Ogilvie Fleet has become the latest contract hire and leasing company to sign up to use the Fleet Assist network of more than 7,000 vehicle service outlets.

The leasing company, which has almost 12,000 company cars and vans on its books, will benefit from the economies of scale offered by the network managed by Fleet Assist.

It previously used its own network of franchised dealers for company car and van service, maintenance and repair. 

Ogilvie Fleet operations director Jim Hannah (pictured) said: “It is labour intensive for Ogilvie Fleet to maintain its own network of garages. We have been on a drive to look at more efficient ways of purchasing and as we expand the fleet it becomes more cost effective to utilise Fleet Assist’s network.

“Adding our fleet to the already considerable combined fleet size that Fleet Assist negotiate on behalf of, will allow us to enjoy the benefits of economies of scale notably in respect of the buying of ancillary products such as oil and brake fluid.

“Our customers will continue to receive our same first class service. Ogilvie Fleet’s own team will continue to manage the booking of vehicles into garages, decide the service outlets used and authorise all repairs.”

However, he added: “What Ogilvie Fleet is gaining is access to a significantly larger network of service outlets. If a fleet customer has a particular preference for using a garage that is not part of our network the likelihood is that it will be part of the Fleet Assist network. While signing to use Fleet Assist we have the ability to trade in and out of the network.

“While Ogilvie Fleet will continue its policy of typically using franchise outlets for service, maintenance and repair work, using the Fleet Assist network does give us access to a complementary high quality network of independent garages, many of whom are members of the Bosch Car Service Network.

“Depending on our fleet customers’ preference, if a vehicle gets to four years/100,000 miles we may use the independent network. I’m also particularly interested in the Bosch Car Service Network in respect of the diagnosis of faults with fuel injectors and related issues.” 

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