Author: Simon Pavey

Figure laying out orange cones with car parked in background

Educating drivers on the use of telematics

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Educating drivers correctly is essential to managing a successful and efficient fleet; saving both time and fuel. While you may consider your employees to be experienced and proficient drivers, regular training can only help build their knowledge and awareness of potential risks, and how best to cope with them.

Fleet managers should be educating their car and van fleet drivers on two major things: utilising telematics tools and minimising fleet downtime.

Utilising telematics is also imperative when managing an economical fleet. Last year, BP launched a new driver and fuel management platform called BP FleetMove. Designed in partnership with TomTom Telematics, the enhanced driver and fuel management product has been designed to improve fleet efficiency. The telematics tool allows drivers to access accurate vehicle data from a central dashboard showing fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and driver efficiency scores. It also allows drivers to keep on top of maintenance and servicing with a clear centralised view of in-car diagnostics.

One of the greatest sources of frustration for fleet managers is unplanned vehicle downtime, sometimes known as ‘vehicle off-road time’ (VOR) and the time that it loses your business due to unscheduled repairs and servicing. It goes without saying that VOR can cause huge disruptions to your fleet’s operations and can add to your operational costs. Research suggests that many operators put the cost of having a vehicle off road between £3,000 and £4,000 per day and some register an average of three VOR days per year.

Therefore, it is crucial to educate your drivers about carrying out robust routine checks. Regular preventative maintenance and servicing is fundamental to keep your vehicles in good working order, but you should try to schedule such work for a time that will cause least impact for your fleet’s operations, such as the weekend. By making this compulsory, your drivers can identify and report any minor issues before they worsen and begin to interfere with the performance of the vehicle.

If you want to start saving your diesel & petrol bills, then look no further than our own BP fuelcard, for more information, click here: https://www.fuelcardservices.com/brand-bp/

Highways England reveals worst day for breakdowns

Highways England reveals worst day for breakdowns

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Highways England has issued a plea for all drivers to commit to checking their vehicles more regularly, after figures showed the most common day for breakdowns is a Friday.

The government-owned company pointed out that even the most basic checks can help motorists reduce the risk of their car breaking down.

 

Simple precautions

Highways England recorded nearly 36,000 breakdowns on Fridays throughout 2018, compared to just over 29,000 on Sundays. The total number of breakdowns throughout the year was more than 223,000.

The company, which is responsible for England’s motorways and major A-roads, launched a dedicated campaign to highlight the positive impact even simple checks can have on car reliability and road safety.

It recommended:

  • Checking tyres (especially before long journeys) to see that the pressure is suitable for the load and they are in good condition. Look out for cuts and make sure the tread depth is at least 1.6mm.
  • Using the engine dipstick to check oil regularly and top up when necessary. Take your car to a garage if you’re topping up more than usual.
  • Keeping windscreen washer fluid topped up to maintain a clean windscreen and good visibility.
  • Checking indicators, hazard lights, headlights, fog lamps, reverse lights and brake lights to be sure they’re working properly.
  • Look at your fuel level before setting off and make sure you have enough to reach your destination.

Richard Leonard, head of road safety at Highways England, said: “We want everyone to get to their destination safely and drivers can help themselves by carrying out simple checks before they set off. Breakdowns can often be prevented by carrying out basic checks.”

Simple steps and protective measures can reduce your risk of breaking down, but to keep your car in prime condition it’s best to take it to the professionals.

MyService.Expert from Fuel Card Services can help you save money on servicing and maintenance at thousands of garages across the UK.

Car maintenance calendar, how often do you need to run checks

Car maintenance calendar – how often do you need to run checks?

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Every motorist should give some thought to vehicle maintenance, since a well looked-after car will be safer, more reliable and easier to drive.

If you want your car to serve you well for as long as possible, one of the wisest things you can do is come up with a maintenance calendar. This will help you to keep up with important checks, ensuring you don’t overlook problems or faults that will get worse over time.

Maintenance calendar

The RAC recommends using the following system:

  • Regular maintenance: Basic car maintenance is something you should do yourself on a regular basis – ideally once every couple of weeks, or before a long journey. Keep an eye on things like oil and water levels in the engine, tyre pressure and all your lights, including indicators, reverse lights, brake lights and fog lamps.
  • Interim service: Arranging an interim service every six months or 6,000 miles (whichever comes first) will help you keep your car in the best condition.
  • Full service: Manufacturers recommend that cars are fully serviced every 12,000 miles or 12 months – whichever comes first. Some vehicles feature diagnostic systems that will tell you when a service is due.

