Author: Simon Pavey

How to use Shell rewards

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

If you’re looking for a good fuel card for your business, there are many things to think about. As well as the savings you expect to achieve on petrol and diesel and the convenience of the network, another factor may be the extra goodies and discounts that are available.

The UK’s major fuel brands all offer some form of loyalty scheme. And for Shell rewards, this is called Go+. This provides a range of benefits to fuel buyers across the brand’s network. As Shell’s range of fuel cards offer access to one of the UK’s biggest fuel networks – with the cards being accepted at almost half of the UK’s filling stations – this is something many firms should consider.

What are Shell rewards?

Shell’s Go+ scheme provides benefits every time you fill up at a Shell forecourt, or spend money at an attached shop. It’s been around since 2019 and is available on the Shell mobile app or with a physical card or key fob.

The rewards programme also offers you discounts on fuel after a certain number of visits, as well as a range of exclusive freebies to say thanks for being a customer.

You can earn Shell rewards every time you make a purchase at participating Shell stations, whether you’re using a fuel card or not. Drivers simply need to sign up via the Shell Android or iOS app, or register online to receive a Go+ card or key fob.

Michael Hominick, Shell’s UK marketing manager, described the Go+ scheme as a “pioneering and leading rewards programme” that gives back to drivers no matter how much they spend.

He said: “The more you spend as a customer, the more you save. And because the two things are so nicely linked together, the value exchange grows. If customers buy into both the fuel and the shop, they really see the maximum potential of the savings in the programme.”

How does the loyalty scheme work?

Unlike many other reward schemes you might be familiar with, you don’t earn points with Shell Go+. Instead, each time you complete a Shell transaction, you’ll earn a ‘visit’. Collect ten visits and you’ll get a discount voucher to spend on fuel.

To count as a visit, you’ll need to spend a minimum of £10 on petrol or diesel, or at least £2 inside the shop. However, the more you spend, the bigger the discount you could receive once you’ve completed ten visits.

The rewards aren’t just limited to once every ten visits. You can also enjoy discounts on a range of items in-store every time you fill up, as well as savings on Shell’s premium V-Power fuel.

Costa coffee and takeaway cup

What’s more, you can enjoy a range of surprise freebies. Mr Hominick said: “Shell Go+ is not just a transactional relationship, but a fun and engaging relationship with the content we send out about what we’re up to and getting customers to get access to movie premieres or money can’t buy prizes.”

What benefits are available?

In addition to vouchers to be earned every ten visits, the Go+ fuel card reward scheme offers a range of discounts on items at Shell stations such as food, drink and car care products. You can take advantage of these every time you fill up.

These benefits include ten per cent discounts on the following items:

  • Hot drinks, including those from Costa Express
  • Deli2go food
  • Jamie Oliver Deli by Shell food
  • Shell Helix motor oil
  • Shell car or jet washes

What’s more, if you’re filling your vehicle with premium fuel, you can enjoy even more discounts. Users of Go+ reward cards can also get an extra £3 fuel reward for every 300 litres of Shell V-Power they buy. Of course, premium fuel won’t be useful for every driver, but if it benefits your car, this can offer another advantage.

You can also get additional benefits if you’re a Shell Energy customer. If you get your energy or broadband through the firm, you can also enjoy an additional three per cent off fuel at participating forecourts, up to a maximum of 60 litres per month. This is in addition to all the other Shell Go+ rewards, which are all still available.

Close-up of smartphone with petrol pumps in the background

How to use Shell rewards

The easiest way to take advantage of these rewards is to use the Shell app. All you have to do is load up the app and scan the barcode with it when you pay, and your discounts will be applied and your visit added.

Within the app, you can also gain access to your exclusive rewards.

However, if you’d prefer not to use a smartphone, there are alternatives available. By registering on the website, you can request a Shell Go+ card or key fob, which will be delivered to your home, usually within two weeks. You can also still access freebies and other officers through the brand’s website.

Choosing the right fuel card for your needs

In order to take full advantage of the rewards on offer, it also pays to use a Shell fuel card. We have a few options available from this brand, depending on your usage needs. These are:

  • Shell One – This offers fixed weekly prices for diesel and petrol, with access to nearly 50 per cent of UK forecourts. You can also enjoy up to 10p per litre discounts on diesel at motorway sites.
  • Shell Multifuel – For fleets needing the widest coverage, this pump-price diesel and petrol fuel card is accepted at more than 3,800 sites nationwide.
  • Shell CRT – Ideal for fleets running HGVs and LCVs, this fixed weekly price diesel-only card offers even bigger savings at hundreds of HGV-friendly core sites.

