Whether you are competing in Formula One racing, wanting a car-maker to fix a problem or hoping Government authorities will deal with extreme weather, a quick response is usually the best solution.

The weekend just past, threw up how a quick response to changeable conditions allowed Jenson Button to win his first grand prix for McLaren.

The F1 GP held at Albert Park, in Australia was dominated by changeable weather conditions, crashes and low and behold there was even overtaking.

Reigning world champion, Jenson Button took the gamble to swap from wet weather tyres to slicks.

Button had made the call to swap tyres when his team-mate (Lewis Hamilton) had swept past him on the previous lap.

The decision proved to be correct as he took two seconds a lap of first placed Sebastien Vettel. When the German driver retired, Button was there to pick up the pieces and take his first win for the McLaren GP team.

Being able to respond is crucial whether it is in sport or in the automotive industry.

Car giant Toyota has admitted that its response times should have been better when dealing with complaints over its recent car safety recalls.

The maker has stated that it has pledged to respond quicker in future to complaints.

This will be good news for fleet mangers as Toyota’s are a fleet favourite. With this pledge fleets can be reassured that Toyota has its eye firmly on the ball.

With this in mind, the car-maker is setting up a system to respond more quickly to complaints. Toyota has also claimed that it will bring in independent experts to help evaluate what went wrong with its quality control measures.

Fleet Managers need to be able to respond to changeable weather but when the transport sector comes to a grinding halt due to snowfall then this needs to be looked at.

Fleets lost millions in December and January due to the adverse weather conditions…the question Fleet Voice asks, how do Scandinavian countries continue to work normally in the winter, when we cannot?

Responding in the correct manner looks to be key.

The Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis has announced that there will be an independent review of the transport sector’s response to this winter’s severe weather.

This is a good start as the review is part of a Government drive to ensure that local authorities are prepared for future severe weather. 

With this in mind, maybe you (the fleet manager) need to send drivers on a winter driving course – if the UK continues to get severe weather in the winter this course could be a brilliant investment for the future of your company.

Simon McBride

Electric, that’s the view from the football pundits across the UK, they are of course talking about one of the closest English Premier League title fights in the history of the Premiership.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United could all still win the title and with less than two months to go, it looks like it is going to be a gripping finale.

I am sure all of you reading this have your favourite.

If the pundits are correct and the race is as electric as they believe it will be, then it will whet the appetite for a feast of football in the summer with the World Cup.

Talking about electricity and getting charged up…Nissan has confirmed that it will produce its electric car the LEAF at Sunderland by 2013. This is great news for the North East of England as this decision safeguards a host of jobs (somewhere in the region of 4,100 should be retained).

Nissan has confirmed with this news that it is committed to zero emission leadership and it believes the LEAF will be the world’s first affordable, mass produced zero emission car.

The LEAF will be a five-seater hatchback and will be powered by an 80kW (107bhp) electric motor, which is twinned with rapid charging lithium-ion batteries. The Japanese maker claims this will give the Leaf a top speed of over 90mph and a range of 100 miles.

Another maker that is looking to take a charge on the electric front is GM. The company has confirmed that a decision will be made on the Ampera plug-in hybrid and whether or not it will be built at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant.

However, GM states that this decision will not be made for a further 12 months as much will depend on what incentives the British government offers buyers of ‘greener’ vehicles.

With all this talk of electric vehicles in the automotive industry the budget (today) may well come up with some solutions for those of you who are looking at turning your fleet into an electric powered one.

The good news for those of you who are thinking along those lines is that CAP, one of the guides has announced the qualification criteria electric vehicles must meet to enable future residual value forecasts to be set.

This is a welcome break, as it will enable you to see how much risk there will be when purchasing electric models.

CAP claims in order to qualify for the residual value forecast process an electric vehicle must;

1. Have European Type Approval
2. The battery must be owned as part of the car, not leased separately

On a further note, CAP states that it could not set residuals around the possibility of car and battery being treated as separate entities, such as under dual ownership arrangements with the car owned but the battery leased. In such cases CAP believes it would be impossible to attribute any residual value to a vehicle, which could in theory lack the means to operate.

Work is ongoing to identify the full range of criteria which will impact on the residual value forecast itself. These include;

• Vehicle range
• Charging method
• Maximum speed
• Electrical ampage
• Warranty arrangements

No doubt, Glass’s Guide will also come up with a formula for setting residuals for electric vehicles, this is a very important announcement from CAP and should come as a valuable tool if you the fleet manager are looking into purchasing a range of electric vehicles.

‘Electric’ seems to be the buzz-word whether you are talking about football or automobiles at the present time. The English Premier League title race may be coming to its finale, but the electric revolution in the automotive industry is just beginning.

Remember keep an eye on the budget (today) as ‘electric’ could just get a mention!

Simon McBride

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 debut for the McLaren team as he finished in seventh overall.

However, much of the talk before, during and after the race was to do with the rule changes that the FIA had come up with in the close season.

The changes to the regulations for this season includes a ban on refuelling during a race, meaning cars must run with a full load from the start of a grand prix, in addition to this, those whom qualify inside the top 10 on the grid must begin the race on the tyres they used in the final qualifying session.

With no refuelling F1 is trying to save costs and go greener but did it work or was the race a procession?

