.

Set up incentive schemes for drivers as a great way to improve driving scores. Quartix customers have seen success with this method –some companies even offer cash prizes for the most improved driver each month.

Send a positive message to your staff, your customers and the public. A safety conscious company holds a far better reputation and will attract more business. Look for systems that provide a realistic measure of safe driving, such as safe speeds with contextual data.

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Maximise the hours your staff are on site and the number of jobs they can complete day-to-day by setting up geofencing alerts to notify you when they enter and leave sites between specified times.

Optimising delivery times and response times will improve your customer experience and overall brand reputation. Use features such as ‘nearest driver to a postcode’ in order to dispatch the closest drivers and live tracking screens to provide a real-time location of your drivers.

Simplify the admin involved with managing your fleet by streamlining processes, simplifying accounting and reducing paperwork. Several features of a vehicle tracking system will help you improve back office efficiency.

Plan ahead with maintenance reminders to make sure as many of your vehicles are out on the road as possible at any one time.

Identify, mitigate and control the risks that your business faces.

Decide when you renew your contract. Look for suppliers that don’t auto-renew and make sure you are getting the best package for your business.

Give your employees a tracking solution with excellent customer service. Make sure any provider you sign up with has a great customer track record and responds quickly to your queries. If there are any issues with your systems, you need suppliers that will help you to get back on track swiftly.

It’s valuable for your systems to all work together, so look for systems that integrate your tracking data into your other platforms.

Effective planning and responsiveness are critical ingredients for fleet organisations striving to complete more jobs and to have happier customers. However, getting the right driver and vehicle to the right place at the right time can be a significant challenge. Companies must look to box smarter in their bid to improve workflow efficiencies – and tech developments sit at the heart of the ‘connected’ opportunities that can enable them to do so. Here we outline some of the key steps fleet businesses can take.

Optimise your job schedules

Completing more jobs and improving on-site services calls for an optimal daily schedule of work orders – and this becomes all the more vital for businesses with extensive mobile workforces. Telematics software can automate this planning process and optimise the sequence of customer visits. With good communication systems in place, you will be better able to react dynamically. When schedules change, workers can be automatically notified via their terminals, with navigation instructions revised accordingly.

Dispatch the most appropriate driver to each job

Field workers no longer have to be dispatched using traditional mobile communications or, for that matter, directly from the office. Tech developments mean jobs or orders can instead be sent with automatic routing information, directly to their in-vehicle terminals.

Dispatching based on who is closest to the customer can prove flawed. Managers should instead look to dispatch drivers based on quickest arrival times.

Route efficiently and avoid congestion

The optimal routes for drivers are the ones that minimise not only mileage, but also fuel usage, idling and time spent on the road. Sitting in traffic is not just bad for productivity, it can also have a significant impact on your fuel bills and carbon footprint – not to mention drivers’ mental wellbeing.

Smart navigation and routing systems, which factor in not only traffic congestion, but also traffic lights, roundabouts and other obstacles, enable you to more effectively plan around delays.

Digitise administrative tasks

The automation of laborious manual tasks supports more efficient, time-effective operations.

Mobile and office workers can now benefit from a wide range of connected applications, designed to streamline workflow and to process data using a single device or interface.

Invoices can be automated, for example, with accurate telematics data detailing time spent with clients. Applications such as WEBFLEET Mileage Logbook, meanwhile, can digitise the management of employees’ business mileage and expense claims.

Reduce vehicle downtime

Vehicle off-road (VOR) time can prove extremely disruptive and steps should be taken to minimise accidents and breakdowns. Ensure vehicles are kept in a roadworthy condition with pre-emptive maintenance wherever possible.

Systems that monitor engine diagnostic codes to warn when problems may be developing, and that monitor and improve driving behaviour, can have an important preventative role to play. When breakdowns do occur, connected solutions can even automatically dispatch recovery vehicles to get your drivers back on the road as soon as possible.

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Introducing mobile apps into vehicle fleet management is a good idea. Apps help improve workflow, productivity and customer service and they’re easy to use, which makes training negligible.

