Author: Simon Pavey

Brown car driving in frosty conditions, trees either side of the road covered in snow

Freezy does it with MyService.Expert

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Storms Ciara and Dennis were impressive, and now there’s snow, this year’s winter is bringing all kinds of ‘nasty’. Poor visibility and more variable road conditions mean drivers need complete confidence that their vehicle will keep them safe and sound.

At Fuel Card Services, we take the responsibility of fleet service and maintenance seriously and you can with MyService.Expert.

Dodge potential cold weather pitfalls and book a free winter health check from an approved garage near you using MyService.Expert. These chosen garages have made a genuine investment in delivering high standards of service and expertise. They will inspect tyres, wipers, lights, transmissions, battery, exhaust, oil levels, brakes suspension and coolant levels.

Tom Cosway, Head of Commercial Business at Fuel Card Services, says, “For delivery drivers, construction workers and tradespeople, the winter can be a particularly tough time with earlier morning starts in the dark. We’re helping out at MyService.Expert to make sure the weather doesn’t put the freeze on your business.”

It’s free and straightforward to join, and there are lots of benefits. Here is how it works: One of your vehicles is due for a service. MyService.Expert will send you an alert, then provide discounted costs from garages near you. You compare and select. We pay the garage and then invoice you. Easy.

The benefits of joining do not end there: Fuel Card Services’ partnership with these experts means you typically save 30% on work in comparison to going direct to a franchise dealer.

There is no joining fee, and no minimum contract to register your vehicles online. Also, there is no minimum number of cars, vans or HGVs.

Simplify your vehicle maintenance by booking work via the online portal. Here you can job authorise and pre-negotiate discount rates that cover servicing, repairs and maintenance. It also includes tyre replacement or repairs

The costings are transparent, based upon thorough working knowledge and up-to-date automotive data. Plus all genuine parts and repairs are protected under warranty.

All costs need your online approval before work begins. Doing this action is smooth, MyService.Expert is accessible anywhere and at any time on a WiFi connected device.

Just like your Fuel Card Services provides visible costings to keeping your business moving with fuel; think of MyService.Expert as your vehicle maintenance expense solution.

Visit MyService.Expert today.

Aerial view of city with graphics to indicate connectivity and tracking

Tracking your route to success with Tele-Gence

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Today’s fleets are under tremendous pressure to deliver reliable, efficient and legal operations. The reality of being able to see drivers and the performance of each vehicle in real-time – all on one screen – is here.

At Fuel Card Services, we take the responsibility of fleet management seriously, which is why we offer our affordable telematics system called Tele-Gence. Our solution delivers intelligent fuel management by integrating fuel card and live tracking data, resulting in MPG improvement by 20%. It is intuitive and alert-driven, it offers in-depth reporting on pump pricing, driver behaviour, fuel fraud, vehicle tracking and more – with no long-term commitment and no start-up fee.

Tom Cosway, Head of Commercial Business at Fuel Card Services, adds, “Tele-Gence’s visibility enables organisations to provide better service for their customers – it’s no longer a ‘nice to have’ but a ‘have to have’ solution.”

Tele-Gence is all about smart, affordable telematics made simple. Our range of user-friendly services is fully customisable with bespoke options scalable to your specific needs, with frictionless access from anywhere in the Cloud, and support from a UK-based customer service team.

Tele-Gence gives you full access to fuel data, with accurate MPG reporting to eliminate fraud. Our device is tamper-secure and small and easy to hide. The software is industry agnostic allowing us to select the right solutions based on the exact requirements for your business. This bespoke service allows you the choice of an intelligent fuel management tracking solution by integrating your fuel card data. It works by giving you greater visibility of your fleet, using the creation of multi-shaped geo-fences or zones around fuel stations or work sites, for example, to pinpoint, alert, report and manage your fleet efficiently.

Tele-Gence offers dash cams and live camera feed, which is an incredibly useful tool for fleet managers, providing insight into driver behaviour, fuel consumption, and many other valuable areas. Use it to monitor, evaluate, advise and improve driver behaviour, route planning, and sustainability.

Tele-Gence is part of our integrated services for Fuel Card Service cardholders which you can register for support for free at My Fleet Hub a one-stop solution for all your drivers and vehicles.

Book a free demo today – you’ve nothing to lose except the cost and hassle of not using it!

Interior of car, gadgets and display on screen

One-third of drivers ‘don’t know how to use in-car tech’

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

New cars are packed full of the latest technology and gadgets, with everything from in-car entertainment to satellite navigation, connected telematics and much more.

That said, the plethora of tech within the latest models can be confusing for some of us, so it’s perhaps unsurprising to learn that more than a third of UK drivers do not know how to use all the features of their own vehicles.

Lack of training leaving many in the dark

Research carried out ahead of this year’s British Motor Show has revealed that 35 per cent of UK car owners admit to being unable to effectively use a host of systems that come built-in to their vehicle.