If you’re unsure about which fuel card is best for your business, get in touch with our team today. They’ll be happy to help with friendly, impartial advice on what options will be best for your business’ unique needs.

Selection of fuel filling nozzles at petrol station

Where can I use my fuel card?

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

With so many fuel card locations and options out there, it’s common that the question is asked, ‘where can I use my fuel card?’.

Where you can use your fuel card depends on the type of vehicles your fleet drives and where. You might just need localised cover, or national access, depending on where your business operates. You might already know what kind of coverage your fleet needs, but we would recommend requesting an audit from your current fuel card provider to make sure you have the correct coverage for your needs.

Supermarkets and inner city

If your fleet is mostly cars or vans and completes inner-city journeys, a fuel card that can be used at supermarket fuel stations could be the ideal solution. Some providers also allow you to collect supermarket points with your fuel card, which can be a handy bonus. For inner-city fuel stations that aren’t part of supermarkets, you can also choose a fuel card that allows you to use independent fuel stations based on networks.

Motorways

If your fleet or drivers mostly travel via motorway or A-roads, a supermarket fuel card probably isn’t suitable for your fleet. You can instead choose a fuel card that includes motorway sites or A-road locations, so your drivers needn’t leave the motorway to purchase fuel and can conveniently continue their journeys between filling up.

HGV sites

For fleets that specialise in haulage relying on HGV sites, a fuel card with access to HGV fuel stations is probably the optimal solution if you’re looking for the best option for saving time, especially when there’s a delivery deadline to meet. HGV sites are usually strategically placed on major trunk roads like A-roads and motorways for convenience when it comes to your fleet.

Which fuel networks are available to me?

Of course, which locations you can use with your fuel card depends entirely on the networks that are activated on your card. The main fuel networks are:

  • BP
  • Esso
  • Shell
  • Keyfuels
  • Texaco
  • UK Fuels

However; certain cards may give you access to a combination of specific networks on one card, or even all of them if you depend on independent or motorway fuel stations to fill up your fleet. These are sometimes known as flexi fuel cards and give you much more control over where your drivers can use their fuel cards.

How can I find out where my nearest fuel station is?

If you do decide on a specific network, your drivers might not automatically know where the next fuel station is, especially if they are travelling in unfamiliar parts of the country. Check out our pump locator to locate the nearest fuel station compatible with your fuel card.

If you want out find out more about how a fuel card can save your business up to 10p per litre, contact us today and join the 10,000+ customers who have joined Fuel Card Services.

Speedometer with 'telematics' written on it

Is telematics right for your fleet?

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Since vehicle telematics was introduced, there has been a debate as to whether or not the technology has any benefit to fleets and if they should use it.

There are common objections to vehicle telematics, however, there are many businesses who believe there is no question that this technology should be used. The benefits experienced in their operations, like increased productivity and efficiency, as well as an overall reduction in costs, make the choice to use vehicle telematics an obvious one.

Big brother is watching you

This theory tends to be one of the larger concerns for businesses when debating whether or not to implement vehicle telematics. You might also believe that drivers will think it will be an invasion of their privacy or a sign of distrust from management. Many fleet managers have a close relationship with their drivers (some may even be former drivers themselves) and may not feel it is necessary, doing more harm than good.

However, it’s important to understand what the going to vehicle telematics is. It’s not to get employees into trouble or invade on their privacy; the goal is to improve your business.

Measuring driver performance is simply another way to help your fleet become more productive, safer on the roads, and increase your company’s bottom line. If a business isn’t evaluating employee performance, then it’s likely that the fleet isn’t at its optimum performance.

Budget concerns

Some fleet professionals are of the view that vehicle telematics is much too expensive and they don’t have room in their budget to implement this technology. If finding a solution is not a priority for an organization, then it might not seem important to have to take the hit on this cost.

While there is an upfront cost to a quality telematics solution, it’s just as important to consider the long-term benefits that this might present. Quality vehicle telematics software has the capability to deliver at least 500% return on investment when it is used to its fullest.

Through an increase in efficiency, fuel savings, decreased labour costs and theft, businesses have been achieved a 100% ROI in just a few months of rolling out telematics technology to their fleet. Vehicle telematics help businesses save money in a multitude of ways and it should not be considered an expense, rather a tool to reduce cost and increase the overall revenue.

