Fleet briefs: Latest industry news from Mitie, Aston Barclay, E-Training World, SSE, Applied Driving, TTC, the AA, Allstar, UrbanThings and SkedGo

AA’s new Mobile Mechanics added to Allstar ServicePoint network

The AA’s new ‘mobile mechanics’ have been added to the Allstar ServicePoint network, providing fleets with the option to have their vehicles repaired or maintained at home or the office.

The new service, which was announced by the AA in October, offers full and interim mobile servicing for electric, petrol and diesel vehicles, as well as repairs.

It is being initially trialled in the Birmingham to Manchester corridor with availability from 8am-8pm on weekdays and appointments available on Saturdays to meet additional demand.

Greg Tucker, head of OEM and dealer management at Epyx, which operates ServicePoint in conjunction with Allstar, said: “While we have thousands of traditional service and repair outlets available across the UK on our platform, mobiles are becoming more popular and are a great addition to the SMR options that fleets can choose.

“The AA is providing a great choice for fleet car and van drivers with time restraints, who can’t easily get to a garage, or who simply want the convenience of a mobile service.

“While it is still in a trial phase, we think it is a product with huge potential and will prove popular.”

Tony Murtagh, B2B director at the AA, added: “The platform’s users will find the AA’s Mobile Mechanics the natural partner to keep their fleet on the road, while finding the service convenient, highly professional and, we believe, excellent value.”

ServicePoint is an online portal designed for businesses to manage car and van maintenance and repair through a national network of garages, with a range of online tools providing high levels of process control.

It is provided by Allstar Business Solutions based on technology from Epyx’s 1link Service Network.

SSE extends partnership with Applied Driving to manage driver risk

SSE has extended its partnership with Applied Driving following success in compliance with permits to drive, as well as a significant reduction in collisions.

Since the company’s driver risk management programme was launched in 2015 – implemented and managed by Applied Driving – SSE has significantly lowered the number of high-risk drivers, while reducing serious road traffic incidents.

“Our ongoing partnership with Applied Driving has consistently delivered measurable improvements in terms of road safety, legal compliance and duty of care,” explained Stephen Wilson, group road risk safety manager at SSE.

“By working together, we are well-placed to evolve our approach and continue to mitigate the threat of fleet risk within the business, enabling us to better protect our employees, the local communities we operate in, and the wider general public.”

Applied Driving’s Riskmapp platform hosts risk assessments, licence and grey fleet checks, permits to drive and e-learning access for 9,000 company and grey fleet drivers.

As part of the permit to drive (PtD) process, each driver undergoes an annual risk profiling and licence check to ensure they meet legal and company requirements.

Over the next 12 months, SSE will continue to evolve its training provision as part of its commitment to keep employees and members of the public safe on the roads.

The company will integrate its fleet telematics system with Applied Driving’s Riskmapp system, so driving data can be shared, analysed, and automated actionable insights can be created.

Nigel Lawrence, director of client partnerships at Applied Driving, said: “We are hugely excited by this latest extension with SSE, because it allows us to build on the road safety successes achieved to date.

“Our successful partnership demonstrates what can be accomplished by fleets through the creation and ongoing development of a sustainable safety culture that targets fleet risk and promotes responsible driving among employees.”

Aston Barclay launches Christmas Calendar Cars campaign with Zenith

Aston Barclay is hosting a series of events throughout December, including a month-long Calendar Cars event, in partnership with Zenith, to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease Association and automotive industry charity Ben.

It will also host its annual Zenith only digital auction on December 28, which will be the only sale held by Aston Barclay between Christmas and New Year.

This year Aston Barclay’s longstanding Christmas partnership with Zenith sees the launch of its Calendar Cars campaign where a different used car will be revealed each weekday, from 1st to 22nd December to bid on and buy on that day.

For each of the Calendar Cars successfully purchased, Zenith is donating £100 to Motor Neurone Disease Association and Aston Barclay will donate £100 to Ben, the automotive industry charity.

Gordon Cockle, director of remarketing at Aston Barclay, said: “We have a packed schedule of events through December, and we are thrilled to be partnering with Zenith to raise money for two amazing charities.”