With hardly any moments of brilliance or overtaking in 49 laps Fleet Voice believes that the FIA will have to think again. Even the drivers claimed it was dull.

Refuelling is not just being questioned in F1 at the current time, I am sure a lot of you fleet managers are questioning how often your cars need to be topped up.

Are you getting good economy from your drivers? Or are they being too heavy with the right foot?

According to research released by the AA, post credit crunch, the UK has been hit hardest by taxes on fuel duty. The statistics show that we have been hit five times harder than our European neighbours, no wonder every fleet in the UK are closely monitoring the fuel that they use.

Since the Pre-Budget Report on 24 November 2008, the burden of fuel duty and VAT on a tank of petrol in the UK has gone up 11.46%, compared to just 2.23% in Austria. The average increase for 10 mainstream European countries, including France, Germany, and Holland, is 5.07%.

Even if you have a number of frugal diesel vehicles, the calculations do not make for good reading, why?

Well the price at the pump has risen nearly three times more than the average increase for the 10 European neighbours.

So what next?

The Government has announced that the Budget will take place on March 24 and give fleets an Easter present by adding, inflation +1p, to fuel duty on April 1, do not be fooled, as this is no joke!

Let’s do a few calculations – take that inflation on this date is due to be about 2% inflation rate, this would mean that fuel duty will rise from 56.19p a litre to 57.31p or 1.12p more. With the additional 1p + VAT at 17.5%, drivers will pay 2.49p a litre more for petrol and diesel. Source: European Commission for Energy statistics

With the new registrations due to come (number plates with 10 as an identifier) in, I am sure a lot of you fleet managers will be watching the Budget with great interest.

Many of you are in the process of downsizing your fleets, however, frugal engines and possibly electric powered vehicles for in and around town may be essential to keep costs down.

The problem for the Government is that further taxations on motorists could backfire – higher fuel prices will surely cut demand, this could then harm the public purse, economic recovery, fleets, hauliers and car owners.

Surely fleet bodies and pressure groups need to sit down with those who are determined to further tax the motorist and explain that it is motorists that keep the nation moving!

As F1 starts a new season with a ban on refuelling, fleets are coming to terms with what is expected to be further hikes in duty come the Budget

Hopefully fleets can find a solution to what is likely to be a further pressure on your purse. Downsizing vehicles, opting for more fuel-efficient engines and possibly looking at electric vehicles, are all options that you will have to look at if this hike in fuel duty continues…

Simon McBride

If you watch the news, you cannot have failed to notice that Portsmouth of the English Premier League is currently in big financial trouble. In fact it is so bad they are in administration and will be deducted nine points when the Premier League board meets next.

Sitting at the foot of the current table was never going to help to find a new buyer but then, from out of the blue, comes the magic of the FA Cup

Portsmouth played Birmingham City on Saturday past and thoroughly deserved their 2-0 win. But will they get any money for their inspiring cup run?

Pompey have earned £607,500 in winnings and broadcast fees after beating Birmingham to reach the semi-finals but the problem is that they are in administration and any club that finds itself in this position has to seek approval from the FA to keep cup winnings.

Hopefully Portsmouth’s appeal will be successful or romance may be gone forever from cup competitions.

From one budget to another, yes the UK budget looms as we are now well into March. There is also a general election hanging over us as well, but what will that mean for you and your fleet?

The budget could well focus on ‘green cars’ such as the electric push the Government is behind at present. The best option for the chancellor would be to explain what he is prepared to do for fleets and how the Government will support such a scheme for early adopters.

In recent weeks the Government has claimed that it will give a 100% first-year allowance for companies purchasing electric vans. This allowance enables firms buying one of these vehicles to offset their full cost against their corporation tax bill in the first year. (More information can be found on the DfT website)

I am sure many of you would like to know more as Fleet Voice believes that this could prove to be a very popular scheme.

This would also be a very popular measure to the van makers as sales have been on the slide and the industry could do with a shot in the arm like this electric incentive.

Will the Government change its policy on zero tailpipe emission vehicles and not just electric ones?

We will have to wait and see, already this budget looks a very important one for all of your fleets.

The BVRLA (British Vehicle Renting And Leasing Association) is also making its case heard as it fights for your rights. In a letter it has submitted to the Government, the organisation has asked for immediate removal of the unjust 3% diesel supplement from Benefit-in-Kind tax.

The association claims, “Removal of this historically out-of-date pollution-related penalty would accelerate further corporate adoption of these vehicles and help to push company car emissions even lower”. This is a valid point.

Other issues to be cleared up on this budget will include advisory mileage allowance payments, improvements in the van CO2 database, clarification on road pricing and whether it will replace road tax or not.

So will this budget matter? Yes, it could also determine whom you vote for but Fleet Voice is not here to shout about party politics.

Budget concerns hang over Portsmouth Football Club like a dark cloud, Fleet Voice for one, hopes that this 2010 Budget will not bring doom and gloom to the fleet industry.

Simon McBride

Even if you are not a football fan, you will not have missed the build up to the Chelsea – Manchester City match on Saturday lunch-time.

All the talk pre-match was about John Terry and Wayne Bridge would react to each other when they took to the pitch. This followed on from allegations that Terry had an affair with his ex-girlfriend.

