Ways to improve your fleet

Motorists haven’t had an easy time from this government and many feel that they are treated as cash cows. Furthermore, road safety campaigners, environmentalists and the police are often prone to laying the boot into car owners. Businesses with vehicles on the road get it even harder, because they have not one but a whole fleet of cars to manage.

Formalize your policy
If one of your drivers is caught speeding what would you do? Or more pointedly, what did you do when they were last caught, and can you prove it? Having a formal, written policy is key, as is keeping records of disciplinary procedures. The law is strong on safety, but this doesn’t mean you need to fire a member of staff who gets caught on a Gatso. But you do need to show that you told the member of staff that it is company policy to obey the laws of the road. It also gives clear instruction to managers of what is or isn’t an acceptable request to make of staff if their work includes driving.

Beware of Grey fleets
Grey fleets are vehicles owned by staff that are used for work, and it’s vital to remember that if employees use their cars for more than simply travelling to the office, they are part of your fleet. So make sure there is a business extension on the insurance, and that they adhere to your vehicle policy.

Maintain regularly
Regular car maintenance will help you avoid the perils of the CMA, but also save you money. “Keeping the car safe on the road is very much connected to fuel efficiency as well,” says Veronica Whittingham of MNH Platinum, which provides vehicles and fleet services. Ensuring tires are up
to standard and at the right pressure, brakes are working and oil levels are appropriate are all key. Leasing companies that provide vehicles often offer maintenance and service as part of the deal, as well as back-up vehicles when you’re off the road. If you run your own fleet, regular servicing is required.

Choose the right vehicles
The most popular fleet cars in the UK are the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and the VW Golf, as they are reliable, relatively inexpensive and easy to maintain and drive. But the badge is important for some staff and sometimes you are going to have to lease Audis and BMWs no matter how you feel about them. “Our clients’ HR departments tell us that unless they have the right cars on their list they will have a problem with recruitment,” says Whittingham.

But don’t let the badge dominate your thinking as you can’t afford your staff to be doing 100,000 miles a year in a three-litre vehicle. For sales reps, perhaps offer the VW Passat TDi, which is a ro****, durable car that looks the part. If you’re looking to reward key players, but don’t want to break the bank go for an Audi A4 or A6. Standard economy vehicles are well served by Vauxhall or Ford.

Reduce emissions
No one is sure whether the future will be hydrogen, electric, hybrid, bio-diesel or ethanol and this is holding companies back from committing to green fleets. There’s not much point waiting for these things to sort themselves out if you have a fleet to run today. However, if you are concerned about the environment and want to reduce your carbon footprint then there is information available on CO 2 emissions for all vehicles.