It’s too much hassle

You may feel that there simply isn’t enough time to devote to managing the software or even adding to your daily routine. It might also seem like a significant inconvenience for your vehicles to have downtime while the devices are installed. These are legitimate concerns to have about adding more responsibility to your workload.

It is however, one thing to know where your drivers are, but it’s a different matter altogether to know what they’re doing. Are they speeding? Are they arriving on time? These are key issues that cannot be addressed without the assistance of vehicle telematics. At the end of the day, any hassle you might experience by implementing the technology is vastly outweighed by the benefits to your company’s efficiency and bottom line.

A barrage of data

Big data tends to be an issue of conflict for fleet professionals. On the one hand, they know it encompasses valuable information about their fleet. On the other, they don’t know what to do with all that data they have access to. Nobody wants to spend hours looking at information that is irrelevant to their responsibilities.

However, the issue isn’t too much data, it’s the data isn’t being filtered or presented in a way that makes sense, or even more frustratingly, it isn’t being filtered at all. If you consider your accounting department; they don’t need to view the same data as dispatch or maintenance, so what would they need access to that information for? Filtering relevant data to whoever needs it will allow your business to best use the information gathered and turn it into actionable intelligence. Giving people the information they need, when they need to see it, will help your business become more efficient, cut unnecessary costs and generate the best return on your investment.

When considering the merits of telematics and if it is right for your business, think about the challenges you face at the moment and your long-term business goals. Telematics can give you the information you need to overcome todays challenges and get your ready to be more profitable in the future. Remember that your competition will, if they haven’t already, implement telematics to their fleet operations, so don’t fall behind!

Tele-gence telematics offers improved safety for your drivers, security for your vehicles and reduces costs across your entire fleet. It’s a flexible, fully customisable system that can be completely tailored to the needs of your fleet. It’s easy to use and fully supported by our dedicated UK-based team. Contact the Tele-gence team today to find out more.

White electric car with charger plugged in, blue graphics to indicate power

How can I keep electric cars charged?

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Electric vehicles (EVs) are coming. Sales of these models have been showing impressive growth recently, helped by improving technology and wider consumer acceptance. Indeed, more than one in ten cars sold in the UK 2020 were electric – a 66 per cent increase from 2019.

For now, petrol and diesel will continue to make up the majority of business fleets. These fuels are familiar, convenient and – with a good fuel card – cost-effective. But sooner or later, fleet managers will have to start looking at EVs. And this will mean new challenges as well as benefits.

Why the future is electric

A key reason why more people are going electric is because they’ll eventually have no choice. A government deadline is looming. After 2030, the sale of new petrol or diesel-only cars will be banned in the UK, though some hybrid models will still be allowed.

Carmakers have been responding to this. In just the last few weeks alone, the likes of Ford and Volvo have announced they intend to become all-electric by 2030. Jaguar is even more ambitious, aiming to remove new petrol and diesel models from its range by 2025.

Most firms, however, shouldn’t wait until they have no choice before looking at electric cars.

Thinking ahead means you’ll be much better-prepared for the time when it’s electric or nothing.

The benefits of going electric

The two major selling points of EVs are their environmental benefits and the potential for cost-savings. Some figures suggest busy users could save more than £1,000 in running costs, while fully-electric cars are also exempt from vehicle excise duty.

It can also boost your reputation among customers, who are keen to support companies that are making efforts to go green. What’s more, employees are in favour of this too.

According to research by Go Ultra Low, 70 per cent of employees want their company to offer EVs. What’s more, 63 per cent would prefer an electric car if they had the option. As well as the reduced running costs, more than half of company drivers (53 per cent) cite the environmental benefits as an appealing factor.

Some fleet managers might be concerned that they are losing the benefits of their fuel card by switching to EVs, but this is no longer the case. With an EV Charge Card, you can continue reaping the benefits of a fuel card, and it can also be used to pay for regular fuel!

The challenges facing electric fleet managers

However, EVs are not without their issues for fleet managers. And one of the biggest questions will be how you ensure they’re kept fully charged and available at all times.

While battery technology – and therefore range – has improved hugely in recent years, getting caught low on energy away from a charging point is still a concern for many. According to research by Venson, 69 per cent of motorists are worried by a lack of charging infrastructure. Therefore, this is always something you have to plan for.