Well, it started controversially with no pre-match handshake between Bridge and Terry. Bridge’s snub went down badly with the Stamford Bridge crowd and the former Chelsea favourite was booed by the home fans,

The match was no side story, in-fact it was electric, for the first 44 minutes, Chelsea looked like they would win easily but Man City came out fighting in the second half and ended up winning a thrilling game of football 4-2.

It is not just football that is electric at present, the car industry is going through a revolution.

The UK Government has confirmed that it will give up to £5,000 to pioneering motorists who buy an ultra-low carbon car. This purchase will also be supported by the roll-out of supporting infrastructure will begin in selected regions.

So what does this mean to fleets?

Are you going to power-up and buy into this electric craze?

According to the Government, it plans to roll-out of a £30m fund for a network of electric vehicle hubs – called Plugged-In Places – which will see charging infrastructure appearing in car parks, major supermarkets, leisure and retail centres, as well as on the street. 

The first Plugged-In Places were named today as London, Milton Keynes and the North East; and between them they will be installing over 11,000 vehicle recharging points during the next three years. 

These initiatives are part of a £450 million Government strategy to support the creation of a flourishing early market for ultra-low carbon vehicles.

As fleet managers you know how important it is to keep your carbon footprint low, but can this strategy work?

If the infrastructure is in place in time, then of course it can work. But the Government does not have much money to throw around due to the economic state of the UK. If a new Government comes in, will it be fully behind this policy?

Car-makers are also aiming high when it comes to electric vehicles, the Geneva Motorshow was filled with unveils of electric concepts.

The hope is that the government and the car industry have got this right, we do not want another LPG scenario, which to all purposes, was largely a failure.

It is great to see new technology and electricity coming to a point where it could power our vehicles.

However, the big questions remain, how much of a range will these vehicles have?

Are there going to be enough charging stations?

What about rural areas, fleet drivers drive right across the UK, if your fleet vehicles are powered by electric are they going to be able to recharge as easily as finding a petrol station?

Will this policy continue to get help when public services are being cut like the NHS and the Civil Service?

There are so many questions that I am sure all you fleet managers have, you are not the only ones.

It seems that this plug-in revolution is set to be given an expensive trial. The Government is committed to a low carbon economy and that is to be applauded but at what price will motorists and fleets have to pay?

Government sources has confirmed that the Plug-in Car Grant will significantly reduce prices by providing 25 per cent towards the cost of a new car, this will be capped at £5,000, and will be open to both private and business fleet buyers. To be eligible for the scheme, cars will have to pass performance criteria to ensure safety, range, and ultra-low tailpipe emissions.

The Government claims that it is cutting carbon in the transport sector, but sources claim that the shipping industry emits 25 per cent of the UK’s total emissions. Surely this also needs to be rectified? Yet again the car industry looks an easy target.

It really has proved to be an electric few days for football and the car industry.

Electric could replace the combustion engine, well, we will wait and see how this plug-in strategy progresses…

Simon McBride

The Somerset slider went into the games as a long shot with fellow Brit Shelley Rudman expected to be Britain’s main hope for a medal.

However, it was Williams who stormed to the top of the timesheet and never looked back.

Just like Vancouver, which is host to the Winter Games, there is still plenty of cold weather around and yes it will be cold in Geneva in a week’s time (it always is at the motor show) but the car makers have been hard at work and the show looks to be hot stuff as plenty of unveils are going to take place.

We have come up with a synopsis of what the majority of car manufacturers will be revealing at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

For all you fleet managers – interest will be high as many models will be heading to production and you will have the chance to add them to your fleet in the near future…

Alfa Romeo

The new Alfa Romeo Giulietta will be revealed to the world and the Italian maker has confirmed that the new model will go on sale in spring 2011.

Four Turbo engines will be available at launch, all Euro 5 compliant and fitted with a standard Start&Stop system for reducing consumption and emissions.

To mark its Centenary year, the Giulietta is a ‘box office’ car and if it drives as good as it looks then Alfa is on to a winner.

Audi

Audi is set to unveil its latest challenger – the world debut of the A1. The perfect fleet car? Well that’s up to you to decide…

The three-door A1 is expected to start from £13,000. Under the bonnet, engines are said to be frugal yet sprightly. Three advanced, ultra-efficient TFSI and TDI engines will be initially available in UK and all will feature engine start-stop and recuperation technology. Goodies are set to be high as Audi claims alloy wheels, air conditioning, single CD audio system with MP3 compatibility, ESP with latest differential lock system will all come as standard.

Bentley

I don’t expect many of your fleet drivers to be driving a Bentley, but the maker is going a little leftfield at this years show and opening its first ever-dedicated Boutique.

The branded merchandise on sale will range from the Bentley Collection to a limited edition range of new products designed exclusively for the 2010 show.

There will be other products produced for Bentley under licence from best-in-class partners: Breitling watches, Tibaldi pens, Stockinger safes, Estede eyewear and zai skis.

The Bentley range will also be on show but the Boutique should be a welcome rest-bite before continuing on.

Chevrolet

Chevrolet is set to ‘wow’ show goers with its new models. Top of the list will be the European debut for the Aveo RS Concept car. The hot hatch provides a glimpse of what we should expect from the next generation Aveo. The model is longer, wider and more spacious than the current vehicle, while under the bonnet there is a powerful 138PS 1.4-litre Ecotec turbocharged engine.

