The latest fleet news

VermillionMVT: How businesses can benefit with PDA mobile job management

VermillionMVT, the Preston based fleet management business and a leading provider of application tracking software and flexible technology solutions for businesses and individuals, is eager to explain the broad range of benefits of PDA mobile job management to those businesses that may not be familiar with such technology that offers an immediate return on investment. PDA [...]

Continued surge in student numbers enables unemployment to fall

Continued surge in student numbers enables unemployment to fall, despite fewer people in work as private sector sheds jobs, says CIPD Dr John Philpott, Chief Economic Adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) comments as follows on official labour market statistics published earlier today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which update [...]

Almost 50% agree with plans to fine drivers who leave engines running

Nearly half of people agree with plans to fine drivers who leave their engines running unnecessarily according to a new poll by Motorpoint. Some 47% of motorists surveyed by the car supermarket giant backed the move by North Lincolnshire Council to charge drivers £20 every time they leave their engine running for too long while loading [...]

IMI honour top industry achievers

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) celebrated the achievements of automotive companies and individuals in the Skillmiles scheme at its Annual Dinner last week in the presence of the Institute’s Patron, HRH Prince Michael of Kent. In front of an audience of more than 340 industry executives who attended the prestigious annual event at The [...]

Honda: affected models are not sold in Europe

Honda will recall approximately 344,000 Odyssey and 68,000 Element vehicles from the 2007-2008 model years in the US to modify the Vehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA®) modulator. Honda has received customer complaints of brake pedals that feel "soft" or that gradually exhibit a pedal height that gets lower (closer to the floor) before the vehicle stops. In [...]

Too expensive to fill up! Fleet Voice

Fleet Voice Column. March 17, 2010. The 2010 Formula One Season kicked off in Bahrain and saw Spaniard Fernando Alonso take a win on his Ferrari debut. It was a mixed event for British challengers, as Lewis Hamilton made it onto the third step of the podium, however reigning world champion, Jenson Button had a frustrating [...]

Responsible young drivers can earn insurance savings

As part of its campaign to address the most at-risk drivers on our roads – young drivers – the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) has provided an incentive for young drivers to be safer. IAM Surety Insurance, offered exclusively to IAM members via Adelaide Insurance, has until now been targeted at drivers aged 21 and above. [...]

Lex Autolease survey reveals company cars mean fast cash for UK businesses

Lex Autolease, the UK’s largest company car and van provider has recently commissioned a survey, in partnership with YouGov, which has highlighted the growth funds being raised through ‘sale and leaseback’ agreements with one in four (27%) financial directors intend to offload company-owned vehicles in a bid to raise more cash. The survey reveals that [...]

Lombard: Fundamentals of Salary Sacrifice need to be understood by fleets

Lombard Vehicle Management, the UK’s largest asset finance company are warning that fleets need to have a better appreciation of the fundamentals when it comes to salary sacrifice. Whist they may be flavour of the month a lack of understanding of what is involved in this type of scheme may spell problems for both employer [...]

‘Not a drop; not a drag’ campaign steps up a gear

Road safety charity Brake and Direct Line today reveal an overwhelming cry from the British public for Government action to 20curb the menace of drink and drug driving. The call comes in the same month as the findings from an inquiry on drink and drug driving by Lord Peter North for the Department for Transport are [...]

Toyota say recall programme on course

One month on from the launch of Toyota’s accelerator recall campaign, work has been completed on more than half – 90,000-plus – of the cars that have been identified as requiring attention. An even larger proportion of recalled Prius models have received adjustment to their braking software programme with 58 per cent of the affected vehicles [...]

The CIPD People Management Awards to celebrate good practice through recession in 2010

Nominations for the 2010 Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) People Management Awards are now officially open. Standard categories such as Employee engagement and Organisational learning will be contested as normal, alongside The Michael Kelly Outstanding Student Award, introduced this year to recognise the contribution CIPD students make to business success. An overall winner [...]

Bank of England study adds dose of realism to assessment of UK labour market outlook

Responding to today’s analysis in the latest Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin of UK labour market adjustment during the recession, the CIPD’s Chief Economic Adviser, John Philpott, says that Bank officials have produced a realistic assessment of the outlook for jobs: “The Bank of England study adds a dose of realism to the view that [...]