Mitie appointed to the new NHS framework agreement

Mitie has been named as a supplier on the new NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) Sustainable Transport and Infrastructure framework agreement.   

Being on the framework will enable Mitie to bid for contracts and projects delivering the consultancy, planning, and installation of sustainable transport infrastructure such as electric vehicle (EV) charging for the NHS and other public sector organisations across the UK.

Pradyumna Pandit, managing director, for sustainability and energy services at Mitie, said: “Our inclusion on this framework agreement is testament to our strong electric vehicle credentials and proven commitment to driving decarbonisation for public sector organisations across the UK.

“With our specialist expertise in delivering comprehensive EV solutions, we’re well equipped to support the NHS, and a wide range of other public sector organisations on their green transitions.”

Anjub Ali, senior construction specialist at NHS SBS, added: "Our framework agreement provides all NHS organisations with a convenient and compliant way of purchasing a wide range of sustainable transport services and infrastructure to help it get there.

"We have worked with NHS Sustainability, Estates and Procurement colleagues in designing this framework, and aligned it to fulfil the common themes which have emerged from NHS Trusts' Green Travel plans, so it includes a range of suppliers providing transport and infrastructure-related services to support the NHS on its journey."

E-Training World launches new adverse weather conditions training module

E-Training World has launched a new training module specifically designed for adverse weather conditions.

The interactive, online training module uses a combination of high-definition video footage and still images to demonstrate the potential impact of different weather conditions and educate drivers on how to adapt their driving style to reduce the risk of accidents and collisions.

Graham Hurdle, managing director at E-Training World, said: “Extreme weather conditions are becoming more frequent, and it is vital that companies equip their drivers with the skills needed in these challenging environments.

“Reduced visibility and slippery roads can increase the risk of accidents and collisions. By completing training specifically tailored to these risk factors, drivers can become safer on the road and have fewer collisions.”

TTC wins Cumbria police contract to help educate drivers

TTC, has been awarded a five-year contract to help increase safety compliance on the roads of Cumbria.

The company will work with Cumbria Police so drivers can access a suite of driver offender rehabilitation courses, either in person or online.

TTC courses offered to motorists through the contract include ‘Speed Awareness’, ‘Motorway Awareness’, ‘Safe and Considerate Driving’, ‘What’s Driving Us’ and ‘Ride’ – a course designed specifically for motorcyclists.

TTC delivers courses to more than 600,000 motorists across the UK each year as a provider of UK Road Offender Education (UKROEd) accredited courses.

Nationwide it says that it has in excess of 600 trainers, with in-person classes held at five venues across Cumbria conducted by local people with local knowledge.

Sharon Haynes (pictured), director for police at TTC, said: “It’s an honour to be collaborating with Cumbria Police once again, running high-quality courses that change driver behaviour and ultimately play an important part in the reduction of accidents, injury and death on our roads.” 

UrbanThings and SkedGo partner to enhance journey planning apps

UrbanThings and SkedGo have announced a strategic partnership, combining their technology platforms to deliver preference-based journey planning with a sustainability focus. 

The partnership will combine SkedGo’s expertise in journey planning and routing with UrbanThings’ experience in ticketing and real-time information to support operators and cities with access to a deeper level of configuration for their journey planning offerings.

As well as promoting the availability of operator’s services, this will help encourage sustainable travel options with better routes, taking into account customers’ travel preferences and habits.

Guy Sutherland, head of bids and partnerships at UrbanThings, said: "Working with SkedGo will supercharge our journey planning offering.

“This enhancement will allow us to provide much more sophisticated preference-based journey plans to simplify the customer experience and improve the visibility of how their preferred operators can provide a sustainable and convenient travel choice with a journey that suits them.

“I'm really excited to see the real everyday benefits passengers will feel from this partnership.”

Joshua Biondi, business development manager Europe at SkedGo, added: “Our collaboration with UrbanThings is a testament to the empowering relationship between account-based ticketing and advanced journey planning capabilities.

“We bring our respective expertise and technology together within a seamlessly integrated solution, to create a best-in-class plan, book and pay mobility experience.

“This will empower users to make more informed and ultimately more sustainable travel decisions and reflects our own commitment to sustainable transport.”