Whitworth Bros has signed a four-year sole supply contract hire with maintenance deal with Ogilvie Fleet.

Whitworth Bros has simultaneously taken the opportunity to comprehensively review its company car policy.

Whitworth Bros operates a 34-strong company car fleet and has now introduced a user-chooser policy with drivers able to choose a diesel or hybrid car based on a monthly rental rate within their grade. There is also a trade up option.

Critically, Whitworth Bros. worked with Ogilvie Fleet to compile a company car choice list with a carbon dioxide emissions cap of 120 g/km for drivers.

Distribution manager Colin Spurrier, who is responsible for the organisation’s company car and HGV fleets, said: “Whitworth Bros. is focused on cutting its carbon footprint so we have introduced the emissions cap, while still giving drivers a wide vehicle choice. Company directors are also focused on cutting our carbon footprint by selecting lower emission vehicles. Additionally, the correlation between low CO2 emissions and fuel economy means that the business is simultaneously cutting its fuel bill.”

Company cars are replaced on three or four-year cycles depending on individual drivers’ mileage, which can range between 20,000 and 40,000 miles per annum.

Additionally, Whitworth Bros. has introduced a winter tyre policy across its company car fleet. That will see it work with Ogilvie Fleet and its tyre partner Kwik-Fit to switch to winter tyres in about October and then back to standard tyres in the spring.

Mr Spurrier said: “A large number of our sales team are out on the road all year and live in rural areas. We believe that from a safety and duty of care requirement that the fitting of winter tyres offers improves safety and peace of mind for our company car drivers, their family and the business.”

The decision to form a business partnership with Ogilvie Fleet has opened the door to Whitworth Bros. using the company’s multi-award-winning MiFleet Showroom suite of online tools.

Drivers are able to use the system to obtain vehicle quotes, while Mr Spurrier can access the fleet manager portals to monitor vehicle ordering and obtain bespoke management reports.

He said: “Although Ogilvie Fleet is managing the day-to-day running of the vehicles, I need to have a handle on the fleet. I have never had this facility before and it is already easing my administration load, which enables me to focus on other issues within my workload.”

Commenting on the switch of contract hire supplier - Ogilvie Fleet is also providing accident management - Mr Spurrier said: “Whitworth Bros. is a family-owned business and we wanted a like-minded supplier that had similar service and delivery values to ourselves.

“I am impressed with the online tools and the drivers are finding the quotation tool easy to use with a number of orders already placed. I am very confident of a good relationship with Ogilvie Fleet.”

Nick Hardy, sales and marketing director, Ogilvie Fleet, said: “Many clients are looking to reduce fleet costs and simultaneously introduce an environmental focus to their fleet, which is what we have helped Whitworth Bros. to do.

“The award-winning personal customer service of Ogilvie Fleet is one of the company’s many strengths and we are finding that it is highly valued by existing customers and when we respond to tenders.”

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