You also need to factor in maintenance costs. As many electric cars are still relatively new, long-term costs are still unclear, but there are a few things to consider. On the plus side, because there are no moving parts or oil to change, day-to-day costs will often be cheaper. However, replacing a battery pack could cost thousands if it becomes damaged in a bump.

Where can I charge electric vehicles?

For most fleet managers, the number one issue will be charging. While there’s still work to do, the UK’s infrastructure has come a long way. There are now more than 35,000 public electric vehicle charging points around the UK at 13,000 locations, and the numbers are growing all the time.

In 2020, around 7,000 new connections were added to the network. Importantly, the biggest increases were in 150-350kW charging points, which promise much faster charging.

Many fleets will need to recharge their EVs overnight at on-site electric vehicle charging stations to ensure they have enough range for the following day’s activity. However, for those times where this isn’t possible, such as long-distance drives, you’ll need to take into account access to charging points when planning routes.

Drivers will also need to be equipped with electric vehicle charging cards to avoid any complex later expenses claims.

How long will charging take?

It’s still true that charging takes significantly longer than filling up a fuel tank with petrol or diesel. But the difference is not as big as it once was.

While it can still take up to eight hours to fully charge an EV, rapid chargers can offer 100-200-mile range in less than 30 minutes. This means if a driver is caught with low battery, they should at least be able to recharge enough to make it home, wherever they are.

There are a few factors to take into account when it comes to electric vehicle charging. These include:

  • The size of the battery
  • How many miles you do between charges
  • How you charge, such as topping up often or charging from low to full
  • The power rating of the charger

Should I install dedicated charging points?

If firms are going down the electric route, installing dedicated fast-charging points on site may be a necessity. You can’t rely on public electric vehicle charging stations to provide the fast, reliable service you need to stay on the road.

Charging points could be located at a compound for commercial vehicles or in an office’s car park. This will require an upfront investment, but some of these costs can be claimed back using the government’s Workplace Charging Scheme. This allows for a grant of up to 75 per cent of the cost of a socket, up to a maximum of £350 each and no more than 40 sockets across all a firm’s sites.

What about home charging?

If employees use company EVs kept at their home, they’ll likely charge them there more often than not.

This can bring its own range of issues. For example, how does the firm compensate employees for their use of domestic electricity? And what about the charger itself?

Using a standard mains outlet and three-point pin should only ever be a last resort, as it’s the slowest possible way of charging an EV. This means many employers will therefore need to assist with the cost of installing a home charging point. This can be made more complex if a landlord’s permission is needed or there is no off-street or garage parking available at the employee’s home.

However you charge EVs – at work, at home or at public charging sites – you’ll need the right tools to make it simple and cost-effective. We can expect to see more electric vehicle fuel cards become available in the coming years. However, if you want to know more today about how to add electric vehicles to your fleet and manage them alongside existing petrol and diesel cars, take a look at our EV Solutions.

A man uses a tablet while checking an HGV

The HGV daily walk around check: Why it’s vital for commercial vehicle operators

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

We should all do a once-over of the oil and tyres when going out in our own vehicles, but operators and drivers of HGVs have a legal requirement to do more.

By definition, these vehicles are significantly heavier than cars and could therefore pose a real risk to other road users if they are not properly maintained and cared for.

That’s why the HGV daily walk around check is a vital part of road safety. It’s also essential before every journey under Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) regulations.

Here, we’ll take a look at this part of the law in more detail and explain how and why HGV operators must adhere to it.

What is the HGV daily walk around check and why do it?

The HGV daily walk around check lays out what drivers need to inspect – both inside and outside their vehicles – before taking to the roads. It’s just as essential as scheduled maintenance checks like servicing, and it can be followed up on at any time by police.

It aims to pick up on faults – however minor – on commercial vehicles and ensure they are addressed before they worsen and become potentially dangerous.

This might seem like a chore, but the HGV daily walk around check could actually save you money. By finding defects on lorries early, both maintenance costs and vehicle downtime may be reduced in the long run.

Indeed, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), 85 per cent of lorry defects could be picked up during a simple walk around. Many are also quickly and inexpensively solved.

Logistics UK and the Road Haulage Association recommend that the HGV daily walk around check should take around 15 minutes if done properly. This means it must be factored in as an essential rather than skimmed over as an afterthought.

