Alphabet becomes FTA Van Excellence partner

By Tim Campbell

2 March 2016

Alphabet has become a recognised partner in the Freight Transport Association’s (FTA) Van Excellence programme.

Van Excellence is an industry-led initiative, the aim of which is to raise the standards of commercial vehicle operators, celebrate and share best practice, as well as represent the interests of LCV customers and the industry.

At a recent event, held jointly between the FTA and Vauxhall at its plant in Luton, more than 40 members of Alphabet’s commercial and account management teams were awarded the FTA ‘Certificate of Excellence’ in van operations, following training in operational best practice and legislation.

Alongside an in-house LCV team which provides guidance and advice through the complex processes of specification, preparation and maintenance in vans, Alphabet launched a nationwide network of LCV conversion partners in late 2014.

Over the past 12 months Alphabet has increased the scope and scale of its commercial vehicle offering so that now it funds and manages a fleet of more than 13,500 LCVs nationwide.

Martin Quail, chief commercial officer of Alphabet, said: “We are delighted to become a recognised partner of the FTA Van Excellence programme. Light commercial vehicles are a vital element of the ‘mobility mix’ for most businesses and public sector organisations so they are firmly at the core of our offering to customers.

"Undertaking the FTA’s Van Excellence partner programme has reinforced our belief in the importance of establishing best practices to help van operators address the challenges and questions they face, particularly regarding compliance. We have previously had a long-standing, informal relationship with the FTA so becoming a Van Excellence Partner is official recognition of our strengths in the LCV arena and the progress we have made over the past few years.

"Commercial vehicles are incredibly important to SMEs, corporate customers and the public sector but not everyone is aware of Alphabet’s competencies in LCV. Being a Van Excellence Partner means that existing and potential Alphabet customers can have the confidence and reassurance of this external ‘hallmark’ of quality in our approach and delivery.”