Renault has launched a ‘pay-as-you-earn’ maintenance service - iCare - to help SMEs' vehicle maintenance concerns. 

The service designed for the LCV sector is designed to allow van fleet operators to not only minimise downtime, but also address concerns that suggest van fleets are the least roadworthy vehicles on the road today.

Recent research conducted by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) claimed that van fleet offences in certain areas are exceeding those of heavy goods vehicles with more than half of its 21,000 roadside checks carried out on vans last year uncovering mechanical defects. That’s compared to 24% of HGVs and 15% of PSVs.

With almost half of LCVs in the 3.0-3.5 tonne sector also failing their first MoT, Renault’s new iCare fully-managed service, maintenance and repair (SMR) offering is designed to assist commercial vehicle users to ensure downtime is kept to a minimum and compliance legislation is adhered to.

The iCare maintenance cover takes care of all routine SMR - excluding damage, neglect or abuse - with the option to include fair wear and tear on tyres for the life of the agreement.

“This latest research by the VOSA is rather disconcerting for the industry,” comments Darren Payne, Renault UK’s director of fleet and commercial vehicle operations.

“It would indicate that van fleet operators, maybe in part due to the recession and cutbacks, are disregarding mechanical defects and the need for regular maintenance checks on their vehicles.

“What’s even more worrying though, is that initial MoT failures for class-seven vans have risen from 47.9% in financial year 2007/8, to 50% in 2009/2010 – that’s the worst performing across the entire automotive sector and we suspect it won’t be long before new legislation is
introduced to uphold these standards.”