LOGISTICS, FREIGHT AND TRANSPORTATION
FEATURE
How fleets can prepare for a post-Brexit Britain
Prior to the UK’s referendum on its membership of the EU, a Fleet News poll found that 61% of fleets believed their costs would be impacted negatively as a result of Brexit. With the deadline for the UK’s departure from the European Union moving ever closer, fleet operators could be feeling the pressure to find innovative ways to reduce costs. Business Network explores some of the ways fleet operators can prepare for an uncertain future.
26 to 52-week lease contracts – which could potentially cover busier parts of the year while making it much easier on cash flow. Contract hire offers businesses a fixed payment method for the use of a vehicle for a fixed term. The benefits are fixed monthly payments, but
business owners should note that reasonable care must be taken of the vehicle and there is often an obligation to remain under the stated mileage as set out in the leasing contract, otherwise a charge may be levied.
GO GREEN An excellent way to reduce your costs – and help the planet – is to implement a green policy. While there is no one-size-fits-all strategy, there are a number of options to consider. Set a long-term emissions reduction goal that tackles such questions as the operational costs of adopting energy-saving policies and how to imbed such polices into corporate culture. Consider the size of your vehicles – do your drivers
need full size trucks when smaller vans will do? Choosing more fuel-efficient vehicles is a step in the right direction to reducing emissions, fuel consumption, and cost. Implementing fuel-efficient driving techniques into
INTRODUCING TELEMATICS A big factor affecting fuel costs and emissions is driver performance. Fleet Telematics System (FTS) monitors and provides behavioural information of a driver. Fuel can make up 20-to-30% of a vehicle’s entire life
costs, a controllable cost that your business can better with FTS information. When looking at the fuel economy of each of your fleet, telematics technology can help organisations manage their fleet’s miles per gallon. Additionally, with FTS information, fleet managers
can identify the more aggressive drivers and train them to use cost effective driving techniques.
LEASING With the uncertainty of what Brexit might hold for your business, it could be a wise idea to look into shorter leases, and there are a number of different options to suit logistic and transport businesses of all sizes. Flexileases allow a company to hire a vehicle from anywhere between 28 days to a year (depending on the requirements) and contracts can be ended with very little notice. For those that require a little more structure, short- term leasing requires company owners to commit to
your business can save you money. Fleet owners should encourage their drivers to follow the ‘drive smart’ essentials as outlined by the AA, such as using the air conditioning wisely, sticking to the speed limit and avoiding breaking unnecessarily. As well as vehicle size, consider vehicle type.
Electric cars can currently travel 100 miles per charge, making this a suitable option if your drivers are completing short journeys. As well as eliminating fuel costs, electric cars also require less maintenance. While an electric car can be more expensive to buy outright, the savings on fuel can outweigh the cost.
ADVANCED FUEL CARDS Advances in technology have improved what fuel cards can offer your business. With an advanced fuel card, fleet operators can take more control by setting spending limits. This helps fleet managers ensure drivers stay within budget. These cards provide you with an invoice for all fuel
purchases and all other expensess, helping companies save time on operational administration and payment and leaving more time to focus on implementing a post-Brexit business plan.
business network March 2019 55
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