April’s bike tyre safety month

Free campaign materials are now available for motorcycle dealers, tyre retailers, specialist repairers and motorcycle accessory shops enabling them to participate in April’s bike tyre safety month. The campaign is being organised by leading tyre safety action group, TyreSafe, and aims to raise awareness about the importance of correct tyre care and maintenance at this [...]

Ian Lucas plugs in to the UK’s first solar-powered electric vehicle charging point

Business Minister Ian Lucas yesterday announced £8.4m funding for a new training centre for the low carbon vehicle industry, meeting students from Gateshead College who will be using it to learn new low carbon skills. The new centre will train those already working in the sector, young people and adults, and students from age 14 upwards [...]

Ebbon-Dacs warns companies of the cost of using outdated technology

Ebbon-Dacs, the Oxford-based online solutions provider, is warning companies that employing outdated technologies to source and buy their new vehicles could be costing their businesses dearly. The supplier of the fleet industry’s leading e-procurement solution, Leaselink, used by 10 of the UK’s 15 largest contract hire and leasing companies to source and procure new vehicles electronically, [...]

New LPG rental service set help businesses save

A new vehicle hire company aims to provide businesses with a low cost, low carbon vehicle hire solution. As the UK’s first all-LPG vehicle hire firm, Wolverhampton-based Auto LPG Vehicle Hire provides business customers with a range of LPG vehicles including Ford Transits and Citroen Berlingos, available for short term hire. The firm offers flexible [...]

Comment: Brake urges cross-party support on lower drink-drive limit

The Sunday Times has reported that Lord Adonis, the transport secretary, expects an official review of the drink and drug drive laws by Sir Peter North to recommend reducing the legal drink-drive limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg. He said he would take this “very seriously” and added: “A strong [...]

January’s motor finance sales up almost a quarter on previous year

The latest motor finance figures from the Finance & Leasing Association showed that the return of the 17.5% VAT rate and heavy snowfall impacted on sales in January, but consumer new car finance sales were up almost a quarter on last year. Consumers bought 23% more new cars using motor finance through dealers in January than [...]

TomTom App now offers HD traffic and local search

TomTom have today announced several enhancements to its TomTom app for iPhone, including HD traffic compatibility and Local Search powered by Google. These new features hope to ensure optimal routing and an even more intuitive navigation experience. The latest version of the TomTom app (Version 1.3) can be purchased on the App Store starting today. “TomTom continues to [...]

Driver Licence Check

Active Risk Management

As a leading provider of fleet risk management services, with many years' experience working with some of the largest UK insurers, intermediaries and fleet operators, Active Risk Management (the trading style of THB Risk Management Limited) can help vehicle fleet operators comply with legislative requirements in a manner that is proportionate and cost effective. Fleet operators who work with us can expect to see their incident frequency reduce substantially. Our extensive range of flexible solutions can be matched to meet the exact needs of your business no matter what size of company fleet you have - we are able to offer training for fleets that range from 1 – 20,000 vehicles. Active Risk Management works because it delivers training in your drivers' real working environment.

Advanced Checking Services Limited

UK driving licence checking services. Do you have a company car fleet, company drivers or employees who drive their cars on company business? You spent time to find the right person for the job. They ticked all the right boxes. You followed up their references. You may even have carried out a medical and a disclosure check. But do you know if they have a valid driving licence? Taking a photocopy of your drivers’ licences may no longer be sufficient to show a ‘Duty of Care’. AdvancedCheck™ will provide you with secure online access to the results of your drivers check, giving you driver information when you need it with full reporting functionality. Full reports available online.

CBVC Vehicle Management Ltd

CBVC Vehicle Management Ltd (CBVC) are a leading independent provider of vehicle management services; improving the efficiency and effectiveness of client vehicle operations, leading to enhanced business performance and profitability. Since 1998, we have worked closely with a wide range of businesses operating between 25 and 1,000 vehicles, providing cars and light commercial vehicles of every make and model alongside expert fleet management advice that gets results. Whatever the requirements – from selecting the right vehicle, choosing the appropriate funding method, maintenance and operational management through to sale and disposal – we work closely with clients to ensure that our services and solutions fit perfectly.

