Author: Fuel Card Services

Major fleet overhaul for ATS Euromaster courtesy of Volkswagen

Posted on | by Fuel Card Services

A new trial is underway for ATS Euromaster, with the company testing a range of Crafter vans in preparation for the overhaul of its entire fleet.

The operator has taken charge of six new Crafter vans from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

A major overhaul for ATS

Volkswagen is set to become the company’s new commercial fleet partner should the trial prove successful for these new models.

In total, ATS could replace its existing fleet of more than 200 vehicles with new Crafter models by early 2020.

Mark Lynch of ATS Euromaster commented: “Our values of a customer-first approach, expertise and honesty align perfectly with the product and aftersales offering from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. We’re excited to see how the Crafter performs as we prepare for a full fleet overhaul soon.”

He added the purpose of the company’s mobile fleet – of which these new Crafters will form part – is to keep its wider UK fleet of vehicles on the move.

Mr Lynch noted it is imperative that its vehicles are reliable and flexible, given the need to keep their network of more than 270 service centres up and running every day.

Indeed, the use of the new Crafter models will better enable the business to fix and maintain its fleet during non-working hours or while vehicles are sitting idle between jobs.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “The Crafter is a versatile and flexible van that offers everything ATS will need to support its wider UK fleet.It’s great news for both parties.”

Uncomfortable car seats

Uncomfortable car seats causing drivers to suffer, poll finds

Posted on | by Fuel Card Services

Driving cars with uncomfortable seats could be costing the UK’s economy dearly, according to new research from Volvo.

It carried out a study of more than 2,000 people who drive for work and discovered more than a third have taken at least one day off in the past year alone because of back pain caused by their seats.

A week’s worth of pain

One in ten workers was forced to be absent from their job for a full week, with nearly a third saying they were forced to seek help from a doctor or physiotherapist as a result.

With so many people needing their cars as part of their employment, this could mean a loss of productivity for the UK economy amounting to £8.8 billion a year.

One in five people surveyed said they had gone so far as to swap their vehicle in the past because the seats were so uncomfortable, while the majority suggested manufacturers should pay more attention to lumbar support when they are constructing car seats.

Volvo Car UK’s Kristian Elvefors said: “Back pain from poor-quality car seats is a bigger problem than many think. Not only is it costing the UK economy billions, but poor-quality car seats are also placing an unnecessary burden on the NHS.”

Out of the 32.4 million people employed in Britain, a whopping 68 per cent use their car either for work purposes or at least to get there in the first place.

Many will undoubtedly now be wishing their company uses Volvos, as the brand has reminded us it was one of the first carmakers to incorporate spinal research into its seat design and continues to perfect it to this day.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Back pain is a really serious issue in Britain and it’s amazing what a difference comfortable seats can make, especially for fleet drivers who are behind the wheel for hours each day.”

FORS toolkits-guides-icon

FORS Fuel Expert to attend FORS Members’ Conference 2019

Posted on | by Fuel Card Services

The FORS Members’ Conference 2019 promises to be an exciting event for FORS members and will see Fuel Card Services in attendance with our FORS Fuel Expert product.

It will take place on October 15th at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham.

Safer, Smarter, Greener fleets

This year’s theme is ‘Safer, Smarter, Greener’ and the conference is open to all FORS members. More than 450 attendees are expected, making it a fantastic opportunity to network and connect with like-minded industry professionals.

FORS Fuel Expert is a fixed-price fuel card scheme open to all FORS members’ fleets. It is designed to meet the varied needs of FORS members and gives access to 16 different fuel cards.

FORS Fuel Expert gives users access to 7,000 UK forecourts, including Shell, BP, Texaco and Esso. Meanwhile, FORS Fuel Reporting enables firms to benefit from robust fuel consumption and MPG reports.

It also offers CO2 certificates for cardholder organisations, helping to provide essential evidence of greenhouse gas emissions by company vehicles in line with FORS Silver requirements.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “It gives us great pleasure to support our partners who are members of FORS. This year’s annual conference is a fantastic opportunity to spread awareness of the many benefits of a switch to fuel cards for fleet operators.”

Get in contact with our Major Accounts Manager and FORS practitioner Rachel Pearson. Find out how FORS-registered members can save up to 10p per litre on diesel with a discounted fuel card.

WLTP Challenge

Telematics at the heart of WLTP Challenge 2019

Posted on | by Fuel Card Services

Every year, Fleet World hosts its annual WLTP Challenge – an event designed to reveal the real-world fuel efficiency of many of the UK’s most popular vehicles.

However, the focus will this year expand beyond pure fuel efficiency and will highlight the role of telematics in helping motorists to be safer, greener and more efficient road users.

What is the WLTP Challenge?

WLTP stands for the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Testing Procedure and aims to give real-world figures for fuel consumption, CO2 and other pollutant emissions and the energy consumption values of alternative powertrains. It aims to provide a clearer indication of on-road performance against laboratory-only testing for vehicles.