Furthermore, it could prove crucial should detailed records of a journey be required in the event of an accident.

What should be looked at during the walk around check?

Young female driver sitting in cab of truck

Inside the vehicle, drivers must check:

  • Mirrors
  • Windscreen and wipers
  • The front view
  • All dashboard gauges
  • The steering
  • The horn
  • Seatbelts
  • Brakes and air

Importantly, height is also a requirement, as outlined in Network Rail’s ‘Wise Up, Size Up’ campaign against HGV bridge strikes.

Outside the vehicle, drivers must check:

  • Lights
  • Reflectors and indicators
  • Fuel and oil
  • The battery
  • Exhaust fluid
  • Exhaust emissions
  • Spray suppression
  • Brakes
  • Electrical connections
  • Coupling security
  • Number plates
  • Tyres
  • Warning plates

The DVSA’s guidance lists everything that should be examined as part of a walk around in greater detail, and there is an accompanying video and diagram to act as a reminder.

Who is responsible for the HGV daily walk around check?

It is each individual driver’s responsibility to ensure daily walk around checks on their HGVs have been carried out prior to use.

Even if more than one driver uses a lorry and it has already been out on a particular day, the next driver must do their own inspection before they embark. This will ensure the vehicle is always roadworthy and safe, even if a new fault occurs between trips.

The HGV daily walk around check may be carried out by anyone provided they have been trained to do so, whether that is a driver or a mechanic.

Although drivers cannot be expected to scrutinise their vehicles in the way a mechanic might, they should be able to spot simple flaws that could be flagged up to someone with additional maintenance training.

Fleet and other commercial vehicle owners should provide initial training for every employee when they start, then top this up with refresher courses later on. This will ensure greater knowledge of new makes and models, as well as cover any new developments in terms of updated equipment and regulations.

Remember too that equipment such as waterproof clothing and torches must be provided so that employees can carry out inspections in all weathers without missing anything.

The DVSA regularly organises and runs seminars for training purposes, so this may be worth looking into.

Failure to carry out checks

If HGV drivers are failing to carry out their daily walk around checks, owners could stand to lose more than money in costly repairs.

DVSA officers and police have the legal right to stop commercial vehicles at any time to do inspections at the roadside. Under these circumstances, they will likely ask for the records of the walk around check.

If any issues are discovered that should already have been noted and repaired as part of daily maintenance, the driver may have their vehicle confiscated and an on-the-spot fine issued.

Should the HGV be deemed unroadworthy or dangerous, both the driver and the operator may face the prospect of criminal prosecution, a public inquiry and even a prison sentence.

In the unfortunate event of an accident, daily walk around check records will also be pulled up. Should they prove lacking, the driver and the operator could find themselves liable and face considerable insurance issues.

DVSA records state that 35,744 prohibitions were handed out in 2018-19, with tyres, brake systems, steering and indicators among the most common faults.

How to record the HGV daily walk around check

A driver records information on a tablet near an HGV.

All HGV operators must have a system in place for recording and reporting their daily walk around checks. Templates can be found online to download so that drivers have their own book of vehicle walk around sheets and defect forms.

Should defects be discovered, drivers must report them so further action can be taken. They should not use the vehicle until the defect has been fixed.

On their defect forms, the following information should be recorded:

  • Time and date of defect discovery
  • Description of defect
  • Action taken to mitigate effects

How a daily walk around check app could help

Although paper forms remain a legally acceptable method of recording and reporting vehicle defects, they are subject to disadvantages. Drivers may lose or damage them, and some may even be tempted to backdate them in a bid to set off more quickly.

Operators also have the problem of having to transfer data from paper forms into an electronic system for their records.

In a digital age, a daily walk around check app such as MyDriveSafe offers an electronic version of this traditionally manual inspection process.

Apps are easy to use, reduce the likelihood of errors, make it easy to comply with government safety standards and boost efficiency, meaning drivers will save time while still sticking to the law.

Users can record information using Quick Reference (QR) codes on their vehicles, including photographic evidence and time and date details, with the results sent to operators’ fleet management systems in real time.

This provides an auditable trail should any issues crop up with vehicles at a later date.

With new updated guidance from the DVSA on HGV daily walk around checks available online – and in video form for mobile devices – as well as apps to help carry them out, there really is no excuse not to be on top of this part of the law.

To find out more about how tools like MyDriveSafe can help ensure your fleet is safe and compliant with the law, get in touch with our team today.