The stand will also feature an all-new family vehicle, based on the Orlando show car, and the legendary Chevrolet Camaro, both as coupé and convertible.

Citroen

Citroen is to unwrap the hot new limited edition 200hp DS3 Racing. Developed by Citroen Racing – the winning team behind five WRC manufacturer’s titles and six driver’s titles for Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena – the DS3 is sure to be a born winner. The exclusive DS3 Racing will be limited to just 1000 production units.

The preview model, on stand at Geneva, is in a special livery and features sporty ‘DS3’, ‘Citroën Racing’ and chequered flag graphics on the roof, in front of the rear wheel arches, under the side mirrors and next to the fuel cap.

Ford

Interest will be high as the Blue Oval unveils its new C-car. This will make its European debut alongside final versions of C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, which go on sale this year.  There are also further product enhancements for the Ford Kuga and Mondeo and more options revealed for the new S-MAX and Galaxy.

Ford has also confirmed that it will reveal details of its new engines that will power the fleet favourite – the Mondeo. Meanwhile, the Kuga will get a new 163PS version of the 2.0-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi diesel engine and there will also be a new transmission for the popular car.

Honda

Japanese maker is to enhance its CR-Z with a 3-Mode System to make driveability even better. The kit will be explained at the Geneva show and the lowdown is really, that this feature allows the driver to choose between three driving modes, which alter the responses of the throttle, steering, idle stop timing, climate control and the level of assistance provided by the IMA system. Any driver will be able to choose between maximising enjoyment, economy or striking a balance between the two with the 3-Mode System.

The Honda CR-Z will go on sale in the UK in Summer and specifications and prices are likely to be announced at the Geneva Motor Show.

Hyundai

Hyundai claims that it will catch the ‘I’ of show-goers with its new concept car – the ‘i’-flow. The car is a saloon and fits into the D-segment of the car market.

The vehicle has been designed in Europe and is excited as it claims the i-flow incorporates numerous new technologies from chemical company BASF, ranging from innovative lightweight materials to solar cells, to assist in reducing weight and improving energy efficiency.

We will have to keep an ‘I’ on this one…

Infiniti

Geneva is set to be another big show for Infiniti as it reveals the high performance M37 V6 petrol and M30d V6 diesel. The luxury brand is also set to unveil its world-first Blind Spot Intervention system.

According to the maker the new M Line is among the most spacious five-seaters in the class, as well as possibly the most alluring on the inside thanks to an even higher new standard of interior design and finish.

All Infiniti M models for Europe are powered by V6 engines. The enhanced G Line will also be on display with its V6 diesel EX and FX Lines.

Jaguar

A dramatic evolution of the supercharged XKR Coupe will be given pride of place on the Jaguar stand. This XKR delivers a significantly raised maximum speed – up to 174mph from 155mph. The XKR Coupe will showcase two new optional performance and styling packs – Speed Pack and Black Pack – these will be introduced to the XK range at 2011 Model Year.

In the UK, retail pricing of the XK range starts at £61,955 for the 5.0 n/a V8 petrol. The Speed Pack costs £3,500 and the Speed and Black Pack costs £4,000. Both are available on XKR Coupe only.

The big cat is certainly on the prowl with the new XKR.

Kia

Kia has confirmed that it will unwrap the all-new Sportage. The world premiere will be a major talking point at the show and Kia is claiming that its new vehicle will be fresh, bold, athletic and sporty, it is longer, lower and wider than the previous generation model. The new Sportage is said to offer more space for people and cargo, with improved ride quality thanks to a longer wheelbase.

If the Sportage is as good as the Cee’d then Kia will be on the right road.

Lexus

The Lexus CT-200h will be given its world debut. The model is a hybrid vehicle and is aimed at motorists who want to lower their emissions.

According to Lexus the CT-200h will be the first full hybrid vehicle in the premium compact segment. The vehicle will be equipped with second-generation Lexus Hybrid Drive technology.

Mazda

It is going to be a busy show – Mazda is set to give its Mazda5 a world debut. The maker claims that the new model further evolves Mazda5’s acclaimed functionality – with rear sliding doors and up to 7-seat flexibility in the spacious cabin. Under the bonnet there is a newly-developed 2.0-litre DISI petrol engine equipped with i-stop, and a six-speed manual transmission.

There will also be a world debut for the Mazda6 – a fleet favourite with a lot of you. Six power units will be available for the Mazda6 facelift, including a powerful new 2.0-litre DISI petrol engine.

Mazda will also celebrate two decades of global roadster success with the world premiere of a 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Mazda MX-5.

Mitsubishi

Hoping to stun show goers is Mitsubishi with its unveil of the ASX all-new compact crossover. The model is the European-spec version of the Japanese RVR.

MMC’s new compact crossover will seat 5 aimed at expanding the firm’s passenger car footprint it will follow in the footsteps of the larger and recently redesigned Outlander.

The European version will be fitted with an all-new Euro 5-compliant 1.8L turbocharged direct-injection diesel unit.

Nissan

There is a lot of excitement in the Nissan camp as the Japanese maker gets set to unwrap the Juke. It will also give a European debut to the LEAF Electric Vehicle.

A few favourites will also be on show, there will be updated Qashqai and refreshed versions of the Pathfinder & Navara on display.

