Activa Contracts wins Peel Ports sole supply and outsourcing fleet deal

Activa Contracts has won a sole supply, full outsourcing fleet deal with Peel Ports Group.

Merseyside-based Peel Ports has centralised management of its 190-vehicle fleet and, following a comprehensive review, has decided to switch from purchasing most vehicles to a fully outsourced contract hire with maintenance solution.

Four years ago, Activa supplied 80 vehicles on contract hire with maintenance for operation at the Port of Liverpool.

A total of 45 new vehicles, typically Vauxhall light commercial vehicles, have been recently supplied and a further 87 vehicles are expected to be replaced this year.

Vehicles will be equipped with Lightfoot in-vehicle driver behaviour technology and Autokontrol geo-fence speed limiters to automatically reduce the vehicle’s speed.

Typically low mileage, some vehicles have clocked under 10,000 miles. Peel Ports is to shortly trial a Nissan e-NV200 electric van at the Port of Liverpool with the possibility that further zero emission models could be introduced to the fleet operation.

Peel Ports’ head of group asset management Lance Weissenborn said: “Peel Ports is a world class professional organisation and health and safety is top of the company’s agenda.

“We analysed the age profile of some of our vehicles and being several years old they were not equipped with the very latest safety technology.”

“We are at the start of the journey to outsource the fleet to Activa Contracts. We want our drivers to be safer and better equipped to do their job. Using the technology and the data provided by Lightfoot will see driver risk reduce.

“Peel Ports recognises the importance of health and safety and compliance, and partnering with Activa Contracts to deliver a modern vehicle fleet reinforces that commitment.

“Moving to a central fleet management structure from a facility-based management platform will result in greater focus on vehicle operations delivering efficiencies and improved vehicle utilisation.”

Activa Contracts’ area manager Sally Lewis said: “We have worked closely with Peel Ports to review its vehicle requirements notably taking into account whole life costs, fitness-for-purpose and utilisation. It is a 24-hour fleet operation, but typically low mileage so it has special requirements.

“Activa Contracts has effectively become Peel Ports’ fleet department taking on the day-to-day management of the fleet.”