Business profiles - Page 28

North Lincolnshire & Goole and Tees, Esk & Wear are two NHS Trusts that have tackled the issue of grey fleet. Read the case study to find out more about how they have achieved better management of grey fleet.

United Utilities Operational Services’ - the UK’s largest utility company - has reduced its accident frequency by a third.

While many of the environmental plaudits go to the larger companies, like Sainsbury’s with its huge electric vehicle trials, the real lead is often taken by the smaller, more flexible private organisations.

Companies can take a range of measures to reduce their fleet carbon emissions. The best (i.e. greenest) one is to reduce mileage travelled. ‘The greenest mile is the one not driven’ the well worn phrase goes.

As a stock exchange listed company, Carillion’s fleet policy has to sit hand in glove with the needs of its shareholders. Two factors drive the strategy: cost and health and safety.

Here are links to five health and safety case studies

Newport City Council operates a fleet of around 400 vehicles. The net cost of the fleet in 2006/2007 was nearly £4.5 million. Until 2004, the Council’s standing orders dictated that when procuring items or services, the supplier offering the lowest price should be selected. This meant that the procurement process focused on cost rather than quality or value for money.

According to many industry experts, the fleet manager is in danger of becoming extinct. The role is rapidly disappearing because many companies are merging it into another department, commonly procurement, HR or finance.

From day one, Hylton Treisman has been cutting costs at Lewis Day Transport. His appointment three years ago coincided with a period of rapid growth at the London-based transportation company – its fleet of vans, cars and motorcycles has almost doubled from 700 to 1,200 units. And all the while, Treisman has been finding new ways to reduce overheads.

When Phil Redman was appointed fleet manager at IBM, the English Premiership was still in its infancy, no-one had heard of the internet and mobile phones were still the preserve of the wealthy and techno-geeks.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council operates a fleet of 124 vehicles. Since 1989, the Council’s Finance, Audit and Risk Management Department has managed the provision of the fleet, including procurement, leasing and maintenance.

The Green Fleet Review resulted in a range of recommendations to radically overhaul and transform the Authority’s grey fleet. Fifty four employees have essential/casual car user status, driving around 51,600 miles a year.

After making fleet policy changes designed to influence both vehicle choice and driver behaviour, leading paper and printer supply merchants, the James McNaughton Group, have reduced fuel expenditure by up to £2,500 per car and made significant carbon savings.

The council first developed a driver’s handbook in the mid 1990s but it was not updated for several years. Some of the content was therefore no longer relevant and important information on new legislation was not included.

Collaboration is a theme that runs across Richard Flint’s fleet policy: collaboration with other police forces, emergency services’ fleets, staff, management, manufacturers and the media.

3M has a fleet of some 800 company cars used by a team of 400 sales people plus managers who receive a car as part of their remuneration package.

With nearly 700 vehicles, South Wales Police operates one of the largest fleets of all public sector organisations in Wales.

Three years ago in 2006, the management of Anglian Water’s fleet was almost entirely outsourced to its contract hire provider. Fleet manager Nigel Allen’s role was overseeing supplier relationships with the help of an assistant.

The challenge was to find ways to bring down the carbon impact of the supply chain, which includes fleet, as part of Sky’s broader focus on corporate and social responsibility.

Caerphilly County Borough Council operates a fleet of nearly 500 vehicles. The council runs 12 refuse collection routes, nine recycling routes and five green waste routes. In 2005, these routes were the subject of a review by the Health and Safety Executive.

Few fleet decision makers would say their role puts them in the line of danger. Their job is important, yes; fulfilling, certainly. But dangerous?

The UK based organisation is a leading international project and cost consultancy, providing managed solutions for clients investing in infrastructure, property and construction – with environmental management a key focus.

Rok's company’s strategy was to reduce CO2 emissions by a target of 30 per cent over the next 3 years. At the time of the review, the company were operating a fleet of 1,739 light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and had 1,194 car allowance drivers.

The Green Fleet Review drew attention to grey fleet and the need to gain control over private car usage in order to improve health and safety. This will be brought to the attention of senior management as part of a Council-wide review of occupational road risk issues.

Arval has decided that all new company cars must have ESC fitted as standard or, if not, it will be fitted as an additional extra. Arval recognises the significance of this life-saving technology.

Environmentally-focused short break holiday operator Center Parcs has integrated electric vehicles into its fleet as part of the drive to reduce its transport carbon footprint.

Work-related driving risk in Atkins is characterised by the involvement of a wide population of drivers, undertaking a variety of journey types using an extensive fleet of company-provided and privately-owned vehicles.

The most dramatic savings for a small company can come through tackling the costly issue of vehicle damage costs and insurance.

An internal focus on environmental protection and a commitment to sustainable transport policies is behind The Royal Parks membership of the Energy Saving Trust’s Motorvate scheme.

The filling station uses locally-produced sustainable biodiesel produced from waste oil in various blends, which will reduce emissions by up to 80 per cent, as well as enabling greater control over fuel usage.