Fleet briefs: Latest from BVRLA, FleetCheck, Fleet Assist and Addison Lee

Addison Lee and Bonnet partner to provide EV charging

Addison Lee has announced a new partnership with electric vehicle (EV) charging aggregator, Bonnet to provide partner drivers with discounted charging.

Alongside access to more than 20 charging networks – and more than 1,000 rapid charge points across the capital – Addison Lee partner drivers will also see the price of charging reduced, receiving a £5 charging credit each month for the first four months of the partnership.

Similarly, via Bonnet’s new ‘Turbo Boost’ scheme, Addison Lee partner drivers can receive a 15% discount on the standard network tariff for all charges.

Bonnet will provide Addison Lee’s partner drivers with information on available charge points to them via an app that provides real-time data.

Liam Griffin, chief executive officer (CEO) of Addison Lee, said: “Since we announced our transition to electric, we have formed several important partnerships to ensure we can provide the drivers that work with us with seamless access to EV charging.

“Partnering with an innovative brands like Bonnet, means our partner drivers will no longer be at risk of taking wasted journeys to busy and broken charge points. And, as the cost of living continues to rise our deal ensures our partner drivers are saving as much money on EV charging as possible.”

BVRLA’s Industry Outlook Conference returns

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association’s (BVRLA) Outlook Conference is returning next month.

David Smith, economics editor at The Sunday Times will present the economic outlook for 2023 at the event.

This year’s event also sees the introduction of a Fleet Technology Spotlight made up of three panels to explore how technology will help companies tackle the challenges of 2023, the BVRLA said.

Topics to be covered in the Spotlight sessions include customer service and digitisation, smart charging and energy management and compliance technology.

The association will also launch the findings of its Industry Outlook report that contains data and views of BVLRA members.

The findings will be discussed by a panel containing representatives from Arnold Clark, Enterprise, Octopus Electric Vehicles, ProHire, The LCV Group, United Rental Group and Zenith.

Gerry Keaney, chief executive of the BVRLA, said: “Through this conference we are bringing members of all sizes and business types together. Backed by the insights of our Industry Outlook Report, we will explore what 2023 has in store and discuss how our sector can thrive.”

The event will take place at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon on December 7, 2022.

FleetCheck software supports National Highways Operation Tramline

FleetCheck has provided fleet management software to support National Highways’ Operation Tramline road safety programme.

As part of the initiative, three HGV tractor units are being lent by National Highways to police forces in the North, Midlands, and South of the country, with the elevated cab position allowing officers to video potential road safety issues.

Since the launch of the programme, more than 31,000 offences have been recorded, with the most common being mobile phone use, not wearing a seatbelt and the driver not being in control of the car.

The software provided by FleetCheck enables safety and compliance checks to be carried out by drivers of the tractor units using an app both on first use and on handover to other drivers.

Peter Golding, managing director at FleetCheck, said: “Operation Tramline is one of the most interesting and effective road safety initiatives that we have seen, and we are very pleased to be able to help support the initiative with our software.

“Police fleets generally have limited, or no experience of operating HGVs and our app-based approach means that they can be walked through essential compliance checks, creating an auditable trail that shows the vehicle is in roadworthy condition.”

Fleet Assist help drive oil cost savings for garages

Lemon Penguin, the new garage services programme launched by Fleet Assist, has reported a 276% increase in oil purchases in the past six months.

The company said the order pipeline and deliveries continue to grow each month with independent garages and franchised garages signing up to the scheme.

Vincent St Claire, Fleet Assist’s managing director, said: “Fuel and oil prices reached record levels earlier in 2022 as have other dealer costs, which is why we launched Lemon Penguin.

“Given the current economic climate, we wanted to use our supply chain management skills to deliver cost savings to our 5,200 franchised and independent dealers.”

New campaign launched to highlight risks of driving

The Scottish Occupational Road Safety Alliance (ScORSA) has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the risks of work-related driving and help businesses cut accidents among their workers.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of work-related driving, including distraction, drink or drug misuse, speeding and not wearing a seatbelt.

It also aims to promote the free help and advice that employers – and employees – can get from ScORSA to reduce the risks of driving for work; and encourage employers to consider the health and safety of employees who drive for work as part of their wider approach to health and safety at work.

ScORSA said nearly one-in-three fatal and serious road traffic accidents involve somebody who is driving for work and for drivers covering more than 25,000 miles a year as part of their job, their risk of being killed at work is like that of construction workers or those working in quarrying.

ScORSA is encouraging employers to sign up as members and download a free toolkit which includes advice about how to keep workers safe while driving, how to start the conversation in the workplace, example social media content and case studies.

Karen McDonnell, occupational health and safety policy adviser at ScORSA, said: “We are delighted to launch our toolkit to support organisations in managing their occupational road risk in a way that is appropriate to their business.

“Improving the safety of workers driving as part of their job not only reduces health and safety risks for employees, but it also makes sound business sense.

“With the cost of living and fuel prices rapidly rising, ScORSA’s toolkit is a critical resource for reducing work-related road accidents as well as saving time and money on staff absences, lost productivity, and reputational damage.”

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