Building firm cuts 20% from fuel costs after van upgrade

The Jones Group selected Citroen Nemo, Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay vans and will benefit from a 20 per cent saving in annual fuel bills and a 17 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions

SME van operators looking to reduce running costs can take a leaf out of DR Jones’s book.

The Yeovil-based building firm, part of the Jones Group, will cut its fuel costs and reduce its carbon footprint with a planned upgrade of its 100-van fleet after carrying out a major review based on the company’s operational use in consultation with Lex Autolease.

To identify the most suitable vehicle types, Lex Autolease conducted a detailed appraisal of the company’s working practices, including assessment the different types of equipment staff were required to carry and the distance travelled between jobs.

The vans are branded in the company’s corporate colours and benefit from an accident management and maintenance service provided by Lex Autolease

Based on the findings, Lex Autolease provided four different types of van, all customised to meet the requirements of a specific role. These include gas fitter vans, engineer vans, multi-trade vans and supervisor vehicles.

After an assessment period The Jones Group chose Citroen Nemo, Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay vans.

The business predicts a 20 per cent saving in annual fuel bills and a 17 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions. In all, 110 vehicles will be supplied by Lex Autolease in the £1 million upgrade.

The vans are branded in the company’s corporate colours and covered by a full accident management and maintenance service from by Lex Autolease.

Jones Group managing director Dave Jones told Business Vans: “It is our intention that over the next few years we will have replaced our existing fleet with the most eco-friendly and fuel efficient business vans on the market.”