Driven Ltd

Driven Ltd offers a range of driver training solutions, helping all types of drivers develop and improve their knowledge and skill levels along with an important overall boost in confidence. This in turn has a number of benefits, generally creating overall improvements in driver safety and control, which will quickly help to reduce costs, claims and statistics! We can work with your company developing the skill levels within an individual or fleet of drivers to create a safe and responsible system of driving at work. Reducing the risks to employees and satisfying the corporate responsibilities of employers.

DriverCheck

DriverCheckTM - The new licence checking service. Taking a copy of a driving licence is risky - Here at DriverCheck our team will process and verify licence data electronically. Our web based system will ensure that YOU could avoid prosecution, fines and not be faced with uninsured losses. DriverCheck What will it tell you? Has the driver ever passed a test? Is the driver currently banned? Are they entitled to drive the category of vehicle they are driving? Does the driver have undisclosed points or endorsements on their licence? Does the driver's recorded address match?

DrivingMonitor

DrivingMonitor is a web-based fleet risk management tool that uses the latest web technologies to assess drivers' competency levels, and helps you meet your companies health and safety duty of care obligations. This unique suite of tools will give you a valuable insight into the risk levels of your company drivers, and will help you implement a strategy to minimise accidents and reduce insurance premiums. Drivers will be tested for their hazard perception, driving theory, attitude and Highway Code knowledge using our interactive driving training tool. The total fleet risk management approach encompasses more than the fleet driver training element of our programmes. It takes a look at current procedures in place that contain policy, licence checks, accident reporting, vehicle specification and many more areas that send the right messages to all drivers.

FleetCheck Ltd

FleetCheck provides a comprehensive range of tools and services to help you manage a cost-effective, legally compliant and safe fleet. FleetCheck's innovative on-line software makes vehicle and driver management easy, whilst our support services will bring you a multitude of cost saving benefits.

Fleetcraft Driver Training Ltd

Fleetcraft provide innovative road risk management and consultancy for organisations of all sizes throughout the UK. The Fleetcraft team have years of experience in driver training with a wide range of clients and organisations of all sizes. This knowledge and experience will ensure that you we can help you utilise your existing resources in a cost conscious and effective manner. Why not give us a call for an informal chat regarding your concerns we are sure we can surprise you with range of innovative solutions. We can show you a modern and innovative ways to take care of your responsibilities that will also help you improve efficiency reduce cost and take care of your organisation's most valuable assets - the workforce!

FleetCSR Ltd

FleetCSR, practical solutions for a safer sustainable fleet. We offer very high quality, pro-active and expert training within our field. Our services include on-line driver profiling, speed awareness & drink driving intervention, work related road safety seminars, and on-road driver training. FleetCSR are based within the Gatwick diamond and close to London, and has a base of almost 60 highly trained approved instructors, trainers and presenters.

Focus Driver Training

Focus Driver Training are DSA fleet registered trainers. Driver assessment and training for fleet operators is essential with the volume of traffic on the UK roads where high demands of skill and concentration are continually placed upon drivers. To comply with HSE law fleet managers are obliged to ensure their drivers are competent and well prepared. We work together with you tailoring our service to your particular requirements if you are seeking to reduce your motor fleet accident costs and ensure that you comply with health and safety law, reduce your fleet running costs through enhancing vehicle longevity and reducing fuel costs, or reduce driver stress and fatigue thereby improving competence confidence and work force morale, we can offer high quality fleet driver training including other motor risk and fleet solutions at cost-effective prices.

GSL Employment Screening Services

G4S Employment Screening & Validation Services (ESVS) offer comprehensive employment screening solutions to support our clients' operational needs and recruitment decisions. Here at G4S ESVS, we safeguard your organisation's interests by providing accurate information and impartial expert advice about people you need to be able to rely on including permanent or temporary employees and job applicants. Anywhere you have people interacting with your organisation you will find a potential risk to your business goals. To manage that risk you need the protection of a comprehensive and effective employment screening service. Our service is flexible and responsive to clients' individual requirements. It doesn't matter whether you only have a handful of employees or thousands; we tailor our services to suit you. Our services include amongst others: financial and identity check, driving licence check, criminal record check.

