Author: Fuel Card Services

IAM offers tips for stress-free commuting

IAM offers tips for stress-free commuting

Posted on | by Fuel Card Services

The daily commute can be a stressful affair, with heavy traffic, pressure to arrive at work on time and thoughts of the day ahead.

That said, IAM RoadSmart believes there are some simple steps all drivers can take to reduce the amount of stress they feel on their way to work.

 

Expect the best but be prepared for the worst

 

Here are the IAM’s top tips:

  • Plan your journey – We all have certain routes we like to take to work, but keep abreast of potential roadworks or disruptions that mean an alternative might be the better option.
  • Stay alert – Busy roads can be hazardous, especially when in stop-start traffic. Make sure you are alert at all times and you are regularly checking your mirrors for vulnerable road users, such as cyclists or motorbikes.
  • Carry out regular vehicle checks – Maintenance is key to cars running smoothly, so always check tyres, oil and fluid levels to reduce the risk of suffering a breakdown.
  • Keep an eye on the weather – Poor conditions can drastically increase journey times, so always keep up to date on the weather and leave extra time to reach your destination if needed.

IAM RoadSmart head of driving and riding standards Richard Gladman concluded: “Our daily commute can become the time we pay the least attention to our driving – don’t let yourself become complacent. Plan it as if it was a new adventure each day and try to keep your concentration levels up.”

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “The daily commute is a journey that many abhor, but by leaving extra time and planning ahead, you can limit the amount of stress it causes.”

Fleet of Vans

Support and understanding are essential to meeting customer needs

Posted on | by Fuel Card Services

Helping to support our clients when they face problems with their account is a key part of our service.

As such, we’re always happy to hear from customers who have had a positive experience when we’ve helped to sort out their problems.

Providing help and support when needed

John Rawson of racing pigeon transportation specialist Yorkshire Middle Route Combine recently contacted us to highlight his own positive experience of working with Fuel Card Services.

Mr Rawson was having difficulties accessing his customer account when a colleague became ill. However, our accounts team quickly provided alternative access arrangements for him and transferred the details into his name to ensure the smooth use of his fuel cards moving forward.

He said: “All staff I dealt with, either by telephone or email, were very friendly and saved me a lot of time and money sorting this out.”

Yorkshire Middle Route Combine makes use of the Shell fuel card from Fuel Card Services and has a monthly spend of approximately £1,000 for its fleet of HGVs and Transit vans. The company draws diesel fuel only for its vehicles.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Helping to support our customers when they face difficulties like ill health is important to us. We do all that we can to ensure our clients feel they are receiving the best service possible from Fuel Card Services.”

AEL Fuelcard Services testimonial

Swift resolutions keep our customers content

Posted on | by Fuel Card Services

Providing a swift resolution when our customers face a problem is always a top priority for Fuel Card Services.

This was precisely the case for Ashgill Electronics, who contacted us recently to highlight the fast response and fixing of issues that we’re so proud of.

A fast fix makes all the difference

Poppy Corbett, finance director at Ashgill Electronics, explained how the company was having difficulty using our services at a local filling station. However, after a quick call to their account manager, Leanne Lord, the problem was rectified.

Poppy said: “I spoke to Leanne who sorted the problem quickly and highlighted other areas to help us. Leanne was incredibly friendly, polite and professional.”

She went on to add that Leanne also suggested a number of ways to help the company reduce its costs in the future and was later in contact with further information to help the business.

Ashgill operates a fleet of five vehicles, including vans and cars, and makes use of our Shell fuel card. The company has a monthly spend of approximately £800 and uses diesel fuel only.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “This is the kind of thing we love to hear from our clients. Leanne’s work is a great example of how Fuel Card Services takes its customer relationships extremely seriously.”

telesales

Strong relationships support happy clients for Fuel Card Services

Posted on | by Fuel Card Services

Building strong relationships helps to ensure our customers are receiving the best level of support.

As such, it gives us great pleasure when a customer reaches out to highlight the positive experience they’ve had when working alongside us to meet their needs.

Always here to help

Clem Gilder, fleet administrator at Lister Wilder, has been in touch to highlight the positive relationship she’s been able to build with her account manager Helen Simpson.

“During the short period that we have used Fuel Card Services, I have found Helen to be helpful and quick to resolve any teething issues we may have had,” she stated.

“Going forward, a good client/supplier relationship is important to our company, as is making every endeavour to keep our costs as low as possible. We aim to maintain both of the aforementioned in what we hope will be a longstanding relationship.”

She added that despite only working with Fuel Card Services since the start of the year, it’s been a very positive experience so far.

Lister Wilder is active in the agricultural sector and operates a fleet of 160 vehicles, making use of both petrol and diesel fuels. The company has a monthly spend of approximately £50,000.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “It’s great to see a positive relationship being forged between Helen and Clem. At Fuel Card Services, we pride ourselves on always supporting our clients, no matter their needs.”

 

avoid driving fatigue

GEM offers advice to avoid fatigue

Posted on | by Fuel Card Services

Motorists up and down the country must appreciate the importance of avoiding fatigue when driving.

GEM Motoring Assist has therefore issued some top tips on how to avoid this dangerous state.

Recognise the signs of tiredness

“No one simply falls asleep without passing through various recognisable stages of tiredness and distraction,” explained GEM road safety officer Neil Worth.

As such, the warning signs to look out for include:

– Yawning or rubbing of eyes
– Thoughts wandering from driving
– Difficulty maintaining constant speed/road position
– Loss of time (difficulty recalling the last few minutes)

At this point, drivers can be said to be suffering from all of the key hallmarks of fatigue and, as a result, they should pull over and rest as soon as possible.

Taking a ‘power nap’ or consuming a caffeinated beverage can provide a short-term boost to alertness, but key to safety is being well rested at all times.

Mr Worth concluded: “A fatigue-related crash is around 50 per cent more likely to result in death or serious injury, simply because a driver who has fallen asleep at the wheel will be unable to reduce speed or change direction to avoid a collision.”

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Tiredness kills and is a significant danger for all road users. Appreciating the warning signs and taking steps to avoid fatigue is therefore essential for all drivers.”