Fraikin has won a contract from Sainsbury’s to manage and maintain 220 of its 3.5 tonne Sainsbury’s online home delivery vehicles in the South East.

Under the terms of the contract Fraikin will not only be responsible for providing the fleet management for each of the vehicles which operate across an estate of 23 stores, but also the recovery and repair of the vehicles with a guaranteed 90 minute response time.

A vehicle first aid pack is supplied with each vehicle to remedy minor defects such as light bulbs. Additionally, a familiarisation guide is provided by Fraikin to ensure that the drivers are familiar with the vehicle and importantly understand how to operate it safely within residential and built up environments.

A key objective of the relationship will therefore be to minimise downtime to ensure that Sainsbury’s is able to maintain a constant level of service 363 days a year within its one hour delivery slots.

In order to achieve this Fraikin will be introducing a proactive maintenance programme and in order to keep breakdowns to a minimum each vehicle will be serviced every 12 weeks. To further increase efficiency all servicing will be carried out at the store by fully equipped mobile service vehicles.

These measures are further supplemented by the fact that the drivers are required to carry out a full vehicle and safety check before the vehicle leaves the store each day.

Any issues with the vehicles will be channelled straight to Fraikin and breakdowns will be managed through the company’s own breakdown centre at Oldbury

Peter Backhouse, CEO at Fraikin, said: “The fact that the vehicles span across such a distance will no doubt create its own logistical issues but ones which we are well geared up to cater for through our network of workshop facilities and maintenance partners.

“Furthermore the fact that we have our own breakdown centre which is manned on a 24/7 basis 365 days a year will be a major bonus and in the event of a breakdown occurring our team of technicians will be able to quickly determine what course of action needs to be taken. All are acutely aware that fast response is critical because of the perishable items on board.

“Additionally as cost control is a major factor we will constantly be looking at ways of introducing both greater efficiencies and increased value for money solutions for Sainsburys.”

Sainsburys currently operates approximately 1,350 home delivery vehicles in the UK.
 

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