Companies seeking professional fleet help is ‘highest for a decade’
A leading fleet management company is facing the highest level of demand for a decade from hard-pressed fleet operators wanting to reduce the running costs of their vehicle fleets.
Independently owned CLM Fleet Management, based near Milton Keynes, is receiving high volumes of enquiries from UK companies who have been severely affected by the economic downturn and wish to cut fleet operating costs as part of a general exercise in corporate cost reduction.
“Without doubt fleet enquiries about cutting costs and invitations to tender are at their highest levels for ten years,” said managing director, Tony Hulatt.
As a consequence, CLM, which manages around 20,000 vehicles on behalf of corporate customers, has signed a number of new fleet contracts based on the cost-cutting advice and expertise it has been able to provide.
Amongst the cost-cutting initiatives it has introduced for companies have been extending fleet replacement cycles, introducing solus badge deals, using short and medium term hire to replace pool cars, and outsourcing the fleet management function.
“Another cost-cutting area we have been able to tackle vigorously is that of service, maintenance and repair where, by following best practice initiatives, it is possible to trim fleet running costs significantly,” said Tony Hulatt.
In this area, CLM has successfully introduced a series of SMR cost cutting measures on behalf of fleet customers. These have included using independent garages for servicing after any initial 12 months warranty, and employing mobile servicing contractors directly to client locations to minimise downtime.
Other initiatives have seen the appointment of a single branded tyre supplier to maximise tyre cost savings for fleet operators, and the negotiation of specific local arrangements with competitive local suppliers to drive down costs.
CLM has also introduced regular fleet spot checks to highlight poor levels of driver responsibility for their vehicles, and regularly notifies fleet clients, via a monthly report, of all those drivers not using CLM’s agreed and approved national repairer network.
Drivers are also reminded to enter and validate their monthly mileages via CLM’s Fleetactive website so that services are planned and booked in ahead of schedule. At the same time, regular mail-shots remind drivers of good practice and ensure key weekly vehicle condition checks are carried out.
CLM has also carried out selective management of costs on vehicles due for replacement and often challenges the wear and tear charges that fleet operators face from leasing companies when their vehicles are returned.
“These are by no means all of the initiatives we have introduced to control SMR costs,” said Tony Hulatt, “but by following some or all of them, we have been able to drive down costs for many of our fleet customers.”
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