By BOB PAPWORTH


THE SUPPLIER


emergency numbers and speed limits at the time they are asking travellers to sign the rental agreement. At the moment they generally only provide details that are specific to the car that they are picking up, like the type of fuel and a number to call if there is a breakdown. They could also ask for a signature from the traveller to evidence the fact that they have been provided with the local information. Should the TMC [travel management company] be spelling out these details to the traveller at the time of booking? In all honesty, I do not believe so, but we should be reminding the travellers of their need to stick to their corporate travel policy. We should also be advising our clients to ensure that their travel policies make it clear that their employees do have a personal responsibility for making sure that they are aware of the local regulations – just as they would be


BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM


if they were renting a car for private leisure purposes. The TMC does have a role in advising clients to ensure the company has a clear policy on car hire, which includes details of what they can and cannot do when picking up a car and signing the rental agreement. The most common issue that TMCs and car hire companies face is becoming involved in disputes about the charges incurred by travellers renting a car who end up signing up for more than their company has booked for them. We need to all work together to ensure that we can minimise these ‘he said/ she said’ disputes about car hire. Only a strict and policed travel policy that is enforced will prevent these disputes occurring. It is all about making sure the employee is aware of what they can and cannot sign for. The TMC can advise the traveller of the policy, but only the cor- porate client can ensure that there are consequences for not sticking to that policy.


ROB INGRAM, director of business rental for Europe, Enterprise Rent-A-Car


BUSINESS TRAVELLERS TEND TO BE VERY EXPERIENCED at driving abroad and our research found less than one in five were driving abroad for the first time. However, whether you’re driving for the first or the hundredth time, it’s vital to prepare for the drive, especially by checking on local driving rules. The research shows that some travellers could make foreign driving trips safer by investing more time preparing for overseas driving – and decrease the likeli- hood of falling foul of the local driving laws. While three-quarters of drivers (79 per cent) say they plan to travel abroad and hire a car, many take their own vehicle. Whichever option they choose, people need to make sure they’re comfortable not just with the car they hire, but also with the traffic laws of their destination and its unfamiliar road markings and signs.


BBT September/October 2016 43


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