Don’t rely on the MOT

Your car will undergo essential checks as part of its annual MOT, but it’s important to remember that servicing and MOT inspections are very different things.

The point of the MOT is to complete a technical safety inspection of the vehicle to ensure it’s fit to be on the road.

A service, on the other hand, looks for general wear and tear and will replace parts and fluids if necessary, so you can feel confident your car is always in the best condition.

Other benefits of regular servicing

One of the best reasons to get your car serviced on a regular basis is to identify issues quickly. This reduces the risk of a minor fault or mechanical defect – which could be a straightforward fix if it’s spotted early – escalating into a more serious problem that will be costly and complicated to remedy.

Early detection also gives you the luxury of time in thinking about how to arrange and pay for any work required, rather than having to fork out for emergency repairs when something goes wrong.

If you use your car a lot, you’ll know that gradual deterioration of parts is a common problem in high-mileage vehicles. Servicing will help you keep your car healthy over the long term, ensuring that essential systems like the brakes and suspension don’t let you down when you need them most.

Finally, keeping on top of checks and maintenance will maintain the value of your car. If, at some point in the future, you decide to sell the vehicle, being able to provide a thorough service history will help you justify a higher price.

 

MyService.Expert from Fuel Card Services can help you realise the many benefits of consistent car maintenance with useful tools including calendar alerts for services and MOTs.

Dewar Fork Trucks - enjoying the benefits of cheaper fuels

Dewar’s Fork Trucks: We’re enjoying the benefits of cheaper fuel

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

We pride ourselves on our customer support here at Fuel Card Services, as well as our ability to help clients get the most out of their money where fleet management is concerned.

So it was great to hear that one of our customers – St Albans-based forklift truck supplier Dewar’s Fork Trucks – has enjoyed top-notch service and made valuable savings since switching to us.

 

Good service and value for money

Elizabeth Clarke of Dewar’s Fork Trucks got in touch with us to share the company’s experiences since switching to Fuel Card Services.

Having spent several years paying a premium rate for fuel from another provider, the company decided to switch to us after Elizabeth got all the information she needed from one of our account managers, Mike Anderson.

Elizabeth said Mike was “very patient” and answered every question she had, and since making the move Dewar’s Fork Trucks have been “pleasantly surprised” by the amount of money they’re saving.

“Mike has always answered the few queries I’ve had since changing over to Fuel Card Limited promptly and adequately.  I’m very impressed by his customer service,” Elizabeth added.

The company uses a combination of lorries, cars and vans, drawing both petrol and diesel fuel and spending about £1,000 each month.

It’s great to receive this positive feedback from a switching customer, and we’ll be working hard to ensure Dewar’s Fork Trucks stay happy and keep saving money in the future.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “A big well done to Mike for the hard work he’s put in to bring this client onboard and keep them happy. We’re always delighted to hear from a satisfied customer!”

1 in 4 HGV fleet operators 'still not using telematics'

1 in 4 HGV fleet operators ‘still not using telematics’

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Fleet managers can gain a range of benefits from introducing telematics across their vehicles, including more efficient route planning and safety improvements through effective driver monitoring.

The latest research has provided insights into how widely this technology is being adopted across the fleet industry, with some (predominantly smaller) firms yet to recognise the benefits of telematics.

An ‘exciting new chapter’

A fleet management study supported by Commercial Motor and Motor Transport found that a quarter of operators have not yet introduced telematics across their HGVs.

Those reporting that they didn’t use this technology at all were mainly smaller operators running up to five vehicles.

All companies that were managing fleets of 500 trucks or more had deployed telematics at some level.

There was an even split in responses when companies were asked whether they used a single telematics provider for their fleets, or a combination of different systems.

A third of respondents that were using more than one supplier said this approach made it more difficult for them to gain maximum benefits from the data available.

Lorraine Sculley of Fraikin, which commissioned the research, said telematics systems have developed well past the point of simply being used for vehicle tracking.

“They are now providing access to incredible amounts of data designed to maximise operational efficiency, increase driver safety and improve vehicle reliability,” she added.

“We are at the beginning of an exciting new chapter where data, and how we use it, will make the difference in efficiency and profitability.”

Adoption of telematics is also on the rise among consumers, with recent research by Compare the Market predicting a “boom” in car insurance policies based on the technology.

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “Given the wide range of benefits and opportunities it offers, telematics could shape the future of fleet management in the UK. The businesses that are quickest to adopt this technology could see the biggest advantages.”

 

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