FORD has signed up three of the UK's largest contract hire fleets to its central billing programme. Swan National Motor Finance, Lease Plan and Autolease joined the scheme this month, adding around 25,000 Fords to the existing parc of 130,000 vehicles.

Since its launch in July, 69 fleets operating some 350,000 vehicles have committed themselves to central billing, which uses Electronic Data Interchange to invoice clients with details of all servicing and maintenance transactions on a weekly basis.

More than 90% of Ford main dealers and all Rapid Fit branches are participating in the programme, which is free for fleets to join and offers potentially huge administrative savings. The scheme is based on consistent national pricing nationwide for many maintenance items and is now being supported by a compulsory training programme for all participating outlets to ensure they are capable of delivering the service levels required.