The sporty 370Z Roadster will also get a spot on the Geneva show stand, this will be its European debut. The Nissan stand certainly looks packed.

Peugeot

The “5 by Peugeot” concept car is likely to be at Geneva and is a sign of how Peugeot is changing. The model provides an insight into the marque’s future ambitions in the large luxury vehicle segment.

Powered by Peugeot’s Hybrid4 technology, it has 200 bhp, four-wheel drive and zero emissions in electric mode.

Now that is pretty impressive!

Porsche

Porsche has confirmed that it will reveal a 911 GT3 R with innovative hybrid drive. After its debut in Switzerland, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid will be tested in long-distance races around the Nürburgring, Germany. (A favourite testing track for many makers).

Porsche claims the focus is not on the 911 GT3 R Hybrid winning the race but rather serving as a spearhead for the technology and a ‘racing laboratory’ that will provide invaluable knowledge and insight on the subsequent use of hybrid technology in road-going Porsche sports cars.

Renault

French firm Renault is set to cause a stir with its brand-new coupé-roadster – Wind. The Wind is a two-seater coupé-roadster of 3.83 metres in length, which features a highly innovative way of opening up. It has a novel electric roof that pivots open in just 12 seconds,

The Wind has a luggage space of 270dm3 VDA whatever the position of the roof.

Suzuki

Suzuki will exhibit its latest hybrid technology concept for the first time in Europe – a Swift with Plug-in Hybrid system.

Swift Plug-in Hybrid is ideal for drivers who travel low mileages every day and is designed to be driven primarily on electric power with its compact 660cc petrol engine used as a back up.

Could be very useful if your fleet is urban based…

Toyota

After the recent bad press, Toyota needs a good show and it has a lot going on.

The maker will have a world premiere of production-ready Auris HSD, there will be a European premiere of Prius Plug-in Hybrid and FT-EV electric vehicle concept while the Toyota FT-86 sports concept will be revealed as will the 2010 RAV4.

Vauxhall

Vauxhall has announced that it is set to unveil two cars at the Geneva show. There are to be world premieres of the all-new Meriva compact MPV and a futuristic concept car, which is set to boost the company’s credentials as a leader in environmental vehicles.

The Meriva will turn heads with its rear-hinged back doors which radically improve access/egress, and a raft of unique cabin features that boost interior versatility.

The five-door, four-seater Vauxhall Ampera will also be on stand and is on schedule to go into production late next year. It uses groundbreaking extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV) technology.

The well-loved Corsa gets a refresh and is set to be greener than ever before in the emissions stakes.

Volvo

Swedish maker Volvo is set to unwrap the all-new S60. A very important car for the maker, Volvo has confirmed that it will have better driving dynamics and it will also feature ground-breaking Pedestrian Detection safety technology.

The all-new S60 is a coupé; it is said to be sportier and more distinct than any previous Volvo.

The all-new S60 range will be available from launch with a choice of two diesels and one petrol engine, including an uprated high-performance 3.0-litre T6 petrol version with 304bhp, a 2.4-litre 205bhp D5 and a 2.0-litre 163bhp D3 powerplant. A DRIVe version powered by a 1.6-litre diesel engine with CO₂ emissions of approximately 115g/km and fuel economy of up to 65.7mpg (combined cycle, preliminary figure) will join the range later in 2011.

So just like Vancouver, when arriving into Geneva expect plenty of snow but once inside the Motor Show you will be warmed with the new cars that are set to come to the UK very soon. Have a good show!

Simon McBride

The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver was shrouded in sadness, prior to its opening, a luge competitor, 21-year-old Georgian Nodar Kumaritashvili died as a result of his injuries when his sled flipped and he smashed into a steel pole at the Whistler Sliding Centre.

The Whistler track is one of the fastest in the world and will be used by luge, skeleton and bobsleigh athletes.

We all know that there are dangers in all sports but work is just as dangerous. This proves that safety in sport and at work and is paramount and it is timely that RoSPA is focussing on this issue for young at work drivers.

Many of you have young drivers on your fleets aged between 17 and 24 years of age and I am sure that you have lots of driver training activities for all your drivers.

However, this may help your drivers and in these times of economic gloom and doom there is no attendance fee – that’s right, RoSPA has confirmed that it is to hold a free Young Drivers at Work seminar, taking place on March 30, to help protect young at-work drivers.

RoSPA hopes by holding seminars like these, that it will be able to cut accidents involving some of the most vulnerable road users in the UK.

The day-long seminar’s aim is to prepare employers and road safety professionals to run Young Drivers at Work workshops for driving staff aged 17 – 24. It will also cover many of the issues raised by young drivers when the workshops were piloted.

The pilot workshops were first run in 2008, these showed that views and experiences of managers and young drivers revealed concerns that young people were not being adequately prepared for at-work driving.

The focus will be on how the distinctive aspects of driving for work play a part in every day life, these include, the importance of journey planning, attitudes to driving, and what to do about work practices, which might pressure staff into unsafe driving.

For all you fleet managers out there, this is a seminar that is worth sending your young drivers too. The Young Drivers at Work seminar, taking place at the Society’s headquarters in Birmingham, is completely free.

