Author: Simon Pavey

Photo of an electric vehicle charging station

Is EV right for your entire fleet?

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

With electric vehicles (EV) moving further and further up the agenda, fleet managers will need to make vital decisions on how, why and when to transition in the future. While some may say the move to an EV or even to a plug-in hybrid vehicle is inevitable, there are many things to consider when switching an entire fleet to being electric. The needs of each driver and vehicle will be different, so while some might be ready, others won’t be and managing this effectively will be crucial. Taking the plunge to electric can often be daunting but there is no reason to be apprehensive. As ever, research is key and BP offers some helpful advice to make sure you’re making the right decision for your fleet.

Range:

Range anxiety seems to be the biggest thing playing on drivers’ minds when considering the switch to an electric vehicle. While the charging network is growing and always being improved, particularly with infrastructure being put in place by the Polar Network, you should consider the effect charging time will have on your fleet especially if your drivers will be required to make long journeys. Drivers can easily plan ahead using mapping tools online to see where charging points are on their routes and with more and more charging points being installed on to forecourts and charging hubs being built near key routes, there is no need to worry.

Charging:

Many fleet managers will switch to EV to make fuel cost savings by charging however you should be aware that cost saving can be most effective when the majority of charging is carried out overnight at home, taking advantage of lower electricity rates. So while new infrastructure offers convenience and peace of mind on the road, drivers’ capability to charge at home is something important to consider within your fleet.

Cost:

Fleet managers need to consider the long term gains when weighing up the cost of switching to electric, and consider the upfront cost of the vehicle against savings on fuel, tax and maintenance. BP’s Fuel and Charge card, which can be used by fleet drivers to pay for petrol, diesel or electricity, offers flexibility for fleets who don’t want the restraints or the cost of committing an entire contract to EV, giving you the time to make the right decision. The shift to EV is happening and at BP we are committed to helping our customers on their journey to a EV fleet.

Need help making your EV transition easier? Take a look at our EV solutions, where you can get help with charging at home, or get an EV Charge Card to make charging on the road cheaper and more convenient.

Britain BP takes care of London and Dartford tolls

Drive Britain from BP takes care of Dartford and London tolls

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

BP Fuel Card customers who drive in London or use the Dartford crossing can now apply for its Drive Britain service and let it take care of the tolls automatically.

Part of BP On Road Services, Drive Britain will automatically take care of trips using the Dartford Crossing meaning you have one less thing to worry about. Once vehicles are registered, the system makes payments automatically, records the transaction and combines the cost in one easy fuel card invoice.

Drive Britain Plus will also include management of the London Congestion Charge (LCC) in the same system, and there is also an option to use the LCC functionality as a stand-alone service.

Andy Allen, UK Fuel Card Manager, BP Fuel Cards, said: “Our customers have told us that the administration around paying these tolls can be a real headache – especially when it comes to new vehicles. By registering with our On The Road Services like Drive Britain and Drive Britain Plus, fleet managers and their drivers can be confident that Dartford Crossing and LCC tolls are taken care of and they won’t be receiving an unwanted fine in the post.”

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

Godwin Transport GB: Building happy relationships with customers is key to success

Godwin Transport GB: Building happy relationships with customers is key to success

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Building positive relationships with our customers that stand the test of time is a cornerstone of our business philosophy.

It’s therefore always a pleasure to receive positive feedback from our clients, as we aim to ensure every customer receives the best possible level of care, support and attention.

 

A great start on which to build

Chris Goodman, transport manager at Godwin Transport GB, recently contacted us to highlight the excellent start to our relationship with his firm after the company recently joined Fuel Card Services.

He said: “I am very happy with the help and information provided every step of the way by [our account manager] Leanne.”

Chris described how she “went above and beyond in helping us get set up”.

It’s not just the positive customer support that has impressed him to date, however, as Chris went on to add: “The type of cards and where to use them are important to us for our buses and the recommendations [made by Leanne] will help us to operate a controlled and profitable business.

“I look forward to a happy relationship, if the service received so far is anything to go by.”

Godwin Transport GB is a coach travel provider based in Peterborough. The company makes use of the Shell fuel card to draw diesel fuel for its fleet of 14 coaches and minibuses. The firm has a monthly spend of approximately £28,000.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Such a positive start to our relationship bodes well for the future, and it’s this extra level of care and attention that we provide to every client that helps us to stand apart from our competition.”

Roswick: Going above and beyond is the FCS way

Roswick: Going above and beyond is the Fuel Card Services way

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Support for our clients is our number one priority at Fuel Card Services, as we always aim to go above and beyond in helping them to save and have a great experience when working with us.

As such, it’s fantastic to hear from customers who have had a positive experience with Fuel Card Services, and that’s been the case with the latest feedback we’ve received from construction specialist Roswick.

 

Doing our best to meet our customers’ needs

Laura Dowd, office manager and buyer at Roswick, praised the efforts of the firm’s account manager Donna, adding that she is “always helpful and willing to go the extra mile”.

It’s fantastic recognition of the efforts of our account management team, and Donna in particular, as this is precisely what we want to hear from our customers when they get in touch.

Moreover, Laura described Fuel Card Services as the “best fuel company we have ever come across for both price and services” – quite the endorsement, we hope you agree.

Roswick operate a fleet of 14 vehicles and their drivers draw both petrol and diesel using fuel cards from Fuel Card Services.

The company is a civil engineering, utilities and concrete frame provider based in north-west England. They were founded in 2011.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “To receive such glowing feedback for Donna and to be told that we’re ‘the best fuel company’ the client’s ever worked with is simply amazing. We always aim to deliver the very best in customer service and this latest testimonial goes to show that our efforts are not going unrecognised.”

Fleet owners should do more to keep drivers safe

Fleet owners ‘should do more’ to keep drivers safe

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

A safety organisation has urged fleet and business owners to do more to keep their drivers safe after its study found the number of collisions caused by drivers at work has increased.

IAM RoadSmart highlighted Department for Transport figures showing there were 5,506 serious and fatal crashes in Britain involving an at-work driver last year, up from the 5,442 seen a decade earlier.

Disappointing progress

In its white paper The Role of Business Drivers, the body criticised the ‘disappointing lack of progress’ and called for ‘urgent action’ to tackle the stagnation.

According to a survey carried out as part of the research, a significant contributing factor could be poor business practices, with 49 per cent of business leaders saying they expect their employees to answer their phone at all times – even if they are driving.

It’s perhaps not surprising, then, that 17 per cent of those polled said they had been involved in an incident while driving for work due to a phone call from a colleague.

Furthermore, 13 per cent of employees and six per cent of leaders said they think the hard shoulder of a motorway is an acceptable place to take a business call.

IAM RoadSmart spokesperson Neil Greig said he finds the results of the research alarming.

“Employers need to do more to drive change across their workforce and to take their responsibilities to keep staff safe, particularly when they’re behind the wheel for business,” he added.

This comes just two months after research by Lightfoot found 12 per cent of fleet drivers who had had a crash cited phone calls during their journey as the primary cause of their accident.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Again, this disturbing news shows some fleet staff may be feeling so under pressure from deadlines and targets that they are compromising the safety of themselves and others. Please ensure all your staff have the time and space they need to complete every journey safely.”