Hudson Kapel Group

Hudson Kapel offer a variety of specialist services for the automotive industry within the United Kingdom, including nationwide vehicle inspections, the remarketing of accident damaged vehicles, driving licence validation checks, document administration for fleets, pre-delivery inspections and vehicle refurbishment and storage. Hudson Kapel provides a refurbishment, valeting and secure storage facility to the motor industry. The refurbishment centre is equipped with purpose built paint line facilities to ensure volume and quality are produced. Hudson Kapel Securities provide a back office solution for rental and leasing companies in respect of document management.These include the scanning and verification of V5's, document retention, the administration of vehicle spare keys and service packs together with a re-taxing facility.This enables clients to out source non-core business activities with confidence knowing that their vehicle documents are accessible and safe.

Intelligent Data Systems

IDS are a leading provider of driver data verification solutions. We offer a comprehensive range of services to corporate fleet operators, primarily DataCheck , a product designed to ensure that drivers of company provided cars (and any nominated drivers on a company insurance policy), or drivers using their own cars on company business are licenced to drive, and as importantly, that the information recorded against each driver is current and accurate.

Key2 DVLA Licence Checking (Jaama)

Key2 DVLA Licence Checking is a web based electronic driver licence checking service with the DVLA. Batch licence check requests will be sent automatically depending upon the risk profile of the driver. Periodic checks will be carried out at a frequency of your choice, which will return the following details: Licence commencement date, Expiry date, Category, Restrictions, Conviction dates,Offence dates, Offence code, Points,Disqualification until date. If used in conjunction with Jaama fleet management software, Key2 DVLA licence checking can automatically update your system notifying you immediately of any exceptions or irregularities.

Know Your Candidate Ltd

Know Your Candidate Ltd provide a pay as you go employment screening service with no set-up or annual fees. Register, order, track and download your candidate reports online. Driving licence checks as a one-off or bulk service. Many employers still only rely on obtaining 2 previous employment references to check that a candidate is suitable to join their organisation. Times have changed and employers now face a range of challenges that require a much more robust approach to employment screening. Know Your Candidate is the culmination of 20+ years experience gathered by our founders working across the employment vetting, identity authentication, recruitment, customer service and business process outsourcing markets. We have used this experience to develop a vetting service that is truly customer focussed - making the service easy to use and transparent, which as well as being good news for you means your candidates will have the best possible experience too.

Licence Bureau

Our service confirms an employee's entitlement to drive. Provides a concise and user friendly report including: driver number, categories of licence held, valid convictions and endorsements, highlights at risk drivers. Allows periodic re-checks for up to three years, without further referral to the driver. We can provide a broad range of options to assist you in getting your drivers onto our system. Please talk to our sales staff on the current options available and the solution which would best suit your organisation. In addition to our standard reporting clients can access their driver details securely through our client website.In addition to summarising the current status of drivers, the client can easily zoom in on individual drivers and categories of risk.

Ogilvie Fleet

At Ogilvie Fleet, we specialise in helping customers manage fleets of up to 250 vehicles – from cars up to 3.5 tonne vans. This means we can offer a truly personal, truly tailored service – with a named area sales manager and customer service professional to look after all your needs. We don’t operate a call centre. We don’t keep you waiting for an answer. And we don’t treat you (and your fleet users) as just another number. This approach has helped us become one of the UK’s fastest growing contract hire specialists with offices in Stirling, Sheffield and Birmingham .

VeSource Ltd

VeSource is one of the UK’s leading vehicle management and leasing providers. We specialise in saving you real money. We provide vehicle leasing, finance and vehicle management solutions to businesses and private clients across the UK for both cars and commercial vehicles. We offer you the widest choice of vehicles and highly competitive finance options. So, if you want to benefit from the buying power of a global leader, if you want a proactive and personal service, talk to VeSource. “Challenge us today to save you real money” Our car and van fleet leasing services, for companies with fleets of 10-100 vehicles, are aimed to help companies without a fleet manager by making their lives easier and by reducing fleet costs.

The latest road tests

Alfa Romeo Mito - Following on from Alfa’s popular new MiTo launched in 2009 comes the MiTo MultiAir. MultiAir is much more than a marketing buzzword as it unquestionably signifies a major advancement in petrol engine [...]