But, with demand expected to be high, those interested are advised to contact the charity’s road safety team as soon as possible. Email Duncan Vernon at dvernon@rospa.com or call 0121 248 2078. See www.rospa.com/roadsafety/youngdriversatwork/ for full details of the Young Drivers at Work project, which is being funded by the Department for Transport.

The RoSPA seminar is an important date for all your young drivers but make sure you contact the team quickly as there are a limited number of places.

The Winter Olympics continues after the tragedy that befell it with the competitior on the luge run, don’t let tragedy strike your fleet, be proactive and make sure your drivers get the appropriate driver training and advice. The RoSPA Young Drivers at Work seminar is a good start. Safe driving!

Simon McBride

After the defeat to Manchester Utd the week before, Arsenal really had to get at least a point out of the match with fierce rivals Chelsea or their title challenge in the eyes of the pundits would be over. But it was not to be for the Gunners, Didier Drogba was once again on target and terrorized the Arsenal defence with his pace, power and goal scoring ability.

It has been reported from many media sources that Arsenal had £30 million to spend in the transfer window, surely Wenger should have bought someone like Drogba to replace the injured Van Persie? Arsenal lack firepower at present but they could also do with a few players who are a bit more physical and robust.

Talking about strong, robust and reliable, what is going on at Toyota? This is not a good period for the Japanese giant as it suffers bad press over issues with accelerators and brakes on some of its models. But let us not forget that most car manufacturers recall vehicles from time to time. The best solution for any recall is to deal with it effectively and quickly. The problem it seems is that Toyota has not reacted quickly enough and now the general press has leapt on this story. When Toyota confirmed there was a recall due to certain accelerator the company stated:

“Pedal mechanisms, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position.”

The reason given by the company was that: “Some accelerator pedal mechanisms may become worn. As a result of this wear combined with certain operating and environmental conditions, friction in the mechanism may increase and intermittently result in the accelerator pedal being hard to depress, slow to return or, in the worst case, stick in a partially open position.”

Toyota states: “That your car may have this problem if your accelerator pedal is harder to depress or is slow to return. The driver may notice a rough or chattering feeling when depressing/ releasing the accelerator pedal.”

For all you fleet managers a close watch on this situation is vital – the best thing for you to do is get your Toyota’s checked out at a local garage when the maker gets in touch, this will keep you and your company right when it comes to the duty of care act. Recall work should begin today in the UK (Wednesday, 10 February).

Source: Toyota GB

By the end of last week it looked as if Toyota were on top of its problems – but then on Monday (8^th February) there came another major blow when the company revealed that it would be recalling the third generation Prius due to receiving a number of complaints in relation to the brakes on the hybrid car.

There are a lot of fleets with the new Prius on them and the best advice is not to panic. Toyota will contact you to have a look at your vehicles. The maker has announced that it will recall 8,500 cars in the UK, these are third-generation Prius built before 27 January 2010.

In keeping with VOSA’s code of practice, Toyota will write individually to every owner or keeper in the next few days having obtained their contact details from the DVLA.

But as you and I both know, Toyota’s are still good cars, so let us not get into a panic like some of the media would have us do.

Yes these stories will damage Toyota and it may take a while for the maker to recover its reputation but it will. Maybe there is a lesson to be learnt by other car makers – if a problem occurs with your vehicles, then deal with it quickly.

So while Arsenal may not be as robust as Chelsea, Toyota still makes robust and reliable cars.

Glitches happen as do recalls, let us not buy into the media frenzy.

Simon McBride

Former UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson once said ‘A week is a long time in politics’ but it feels even longer when in journalism.

In the past week, we have witnessed talks about talks on how policing and devolution should be implemented in Northern Ireland (nothing ever changes – Ed speak), the football transfer window has come to a close with the biggest deal being a loan signing (Robbie Keane moving from Tottenham Hotspur to Glasgow Celtic), while Andy Murray was beaten by the best player on the planet – Roger Federer in the Australian Open final.

As you have read, a busy week for all concerned and I haven’t even got to the fleet industry yet!

Yes, the world is fast paced as nothing seems to stop and news is available 24/7 but what about the fleet industry…it too is moving with the times and you should be proud of what you are doing to achieve these aims.

You the fleet manager have bought cleaner and greener vehicles than any time before. According to statistics from the British Vehicle Renting and Leasing Association (BVRLA), its members operate a combined fleet of around 1.6 million cars, this saw the average CO₂ emissions of vehicles on fleets in 2009 fall to 144g/km. This represents a fall of about 4% from the 149.9g/km reported for vehicles added to fleets in 2008 and 9% on the 2007 figure. (see article for the full story)

This is more ammunition to disprove claims that company car drivers are gas guzzlers. Some environmental groups have labelled fleets as big polluters but these statistics show that fleets are actually greener than most commentators and lobbyists think.

It is true that the government’s emissions-based tax regime has given fleets and their drivers a great incentive to drive cleaner cars. But at the end of the day, the fleet manager and the drivers have the final say. Clearly they are joining in on this ‘green revolution’.

From green issues to a new man at the helm – A new name for your contacts book is Keith Jones as he has been named Chevrolet National Fleet Sales Manager.

This also means that you will be dealing with Chevrolet direct as it establishes a new, independent fleet sales operation, separate from GM.

