TRANSPORT
KEEP DELIVERING AND KEEP COMPLIANT
Getting product to customers is obviously critical, but with today’s pressures, the demands on builders’ merchants are mounting up...
F
rom a transport point of view, the standard challenges are all about uptime. The whole sector requires specialist vehicles thanks to variety of materials it has to transport. How best can a builders’ merchant guarantee a variety of vehicle specs plus maximum uptime in a cost-effective manner, along with the forward- thinking knowledge not only to deliver to every kind of customer, but also to plan for Government intervention on the environment? Prohire supplies commercial vehicles and full fleet support services as well as vehicle rental options to builders’ merchants as well as to specialist logistics companies serving the sector.
The big question for merchant groups is whether to take full control by owning a fleet of commercial vehicles, or to sub-contract every aspect of warehousing, transportation and fulfilment to a third-party logistics
supplier. The middle way, now definitely worth considering, is the contract hire of commercial vehicles with maintenance, compliance and accident management.
According to Andrew Morley, group sales director of commercial vehicle contract hire specialist, Prohire, contract hire combines off-balance sheet transport with the
personalisation of an owned logistics service. The Prohire option has also been taken up by several full-service logistics companies operating in the merchant sector.
Morley says: “Commercial vehicle contract hire enables operators to control their own customer service, having sufficient involvement in transportation to manage the handling of their own goods in transit, minimising damage and returns. As such it appeals particularly
to companies such as builders’ merchants with awkward or very high value freight. It also presents the perfect opportunity to run a fleet off-balance sheet, freeing up capital for investment in other business critical areas. Combined with vehicle and parts buying power, fixed cost predictability is a definite advantage and can yield cost savings which can be passed on to customers.”
Two of the most significant customer benefits attributable to Prohire contract hire are the maximisation of uptime and the management of compliance. Uptime management is judged on the successful delivery of goods to their destination, with Prohire taking responsibility for supplying the appropriate vehicle as required, whatever the circumstances.
Heavy specialism
Compliance is another added value service that Prohire can include in its menu-based contract hire offer. The company’s heritage as an HGV specialist means that its expertise in compliance is based on the standards set by HGV legislation, even when the contract hire fleet includes LCVs, enabling greater peace of mind – and superior residuals.
One of the big issues for merchants is
future-proofing the fleet. Vehicles that comply with the FORS silver standard with the aim of being ready for the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) and therefore having unencumbered access to the capital when the standard comes into force in October 2020 is a serious consideration. London operators also need to be wary about the potential of a zero emissions zones coming into the capital that could make even Euro-6 diesels obsolete. “Clearly there’s a lot of discussion around
electric and hybrid vehicles,” says Morley. “We are looking to advise our customers on alternative fuel vehicle solutions but when they have a site with say 20 3.5 tonners and 20 7.5 tonners the challenge will be having the appropriate power supply. The i nfrastructure currently isn’t adequate, so we are looking to help our customers to be ahead of the game by future proofing new distribution sites to accommodate this future challenge.”
Thanks to its combination of a consultative approach, matching customer usage
requirements with individual specifications, plus its considerable knowledge and skillset in compliance, vehicle maintenance, and accident management, Prohire can provide risk-free return and disposal at vehicle end of life. “It’s all about the proper management of assets while they are in use and the best and cleverest disposal of those assets – financially and sustainably,” says Morley.
Prohire contract hire customers also report incidental benefits including contract gains thanks to superior vehicle presentation and reliability, improved driver retention and recruitment. Many customers have also
experienced other cost savings, such as vehicle insurance and fuel bills reduced because of the way the fleet is being managed. Morley concluded: “Contract hire is a massively beneficial way for merchants to procure their transport fleets. It combines cost advantages and peace of mind with a whole host of added value services. Prohire’s very personal approach just maximises these benefits and enables customers to outline exactly what they want to achieve.”
BM J
LEADERS IN CUS T OMISED HANDLING SOLUTIONS
+353 4 7 80 500
combilift.com
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