Fleet World states: “The Challenge sets out to find out whether WLTP figures are now an accurate representation of real-world fuel economy, and provide reassurance to drivers.”

This year’s WLTP Challenge will be taking place on October 10th and will see participants traversing a 250-mile course across the Midlands. Starting and finishing in Bristol, the route takes in different types of roads and sees participants visiting several locations with the aim to mimic a typical day’s driving for business users.

A host of household names from across the motoring spectrum will be participating in this year’s event, including the Ford Fiesta, Honda CR-V Hybrid, Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi L200, Jaguar XE, Vauxhall Astra, Mercedes-Benz A 180 d and even the Tesla Model 3 Range Performance, plus many more.

How can telematics improve driver efficiency?

Motorists hoping to achieve the greatest efficiency and bang for their buck when behind the wheel should consider the power of telematics systems to help highlight and reinforce their positive behaviour.

Telematics tools actively monitor the behaviour of the motorist and this information can be used to make positive changes in the future. For example, smoother driving is one of the key attributes to be tracked via telematics systems and this ties in nicely with the ability of motorists to maximise the fuel efficiency of their vehicle.

When a car accelerates or brakes sharply, it takes more fuel to get up to speed than if these manoeuvres were carried out in a smoother manner. As a result, drivers who have this bad habit highlighted to them through telematics should be more aware of the extra cost associated with poor driving.

In addition, telematics devices can be used to track and optimise the routes taken by drivers. By avoiding sections of journeys that typically require more stop-start driving, as well as monitoring bad habits like speeding, drivers can dramatically increase their vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “This year’s WLTP Challenge is sure to be another eye-opener in terms of its real-world results and, with the attention firmly focused on telematics in 2019, it could be a year when the technology really enters the mainstream.”

Your business can benefit from affordable telematics with no hidden start-up fees or long-term commitments. Find out how at www.tele-gence.com

White van driving on wet road in autumn

Get ahead of autumn downpours with our wet driving tips

Posted on | by Fuel Card Services

Autumn is here and that means the nights are drawing in, days are getting shorter and wet weather is undoubtedly just around the corner (if it’s not already here).

As a result, we all need to remember the importance of driving safely when the weather takes a turn for the worse, with wet conditions having the potential to cause havoc for motorists who are unprepared.

How to stay safe in the wet

When the heavens do open and the rain begins to pour, motorists must remember some simple rules and behaviour that can help to keep them as safe as possible:

  • Slow down when faced with heavy rain – Visibility will be reduced and braking distance can be more than doubled on wet roads.
  • Avoid use of Cruise Control – As a driver, you want to be in full control of your vehicle when conditions are less than perfect. Systems that will automatically try to speed you up can be dangerous.
  • Check your wipers and keep windows clean – Regular checks on your windscreen wiper blades and keeping your windows clean will help to ensure good visibility all around the vehicle.
  • Don’t enter flooded areas – Never enter into an area where flooded roads could obscure potential hazards or obstacles – you never know how deep a flooded area could be.
  • Watch out for spray – Driving on busy roads undoubtedly means spray from other vehicles will create poor visibility. Tackle this by maintaining a safe distance from any cars ahead.

Imran Malek, operations manager at www.trackdays.co.uk, highlighted the importance of being prepared for changeable autumnal conditions: “As the weather starts to turn nasty and we head towards the wettest period of the year, it is vital that motorists understand the hazards of driving in the rain.”

Avoid the perils of aquaplaning

One of the scariest hazards drivers can face at this time of year is aquaplaning. This is when the tyres lose contact with the surface of the road and the whole vehicle slides on a thin layer of water.

It is a situation that occurs when the amount of surface water exceeds a vehicle’s tyres’ ability to displace sufficient liquid to maintain contact with the road. This can be an extremely dangerous situation, as the driver effectively loses all control of the vehicle and cannot steer, brake or accelerate.

What’s more, it is a problem made all the more likely when motorists fail to regularly examine the state of their tyres. In order to address this dangerous issue, carry out regular tyre safety checks – this means examining tread depth and looking for signs of excessive wear and tear.

Indeed, Mr Malik notes: “Aquaplaning is a terrifying experience. Knowing what to do could make a real difference, as sometimes our natural reactions could be the wrong ones and make the situation worse.”

What should you do?

If the worst does happen and your vehicle begins to aquaplane, these are the steps you should take to regain control in the safest manner:

  1. Gently take your foot off the accelerator – avoid the urge to brake, as this may cause you to skid and further lose control of the vehicle.
  2. Grip the steering wheel firmly and ensure the wheels remains pointed in the preferred direction of travel.
  3. Allow engine braking to slow you down and, when the tyres regain traction, maintain a slower speed to avoid further aquaplaning.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Autumn in the UK is a time renowned for its wet, blustery days and nights. It’s not always easy to stay safe in the wet, but by following our simple advice, it can be done.”