A LUTON-based company which supplies beds to the National Health Service has cut costs and improved its duty-of-care provision after introducing a new fleet management system.

Huntleigh Healthcare now uses an online system to allocate vehicles, record business mileages, book vehicles and check driving licences.

The system, called Fleetdesk 3, is supplied by Inspire Fleet Solutions, which is also providing a daily rental service for Huntleigh’s 425-strong fleet.

Graeme Maddison, group human resources director, said: ‘The human resources department is taking a central role in supporting the fleet operation at Huntleigh and we have been pulling together one centralised database to give us better control of the fleet management process. These measures are part of an ongoing initiative.’

The company has also taken delivery of 22 Ford Transit vans. The company will switch its entire 200-strong light commercial vehicle fleet to Fords over the next three years.

At the same time, the company has agreed a dual-badge arrangement for its 225-strong car fleet, replacing existing suppliers with the Ford family of Ford, Volvo and Jaguar as well as Vauxhall, including Saab.