However, there are elements to watch for when instituting apps into your business – especially at the customer end. If they deliver a bad experience, it could cause untold harm to customer relations and your reputation.

Moblyx offers two apps, M-Carpool and M-Inspect, specifically designed by fleet and mobility experts to manage and optimise carpool use and vehicle inspections (respectively). We have experience in ensuring apps work for and not against you:

Doyourresearch –the Mobility sector is already flooded with Apps from various sources, not all of which are good quality. Check reviews for independence, authenticity and whether they resonate with you.

Be cautious when talking to App developers to build apps for you –what knowledge and experience of being a user in your industry do they bring with them?

Choose Apps from Mobility industry specialists and partners –ensure processes are optimised, covered correctly and with completeness.

Ensure your App provider can back up their service with help, guidance and appropriate support.

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Be appropriate –consider whether you need multiple Apps for different processes or a single larger App for whole process areas. Is it an App you need or a broader solution?

Avoid duplication between App processing and internal solutions functionality.

Consider App obsolescence –the Mobility space is moving fast. Will future versions of your chosen App still be appropriate for your business?

Get details on your App provider’s roadmap and future release plans.

Can the App you need for your given Mobility process work in isolation –does it need to integrate with other Mobility solutions. If so, how will that be done?

Avoid costly surprises –consider if you should be paying for the App or the transactions processed by it? Which is the more cost-effective? Should the App be provided by your supply chain at their cost? Where is the value – in the Mobility process or event itself? And, therefore, which should you pay for?

Choose Apps that have configurability –how you transact in your areas of Mobility may not be how others transact.

Be aware of security vulnerabilities that Apps can introduce to your ICT landscape.

Understand the connectivity requirements of the App and device capabilities.

Be open to change –the Mobility market is reaching its tipping point and things will move fast. Embrace, adopt, expect evolution and enjoy the ride!

VEHICLE RENTAL

For some businesses, choosing how they source company vehicles is a real pain. There are a number of different options to choose from, all with their own pros and cons. Despite the multiple vehicle hire and lease options available, around 81% of UK businesses still own their company vans, whether it is the most suitable option or not.

A big part of fleet management involves minimising risk. There is of course much more involved, including improving the efficiency and productivity of the fleet and making sure that each vehicle follows government regulations.

Save money by hiring rather than buying vehicles

It is surprising how many business managers tend to only consider the initial purchase as their main cost. This then excludes an oversight of the running and maintenance costs that any vehicle inevitably presents. From insurance and fuel to tyre replacement and MOTs, these costs can add up to considerable heights.

The beauty of vehicle hire is that with a comprehensive package, you have a clear understanding of how much you will need to pay.

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Choose the right vehicles and keep them on the road

Companies need a tailored solution that matches their requirements and enables them to focus on their business. So aside from checking the duration and terms of the hire, make sure you find out about add-on services that will make fleet management easier, such as telematics and fleet management software. This can give you better visibility of where and how your vans are being used.

The beauty of vehicle hire is that with a comprehensive package, you have a clear understanding of how much you will need to pay.

If your vehicle needs can fluctuate, ensure your rental options can support this Your industry and subsequent fleet requirements may not be easy to predict, especially if you are susceptible to seasonal demand. The most cost-effective solutions tend to combine a fixed number of vehicles with flexible ‘on-demand’ vehicles, so you can easily up and downscale your fleet with ease.

Use your vehicle supplier to service and maintain your fleet

Essentially, you should want to make sure that as part of the rental contract, all servicing requirements, such as MOTs, tyre changes and oil changes are the responsibility of the rental company itself so that you don’t have to spend any money or waste time worrying on how the fleet is maintained. A nationwide network of workshops will also give you the reassurance of coverage wherever your teams are working.

Make sure that your vehicles are Clean Air Zone (CAZ) friendly

With an increasing number of cities planning to introduce CAZ over the next few months, it’s imperative that your LCV fleet is Euro 6 compliant to avoid daily charges. These can be checked through your supplier or an emissions standard checker.

Find out more at northgatevehiclehire.co.uk