Fleet briefs: Latest from DriverCheck, BCA and Vanaways

M&D Care automates licence checking with API from DriverCheck

M&D Care has introduced fully automated licence checking for its drivers by implementing an embedded API solution from DriverCheck, part of Ebbon Compliance, to help cut its driving risk.

M&D Care provides bespoke residential, supported living and domiciliary care services throughout South West Wales to people with autism, learning disability, physical disability and mental health needs.

The business operates 20 care homes across the region with a fleet of around 45 company -owned pool cars kept typically at the care homes and with multiple drivers, and 45 grey fleet vehicles which are generally owned and driven by community care staff.

There are over 300 recognised drivers across the business which makes accurate and timely licence checking of paramount importance from a legal compliance and duty of care perspective.

Harry Owen, operations project manager at M&D Care, said the appointment of DriverCheck had been ‘transformative’ in the way the business now approached the issue of licence checking and risk management.

“Before we appointed DriverCheck, we carried out all checks manually which was very time-consuming and labour intensive,” he added.

“Now the whole process is fully automated and, through the API, we can automatically update our back-office systems as well as ensuring our records are continually up to date on the DriverCheck platform.”

DriverCheck head of operations, Yvette Giannini, said that M&D Care was a complex business in terms of the approach they were looking to take, and going down a fully automated route made perfect sense from an accuracy and legal compliance perspective.

 “The use of an embedded API in this way not only speeds up the onboarding of employees and the licence checking process as a whole, but it also ensures automatic updating in both the DriverCheck client portal and their Human Resource systems so that the chances of error, and the amount of admin time required, are dramatically reduced, she said.”

BCA announces customer service enhancements

BCA has announced a number of customer service enhancements to make it easier to do business with the remarketing group.

Multi-vehicle booking on deliveries have been introduced online to help customers making multiple purchases. 

Up to 10 vehicles can now be booked for delivery in a single online booking journey, including vehicles sourced from different pickup locations across the country.

BCA is also making it easier for customers to create retail listings for vehicles they have purchased via BCA Online and the BCA Buyer app. 

Buyers can revisit the original listing after the sale has ended, to access the original catalogue details used to promote the vehicle and download the vehicle images, instantly creating a valuable packet of information to use in online listings.

BCA is also extending customer contact centre opening times. 

Dene Jones, group chief marketing and data officer, said: “BCA is committed to continuing to improve and enhance the digital experience for our customers by delivering a consistent, user-friendly and well-supported service on both mobile and desktop platforms. 

“These latest enhancements help our buyers control every stage of their stock acquisition with BCA, saving time and driving efficiencies into the digital sales process.”

Residential vehicle charge points coming to Leeds

A newly announced partnership between Leeds City Council and EB Charging will see 84 new charging bays installed at 15 locations across the city—with the first 30 bays at six locations already live.  

The council says that 54 bays at nine more locations are due to go live by the early summer.

It has selected the locations to help improve access to local vehicle chargers for residents living in parts of the city with limited off-street parking.  

The new charge points will supply vehicles at a rate of up to seven kilowatts. 

Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate said: “I’m delighted that the council is working with EB Charging to install another 84 charge points for plug-in vehicle drivers across the city.  

“With transport emissions making up such a significant proportion of our city’s carbon footprint, it is really encouraging to see the demand for cleaner, greener vehicles growing—having more than tripled in the last two years.  

“We know that access to charging, particularly for residents who don’t have off-street parking, is preventing some people from enjoying the benefits of electric vehicles. So I hope that the installation of these new charge points will make it easier for more people to make the switch.” 

Shared transport helps CO2 reduction

Shared transport provider Kura has announced its continued partnership with recruitment agency, Brightwork-Staffline, to provide employee shuttles for a leading food producer in Scotland.

To date, the staff shuttle has helped allowed the manufacturer to replace 211 car journeys every week or, since the start of the contract in 2021, a total of 17,493 car journeys – a net saving of 154 metric tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent).

Brightwork-Staffline arranges coaches and minibuses daily via Kura for employees to travel the 34 miles between Glasgow and the factory, where workers prepare salad and vegetable products for some of the UK’s largest grocery retailers.

Kura provides a mixture of eight, 16, 31 or 52 seat vehicles based on staff demand, and often at short notice.

Godfrey Ryan, CEO at Kura, said: “We’re excited to continue our partnership with Brightwork-Staffline to service its food manufacturing client and help the organisation achieve further CO2 savings, as well as to be considered for other opportunities.

“With the introduction of our leading-edge software, we’re confident that the client will be able to achieve further savings and efficiencies while providing their staff with a safe and reliable commute.

“With the high cost of fuel and car parking and price increase on train tickets, the employers that can support their workforce with the commute will be rewarded with greater productivity and efficiency, as well as staff satisfaction and retention.”

Kura has also been asked to quote for similar transport operations for other Staffline Group clients across the UK.

SSL Electrical is first to switch on to Vanaways and Toolstation partnership

Vanaways has delivered the first customer vehicles to be sold through a partnership with retailer Toolstation.

Launched in December last year, Toolstation customers can order a new van, via promotions running in stores and online.

Specialist contractor SSL Electrical, of Wootton Bassett, near Swindon, is one such operator – and has now taken delivery of its latest vehicles, ordered from Vanaways.

Matt Kent, category manager at Toolstation, said: “This arrangement is part of our increased effort to support tradespeople.

“The range of vans available is a welcome expansion to our offer of tools and more for any task, and we look forward to helping tradespeople find their ideal vehicle.”    

The arrangement sees Vanaways’ services marketed directly through Toolstation’s web presence, online to registered customers, and at the retailer’s network of more than 550 stores nationwide.