Indeed, 20 per cent of respondents stated they understand how to use less than half of the technology at their disposal, while ten per cent said they use only a fifth of the technological capabilities of their car and instead “just drive it”.

Andy Entwistle, CEO of the British Motor Show, commented: “Our industry should be extremely proud of the technology it has and the show is the perfect opportunity to show it off, but it’s clear that consumers need greater understanding about just how technologically advanced cars are.”

The study revealed that one of the biggest hindrances to usability of many of the latest in-car systems is not enough information being shared by dealers when the vehicle is being purchased. This was a complaint by 71 per cent of drivers.

Overall, 25 per cent of respondents claimed they were given no information whatsoever on how to use the features of their car when they bought it, or even which features it had to offer.

That said, motorists wishing to learn more can always do so by simply reviewing their vehicle’s user manual.

Cutting edge technology for a new decade

All in all, many of the newest cars are a dream come true for your typical technophile, and this year’s Motor Show aims to put the very latest gadgets, gizmos and automotive aids at the centre of its offering.

“Pioneering tech will play a huge part at the British Motor Show 2020,” Mr Entwistle argued.

“We’ll have the innovators of the past, present and future all together in one location and provide show visitors with the opportunity to immerse themselves in all of the latest and greatest tech that the car industry has to offer.

“The show will also give those who feel less confident with the technology or who simply don’t understand it the chance to find out more without the pressure of a hard sales environment.”

Running from August 20th to 23rd at Farnborough International in north-east Hampshire, this year’s Motor Show is expected to attract crowds of more than 50,000 visitors and tickets are now on sale.

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “Getting to grips with the huge increase in built-in technologies can be a challenge for today’s drivers, but with so many hidden features not being utilised to the full, it might pay for many people to do a bit of research – you never know what essential driver aids you could be missing out on.”

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

Close up of front of black car

3 easy steps to keep your car in top condition

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Vehicle maintenance can be a confusing affair; when do you need to check your tyres, how often should you be topping up your engine fluids? These are all valid questions that every motorist should bear in mind.

That said, there are some easy things you can do to ensure you’re keeping on top of these essential checks that will ultimately mean your vehicle remains in the best possible condition and performs to the full each time you take to the open road.

1. Create a vehicle maintenance checklist

Knowing what needs to be regularly checked on your vehicle to ensure it is properly maintained is half the battle for owners, so it pays to set up a maintenance checklist that can act as a reminder of the different components that you should be keeping an eye on.

From daily checks that should be carried out every journey, to weekly, monthly and even annual inspections, as an owner, you should be aware of when each part of your vehicle needs to be inspected for signs that it needs to be replaced.

2. Get into the habit of daily inspections

One thing to remember is that some parts of your car will need to be inspected every time you take to the roads. Components like tyres and lights fall into this group. By carrying out these daily checks, you significantly reduce the likelihood of suffering a breakdown.

Before every journey, take the time to check over your electrical systems to ensure the lights are illuminating properly all around the vehicle, while each tyre should be inspected for any unexpected wear and tear that could lead to a failure. Drivers should also check that the pressure of their tyres is correct in order to ensure maximum efficiency.

3. Arrange for a regular service

Finally, there really is no replacement for having your vehicle professionally serviced at least every year. A professional mechanic will be able to identify any problems with your vehicle and will let you know if parts need replacing to ensure it stays in good working order.

They can also let you know if parts are beginning to show signs of wear and tear and will need replacing in the near future, thereby allowing you to plan ahead and not be struck by any unexpected repair bills.

MyService.Expert is a fantastic product that helps to ensure you’re keeping your vehicles in the best condition possible at all times.

Our nationwide network of partners means you can always find a garage near you, while our commitment to value means those who sign up can enjoy savings of up to 25 per cent on all parts and labour.

RFT Services: FCS account managers are 'helpful, knowledgeable and professional'

RFT Services: FCS account managers are ‘helpful, knowledgeable and professional’

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Ensuring our staff are knowledgeable, professional and always helpful is the cornerstone of our customer service commitment at Fuel Card Services.

Being able to offer a comprehensive service that fully meets the needs of our clients is something we see as central to our business.

Always willing to go above and beyond

Nolan Cook, fleet manager at RFT Services, recently contacted us to highlight his personal gratitude for the excellent service his account manager Donna has been able to provide.

“Fuel Card Services provided us with an extremely helpful, knowledgeable and professional account manager,” Nolan said.

“Donna was instrumental in our current choice of card and, although we haven’t managed to achieve huge cost savings, we have got the service we require in the areas we require it. This service is absolutely vital in our business and our driving factor for the supply of fuel cards we need. ”

RFT Services was established in 2013 and is based in Norfolk, offering social housing services across the East of England. The firm operates a mixed fleet of mainly vans – more than 200 in total – and has a monthly spend of approximately £60,000.

The company makes use of the Allstar fuel card and draws both petrol and diesel fuels.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Donna has done a fantastic job in going above and beyond to meet the needs of RFT and it’s something all our account managers aim to deliver with every client.”