Help and advice on running your vans
The versatility and body adaptations offered by these vehicles lend themselves to a broad range of user cases, ranging from last mile delivery to applications within construction, waste management, landscaping and FMCG industries, and are ideal for use in locations where the size of a traditional LCV might preclude its use.
Industry body has seen an apparent rise in the number of vehicles being mistakenly supplied with plates showing the wrong registration, or even with different plates on the front and rear and there are reports of cars and vans driving around on the wrong plates for months or even years. In some cases, the error only comes to light when fleets find that the vehicle has been stopped by the police.
All competent fleet operators know, employers are responsible for the safety of their employers behind the wheel of any vehicle being used on business. If vehicles don’t need proactive servicing, where does the liability lie in the event of an accident caused by a mechanical fault?
With a bit more wiggle room taking some pressure off fleet managers, the market switch to EVs is still inevitable and it’s good for businesses to consider how and when they’re going to make the transition. Here, Plug Me, Part of the Calisen Group, a smart energy provider and enabler, takes a look at the considerations, benefits of EVs for businesses, and the timings and steps to take.
Link Group operates a number of award-winning social enterprise companies serving over 10,000 customers across 26 Scottish local authorities - making it one of the largest social landlords in Scotland. Given the diversity of its businesses and the varying work requirements, Link Group now has a total of 584 drivers across its various activities, 393 of whom use their own vehicles on company business, the so-called ‘grey fleet,’ with the remainder operating approximately 165 company-owned vans.
Licence Check launched DAVIS Coaching, which is delivered by a dedicated driver app, late last year within its award-winning DAVIS (Driver and Vehicle Information Solution) platform. Since then company drivers have answered over 100,000 questions via the app with a 66.33% success rate, and there has been an average of over 500 unique app launches per week.
Beyond environmental sustainability, companies can benefit from many advantages by electrifying their fleet, such as cheaper refuelling costs, a reduction in the tax burden when purchasing EVs, greater energy efficiency, greater freedom of movement in low-emission areas, the availability of public subsidies or an improvement in the company's reputation by committing to a new mobility model.
An increase in working hours means that UK van drivers are now averaging 9 hours and 10 minutes of work per day – up from 8 hours 34 minutes reported in February 2023 – with 2 in 5 working over 10 hours per day. This represents a 7% increase in the average working day, year on year.
There is a perception among some fleets that prescribed medication was more of a problem than illegal drugs when it came driving, but that these latest reports suggested this is not necessarily the case. There is an assumption by some employers that use of illegal drugs among drivers is very limited but there are increasing signs this maybe untrue. It appears that legal drugs prescribed for medical use and those taken for recreational purposes are both potential issues.
Carbon reporting so far tended to affect larger and often multi-national fleets but there are signs that the measures would affect more businesses over time, not just on a potential statutory basis, but because larger customers were increasingly demanding it from a supply chain compliance point of view.
Campaign Manager can be used to apply a range of incentives to remarketed vehicles, such as low-interest stocking loans and free delivery. It has been added to the company’s 1link Disposal Network platform, which has been used by fleets to sell more than 500,000 cars, vans and trucks since its launch in 2005.
Reporting into Managing Director Yvette Giannini, Greenaway’s appointment is the latest in a series of new announcements at DriverCheck, the most recent of which was the promotion of Giannini herself to the position of MD. The company had an outstanding year last year and results show sales growth of almost 10%, with a further 26,500 drivers added across the 1,200-plus client portfolio.
Offered as part of Europcar’s Long-Term Van Hire solutions, the new solution can be applied to any of the van fleet including short and long wheel base, Chapter 8 vehicles, crew cabs and specialist bodied vehicles. It also provides the option for variable mileage requirements and includes free delivery & collection to business or home addresses.
Despite toll roads making up a small fraction of the 187,200-mile English road network, they significantly impact the 3.8 million van drivers regularly crossing the country. However, the impact isn't always negative, as some alternative routes can be pricier due to the additional mileage.
New automated licence checking process replaces manual verification, reducing the admin burden and cost, and provides a quicker experience for the driver while ensuring credentials are checked accurately and effectively, thus reducing the risk of liability and simplifying demonstrator management
