Jaama Reports Fleets Getting Greener And Safer
Jaama, the leading fleet software and risk management provider, recently under took a survey of some 114 fleet decision-makers, who attended its eight recent Fleet Management Essentials seminars, and found a concerted focus on carbon footprint reduction and at-work driving risk management means that Britain’s fleets are becoming greener and safer
The survey has also found that evidence that businesses are extending fleet replacement cycles in a bid to cut costs during the recession had been slightly exaggerated with the majority of company car fleets leaving fleet replacement cycles unchanged. This, say the companies, is because they want to replace current vehicles as soon as possible with new lower emissions models that will not only reduce their carbon footprint but deliver cost savings due to advantageous tax rules and improved fuel economy.
Driving down vehicle emissions and reducing carbon footprints was the definite goal for the greater majority of delegates. The catalyst for the increasingly rapid introduction of low emission models is due to a vehicle-related tax regime – benefit-in-kind tax, Vehicle Excise Duty and capital allowances – that rewards CO2-friendly company cars. In addition, the lower a car’s CO2 the better its MPG so fuel bills are also cut, while lower company car driver benefit-in-kind tax bills deliver National Insurance contribution savings for employers.
Jaama managing director Jason Francis said: “Without exception all the seminar delegates reported that they expected their fleet’s carbon footprint to reduce over the next 12 months due to taxation-inspired changes in company car choice lists.”
And, unlike the last seminar delegates’ survey three years ago, the changes are taking place across the board and are not limited to larger fleets.
Mr Francis said: “Three years ago decision-makers in charge of smaller fleets seemed little interested in the environmental performance of their fleet or how operating low emission vehicles could deliver cost savings.
“But today, awareness levels are such that they now understand the cost benefits of running a ‘cleaner’ fleet. Additionally, they recognise that from a commercial viewpoint, corporate investment in carbon footprint reducing green policies and CSR programmes is good public relations.”
Mileage management is also a focus for businesses with just over 50% of delegates saying they had reduced carbon emissions and cut fuel bills by analysing staff trips and encouraging the reduction of non-essential journeys.
“Analysing and reducing the number of business trips made by car is not only good for the environment, but it is also a part of best practice risk management and will cut fuel use,” said Mr Francis.
“Previous seminars have highlighted that SMEs particularly have not historically monitored fuel spend. But, the indication from delegates at our latest seminars is a reversal in that trend. It seems that companies that have introduced an intuitive software system are using the various modules to improve their fleet management and part of that is improved fuel management.”
One of the key reasons for many attending a Jaama seminar was to ensure they had all risk management issues covered in their new safe-driving policies and procedures. However, even those who already had policies in place, 80% with the remaining 20% in the process of implementation, the majority identified ‘room for improvement’ as a result of seminar attendance. Although, company bosses found guilty of a serious offence as a result of a work-related road crash could be jailed, around two-third of delegates doubted that would happen.
Mr Francis said: “Companies understand that they have a legal duty of care towards their employees and other road users in respect of at-work driving. They also understand that the implementation of best practice at-work driving policies can deliver a raft of financial savings, such as insurance premium savings, due to fewer crashes occurring.
“But, most delegates told us at the seminars that they believed the trend for some risk management suppliers to highlight that bosses could be jailed in the event of an employee being involved in a serious road crash was a scaremongering tactic by them to sell their services.”
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