Archant has appointed Fleet Alliance to manage its fleet, increase its green credentials and improve driver support.

The privately owned media company has a fleet of more than 330 company cars with around 80% job need cars, mainly for sales and editorial staff, and 20% management cars for editors, sales, circulation and marketing managers and directors.

As part of an ongoing environmental and sustainability initiative, the company incentivises all its staff who are eligible for a company car to select the lowest carbon-emitting vehicles in return for the payment of a green bonus. 

For example, the majority of Archant’s drivers have a benchmark car of a Ford Focus Zetec 1.5TDCi model with carbon emissions of 98g/km. However, if they choose a Fiesta ECOnetic 1.5TDCi instead, they receive a £40 green bonus for selecting the greener option, which has carbon emissions of just 82g/km. 

Managerial staff also receive a green bonus for selecting a model from an open choice list with lower emissions than their benchmark.

Take-up of the incentivised green option is currently running at over 30% amongst job need staff and contributes to average CO2 emissions across the whole Archant fleet of just 99.6g/km - a key part of the company’s drive to reduce its corporate carbon footprint.

Fleet Alliance will now look to build on this through a number of new environmental moves, including the proposed introduction of petrol-electric and diesel-electric hybrids and pure electric vehicle options for the fleet.

To improve levels of support to Archant company car drivers, Fleet Alliance is also rolling out its e-fleet mobile app for all company car drivers. It provides drivers with direct access to all key support services, ensuring they get the help they need quickly without having to search for the required contact details.

All the information relayed through the app feeds seamlessly into the e-fleet fleet management platform, helping provide an extensive and comprehensive suite of operational and strategic reports which allow the interrogation of all aspects of the fleet operation.

Greg Parton, group head of procurement and sustainability at Archant (pictured), said: “Through appointing Fleet Alliance, we are looking to build on the excellent green record we have achieved across our fleet over recent years, as well as reducing costs in key areas of our fleet operations. 

“We have been impressed with the levels of investment they have made in new technology, particularly in e-fleet. We will also value the increased support available to our drivers through the e-fleet mobile app. Our drivers can now readily access their vehicle information, all emergency contacts and support services whilst operating remotely in the field.”

Fleet Alliance managing director, Martin Brown, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Archant as our newest client to an expanding customer base, and look forward to delivering the award-winning customer service levels for which we have become renowned.”

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