Vauxhall Insignia - Vauxhall’s inspired replacement for the functional yet incredibly dull Vectra, the Insignia, has certainly blown away the design cobwebs at the manufacturer. It is without doubt one of the prettiest c [...]

Nissan NV200 - Nissan introduced the NV200 to the European market as a concept at the Hanover Motor Show back in 2008 and the production model has set the tone for its future LCV line-up. The NV200 is a nimble packa [...]

Toyota Auris - Launched in 2007 as the successor to the long-serving, record-selling Corolla, for 2010 the Auris has been restyled inside and out with revised suspension, newer Optimal Drive engines and spec enhance [...]

Skoda Roomster - The Roomster is the least known of the current model line up at Skoda even though it has been an integral part of their family for several years and in many ways it’s easy to see why. There’s no doubt [...]

Ford Galaxy - The Galaxy gains a new turbo petrol engine and twin-clutch gearbox, while the diesel engine line-up is also revised. Upgraded trim levels bring more standard equipment, but the Galaxy’s impressive sev [...]

The latest traffic information

M2 Medway Bridge, Kent: Maintenance Inspections

To ensure that the M2 Medway Bridge is effectively maintained, the Highways Agency will be inspecting the bridge near junctions 1 to 3 on the M2 in Rochester, Kent from Monday 15 March until the end of May. Work will take place first on the coastbound carriageway and then later on the London-bound carriageway. All [...]

Boost to Economy as £8 Million Improvement Work On M4 Start Early

Advance work to improve safety and tackle congestion on the M4 in Berkshire started this month. Work is now underway on an improvement scheme to the M4 between junction 8/9 at Maidenhead and junction 10 at Wokingham costing £8 million – £4 million of which is Government fiscal stimulus funding. The Highways Agency is strengthening [...]

Highways Agency to install protective screens on Woodway Lane footbridge after objects thrown from bridge

From next Monday, the Highways Agency will begin work to install protective screens on the Woodway Lane footbridge which crosses the M6 between Junction 2 (Coventry) and Junction 3 (Bedworth). This follows repeated incidents of objects being thrown from the bridge, resulting in more than ten vehicles being struck. A local partnership, including the Highways [...]

Good News for Motorists – M4 Works between J18 and 19 completed eight days ahead of schedule

Work to replace 4.3 miles of steel central reservation barrier with a safer concrete barrier between junction 18 (Bath) and 19 (M32 Bristol) of the M4 has been completed a week ahead of schedule and half a million pounds under budget. A combination of careful planning and good weather has helped the project team complete [...]

New traffic lights for A628/A57 junction, Hollingworth

The Highways Agency will be carrying out work to install new traffic lights at the junction of the A628 and A57 in Hollingworth Village near Glossop. Work will start on Monday, 22 March and will be completed on 30 April. As well as installing new traffic lights, work will also take place to provide pedestrian [...]

West Midlands motorway and trunk road maintenance programme 15-21 March 2010

M6 Junction 14 (Stafford North) to Junction 13 (Stafford South) The southbound M6 between junction 14 and junction 13 will be closed overnight from 8.00pm to 6.00am from Saturday 20 March to Sunday 21 March for the removal of narrow lanes as part of hard shoulder strengthening. This will include the entry slip road at [...]

Yorkshire and the Humber Roadworks Update; Saturday 13 March to Friday 19 March

M1, Junction 30 (Barlborough) to Junction 31 (Aston), south of Sheffield Slight delays are expected on the M1 between Junction 30 (Barlborough) and Junction 31 (Aston) due to sign repair work. There will be two lanes closed on the northbound carriageway overnight from 9pm on 18 March until 5am on 19 March. M1, Junction 32 [...]

Overnight closures to install bridge beams over the A421

The project to improve safety and cut congestion on the A421 between Bedford and the M1 at Junction 13 moves a step forward next week, Monday 15 March, weather permitting, when work will begin to place the beams on the two new bridges at Marsh Leys Junction. The bridges are being built to carry the [...]