Meanwhile, former GM owned marque Saab, now under the Spyker banner is looking to the future. Saab lost its way during the past few years but the Dutch firm that now own it, plans to rebuild a global car brand which will be repositioned towards an independent performance-oriented niche car company with an industry-leading environmental strategy.

A favourite for many user-choosers, Saab has always been seen as a trendy left field choice – a little different from the ‘norm’ but still with a touch of class thanks to its DNA that is rooted in its aeronautical heritage.

Saab will continue but as “Saab Spyker” and you the fleet manager should keep a close eye on what the new company has in store…three to four models are already in the pipeline 9-3 (sedan, hatchback, sports estate, X and convertible) and 9-5 (sedan, sports estate and X) and the 9-4X for both the US and European markets.

There is also potential for the company to manufacture a fourth smaller car line (possibly named a “9-1”) but this vehicle is a watch this space item for now…

Saab Spyker will launch the new 9-5 early this summer, while the new 9-4X is due in early 2011 and the new ‘all Saab’ 9-3 in 2012.

So as you can see a week is a long time in journalism but fleets are keeping apace with the changes.

Remember greener vehicles give your company a better image, allow you to cut costs on fuel and tax bands so keep up the good work and the fleet industry will continue to grow.

Simon McBride

As we went to press, Andy Murray produced some of the best tennis of his career so far, in the fourth round of the Australian Open he powered his way to two sets in front of Rafael Nadal, the defending champion. The Spaniard began to struggle in the third set and it was a reoccurrence of his knee injury that was to end the match prematurely.

So it is the Scot who is through to the semi-final of the Australian Open – by the time you read this he will be playing his next match and possibly is through to his first Slam final.

But it is not just injury in sport that can have major consequences, if your vehicles suffer from suspension damage, and then you the fleet manager will have to dig deep to find funds to make hasty repairs. Vehicles off for any length of time can damage your business as your drivers may be getting paid for doing nothing.

One way to try and prevent this from happening is to tell your drivers to drive around potholes where they can. Thanks to the bad weather the recent cold-snap has left some roads in a state of disrepair and potholes have been appearing up and down the UK.

Hit one of these at speed and you could get a puncture or even cause suspension damage to your vehicle. The damage caused by potholes are claimed by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) to inflict £320 million every year on motorists – if you are fleet manager, then you can see how important it is for your drivers to give these potholes a wide berth or you could be in a ‘hole’ lot of trouble when it comes to repairing your vehicles.

Pothole advice from the IAM:

• Leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front so that you can see the road surface before you drive or ride on it
• If you do hit a pothole accidentally, make a point of checking your tyres once you’ve stopped. Check the inner as well as the outer tyre wall, which may have been damaged as a result
• Avoid suddenly pulling out to avoid a hole – you might discover that there is a motorcyclist trying to get past you, or encounter an oncoming vehicle
• Bikers and cyclists need to look well ahead and change direction early so they have time to deal with the holes, and so that their movements don’t cause surprise to other road users
• Potholes tend to reappear in the same place again and again as previous repairs fail – remember where you saw one and expect it to be there again
• Be extra vigilant on roads with lots of lorries and also around bus stops.  Extra pressure is put on the road surface wherever heavy vehicles stop, start or turn

You should always report a pothole to the local authority as an early repair could prevent a future accident or damage to other vehicles. Not only is it important to look out for damage when you are managing your fleet, but it is just as vital when you are purchasing, new/used vehicles for your company.

One of the systems best known for this is the HPI Check.  HPI has recently announced that it has teamed up with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), to be able to give you, the prospective buyer a check on the vehicle’s history but also a thanks to the SMMT information on the fuel economy and engine performance of a vehicle.
If you are a fleet manager that acquires nearly new or used vehicles for your company, then this could be a system that could benefit you. The information is clearly displayed in 4 categories:

1. Vehicle Description – The vehicle description provides a summary of the car’s specification.
2. Vehicle Economy – Information on fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions will indicate the ongoing running costs of the car and its environmental impact.
3. Vehicle Performance – The technical information provided describes the engine layout, performance, power and specification.
4. Vehicle Dimensions – The length, width and height of the car.

This looks like a tool for you the fleet manager – clear descriptions and a proven history record is very important when you are buying a vehicle and it will give your drivers the assurances that they need that they are driving a vehicle with a reliable history record. This also means that you are performing your duty of care act by going that extra mile for your drivers – always a good thing.

So, whether it is injury in sport like what happened to Nadal or damage to your vehicles from potholes there should always be ways of minimising risk. Nadal may have to take time off from his sport and recuperate but your drivers can prevent damage by driving around potholes or slowing down if they have to drive through them.

The two organisations, HPI and SMMT have to be praised for their new system, not only does it give you a history record it also allows you to view performance and fuel economy figures – The tools are in place, make sure to use them to enhance your fleet.

Sources: IAM, SMMT, HPI

Simon McBride

With the winter weather still threatening to give us a rough ride as we start 2010, it may be time to make sure that your fleet have had their health checks.

One car maker, Skoda, is trying to solve your winter blues by offering free winter health checks to its customers. For those of you that are on a user-chooser scheme, then this should be well worth a visit to your local dealer.

The sub-zero conditions that we have had across the UK can put vehicles under a great deal of strain and it is always a good idea to get your fleet of vehicles checked after such tricky weather.