Roadworks information for Highways Agency roads in Cumbria and North Lancashire – 7 days beginning Monday 15th March 2010

ONGOING SCHEMES A595 West Lakes Science Park to Bigrigg (resurfacing and drainage) – traffic signals for resurfacing and drainage works. Work continues until the 26th March. M6 (Cumbria) Between Junctions 39 and 40 Shap to Penrith (bridge works) – various lane closures and contraflow in both directions for bridge improvements. Work continues until the 26th [...]

Roadworks information for Highways Agency roads in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire and South Lancashire – 7 days beginning Monday 15th March 2010

ONGOING SCHEMES M57 Junction 2 to Junction 1 Prescot to Huyton (safety system) – overnight closure southbound from 22.00 to 05.00 between Monday 15th March and 19th March for installation of the MIDAS traffic safety system. M53 & A41 M53 Junction 4 to Junction 5 Bebington to Ellesmere Port and A41 junction with M53 Junction [...]

Highways Agency meet with project partners and local residents to address M6 work concerns

The Highways Agency are working closely with Walsall Council and the residents who live closest to the M6 roadworks near Junction 10 (Walsall) to find solutions to their concerns and develop new ways of working for the remainder of the project. Last week, the Highways Agency met with project partners Carillion and Mouchel at the [...]

North East roadworks update – 13th March – 19th March

A1M, Junction 62, County Durham Slight delays are expected overnight on the A1M at Junction 62 for CCTV camera installation works. There will be one lane open north and southbound on the slip roads and circulatory between 8pm and 6am. The works will take place until 13 March. A1 Newcastle Gateshead Western Bypass, [...]

M25 widening making good progress – work to start between junctions 18 and 21

The next stage of a major construction project to widen the M25 in Hertfordshire is being marked by public exhibition at Hunton Bridge in Abbots Langley. The Highways Agency is widening the motorway from three lanes to four between junction 16, for the M40, and junction 23, for the A1(M). The M25 is also being [...]

Good News For Motorists – Mere A303 Works Completing Nine Days Ahead Of Schedule

Major resurfacing and maintenance work on the A303 near Mere is being completed nine days ahead of schedule and around £1 million under budget. All traffic management and diversion routes will be lifted by the evening of Friday, March 12 marking the end of these major works in Wiltshire. A combination of careful planning and [...]

Driver Advice Crufts 11-14 March 2010

Visitors to Crufts this week are being advised by the Highways Agency to plan their journey and allow plenty of time to get to the event. With around 150,000 people expected to attend the show, surrounding roads, particularly the M42 and M6, are likely to be very busy. The Highways Agency has had the electronic [...]

Work to repair A47 carriageway

Repairs to a section of the A47 west of Dereham are set to start on Thursday 11 March. The work involves replacing several concrete carriageway slabs with an asphalt surface on the westbound carriageway as well as repairs to Scarning Bridge on both east and westbound carriageways. The work will be carried out between 8pm [...]

Smoother road surface for the A46 at Winthorpe, Nottinghamshire

A scheme to resurface the Winthorpe roundabout, and repair sections of the A46 carriageway near Winthorpe will start on Monday, 22 March. The work will take place overnight between 8pm and 6am for four nights, but while the resurfacing and carriageway patching repairs take place there will be lane and carriageway closures. From Monday 22 [...]

A500 Stoke on Trent (Etruria to Porthill) improvement update

Work on the A500 Etruria to Porthill improvement scheme is continuing on schedule despite setbacks caused by the recent adverse weather. The majority of street lighting columns have been erected and work to reconstruct the footpath is ongoing. From next week, as announced in the original notification of works, the speed limit through the roadworks [...]

Weekly Summary of Roadworks for M25 – 11/03/2010

A traffic management summary for both new and ongoing work All dates and times subject to weather conditions M25 Widening M25 junction 27 The anti clockwise link road leading to the M11 northbound will be closed overnight for 11 nights from 10.00pm to 05.30am from Monday 15 March 2010 until Friday 26 March [...]

Weekly Summary of Roadworks in Kent & Sussex – 11/03/2010

A traffic management summary for both new and ongoing work All of the following work is dependent on suitable weather conditions. M20 Junction 8 Ashford Road The A20 Ashford Road Bridge, which runs above the M20 junction 8 overbridge will be closed until mid March. The work is being carried out in order [...]

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