Some of the signs to look out for are car battery failures (due to increased strain from internal heaters etc), faulty wiper blades as these can damage the windscreen and worn tyres.

Taking care of your vehicles is a must but it is also very important to make sure your drivers are in tip-top condition.

From looking at the figures from a new report revealed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and research carried out by the AA, it claims that almost one fifth of its members know someone who has driven while suffering from a medical condition knowing they should not have driven.

The worrying point for you the fleet manager is how many of these have been fleet drivers under your management. If your drivers are on medication and are not fit to drive do not let them. You as their manager have to make a risk assessment on how each of your drivers are every day and if they do not feel well, then you need to have clear steps on how to act.

The worrying point for all concerned, is that these statistics show that many drivers on our road network are medically unfit. For those of us that use the roads every day, then maybe we all need to take some extra care.

This research has reiterated that the fittest drivers (the young) are still the most dangerous on the road.  While Middle-aged drivers are the safest and although there is an increase in fatalities per million miles travelled for those aged over 60 this may be due to frailty rather than dangerous driving.

To coincide with these findings the Department of Transport released a report a week earlier on “Fitness to drive”. It also threw up some interesting facts such as:

• Only one third of drivers who should have been given advice on fitness to drive received it from a healthcare professional without having to ask for it.
• Three-quarters of patients were not advised correctly regarding the DVLA rules for their medical condition.
• Most patients think they should be given advice on fitness to drive.

So what can you do?

As fleet manager, make sure that you make 2010 a year to remember for all the right reasons. Make sure your database is up to date with all your drivers and the correct vehicles that you have on your fleet

When was the last time your drivers did any driver training?

Do you give your drivers a medical every couple of years?

Are all driving licences on your system up to date with penalty points and correct addresses?

There must be a sense of tightening procedures, you have a duty of care to look after your employees so making sure their vehicles and your staff, are all in tip-top condition, this is of vital importance.

Sources: DfT, AA, ACPO

Simon McBride

The weather of late has been snow joke, it has caused a lot of disruption and hit the economy hard but there has been good news in recent days from the city. UK exports, new car registrations and fleet sales are looking healthier. It has been a cold start to 2010 with the snow causing lots of travel chaos but I hope that you and your fleets have managed in these tricky conditions. The Met Office is warning of heavy snow – 10-20cm (4-8in) – in parts of south-west England and south Wales later today so fleet drivers will need to heed the travel and weather reports as this cold snap continues.

But, there is plenty of good news for the industry to cheer about!

November saw UK exports rise to its highest level in 13 months.  According to the office for National Statistics, exports rose to £20.2bn, the most since October 2008. The car scrappage scheme has been one of the main incentives to allow the exports to rise. To coincide with the export news the SMMT has released figures for the month of December and they too make good reading. New car registrations rose in December by 38.9% to 150,936 units, however there was a note of warning as full year registrations down 6.4% to 1,994,999 units, the lowest level since 1995.

Since its introduction, the scrappage scheme has accounted for over a fifth of all new car registrations and is estimated to represent 20.8% of the December market.

It seems to be the Japanese makers that have taken advantage of those fleets who are in the market for new business. Mazda and Nissan have seen their products in demand from fleet managers. Mazda’s fleet chief, Peter Allibon is looking towards 2010 being a strong year for the Japanese company in the UK. His theory seems to be backed by you the fleet manager as there is demand for recently launched models as well as great anticipation for models due to be launched in the coming twelve months. Fleet managers have been enjoying the new Mazda3 thanks to the competitive deals you are getting on contract hire. Mazda should also be buoyed by the CX-7, this could be a big player in the fleet market this year as it is set to get a new diesel engine and trim line-ups. For Mazda to remain a popular choice with you the fleet manager, then you will also be looking at frugality and CO2 emissions, and the all important tax bands that they drop into.

If you are in the Motability or Daily Rental end of the market, you will be pleased to know that there will be some models from Mazda available to you, but the maker has claimed, it will only take profitable business from this sector of the fleet market.

Another Japanese car-maker that is selling strong at present in the fleet sector is Nissan. It has increased its market share by 0.5 per cent. This is despite pulling out of short-term cycle business. A staggering revelation has come to the fore that only Ford in the UK achieved a better year on year fleet sales performance than Nissan. Nissan completed a successful 2009 by growing its share of the fleet sales market from 3.5 to 4.0%, when the overall market fell by 20.5% (227,707 cars). The star from the Nissan camp was the Sunderland built Qashqai which saw a 161% rise in fleet sales from 9,873 to 15,925, while the Qashqai+2 rose 650% to 2,296.

This is a welcome return for two of the Japanese makers and with more new models it is also a good thing for you the fleet manager. Choice is a good thing, and it can make your drivers happy, remember it is their office you are buying or leasing.

The planned April 1 shake-up in Vehicle Excise Duty rates and the introduction of a ‘special’ first year VED rate that benefits low emission models, but hits cars with emissions above 161 g/km, means that the March plate change month will be crucial to determining the potential for sales growth this year.

We are now in mid-January! The holidays are well and truly over. The snow may still be with some of us, but you, the fleet manager need to get your head down. Make sure you are ready to reach sound decisions when the plate change occurs so that you and your company can ride the winds of change come April 1 and the VED shake-up.

Simon McBride