SMR - Page 20

Kwik Fit launches new ‘Plus’ initiative to boost demand for fleet vehicle servicing and mechanical work.

Steve Haigh, group transport manager at Rhodar, explains why removing tyres from his contract hire and maintenance agreement was a good move.

Archant has saved an estimated 15-20% on its maintenance costs by switching from contract hire with maintenance to pay-as-you-go.

Larry Bannon, national fleet service manager at NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) explains why he outsources maintenance at a fixed cost and why his maintenance bill is lower now than nearly a decade ago.

O-licence standards help Wakefield cut its fleet overheads.

National Windscreens has been named the sole supplier by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for all direct repair/replacement of windscreens and bodyglass requirements.

ReCare, the free-to-use online vehicle safety recall system, is gaining adoption within the fleet sector, with around 20 leasing companies, several major daily rental operators and a number of large corporate fleets signed-up to the scheme.

Fleet workshops have been warned over the use of counterfeit software after an Autodata campaign brought a bogus data seller to justice.

Vehicle financing and leasing firm Hitachi Capital has expanded its use of the 1link service system to large commercial vehicles.

Traditional fleet service, maintenance and repair (SMR) costs can be forecasted down to the final penny at the benchmark three years/60,000 miles - but a raft of ‘grey areas’ fuelled by numerous factors means contract hire and leasing companies continue to build up contingency funds to meet the cost of the unforeseen.

Longer service intervals and a trend for motor manufacturers to move the requirement for ‘expensive’ parts replacement - such as cambelts - beyond 60,000 miles has contributed to a decade long changes in the breakdown of service maintenance and repair (SMR) costs.

Common business sense means that contract hire and leasing companies do not want to make a loss on service, maintenance and repair (SMR) costs so it is vital that they undertake a robust risk assessment and measure and manage the lifecycle of individual vehicle components.

An increase in the number of motor manufacturers offering vehicle service packs, national pricing and even longer warranties has been predicted by a fleet expert.

Venson calls for change in the ‘replace over repair' culture for fleet windscreens.

New research has found that the life of vehicle parts can vary greatly depending on the model, with some high ‘burn’ components not even included in SMR (service, maintenance and repair) calculations.

Fleet operators no longer have to stick with standard fit tyres all-year round, there is a range of options. Here we outline the pros and cons of each.

Fix Auto UK has announced the appointment of Tavistock Accident Repair and Service Centre to its network.

Visiting an independent garage could cost £40 an hour less, on average, than visiting a franchise dealer, according to recent information released by the Independent Garage Association (IGA).

The MD of a bodyshop repair network has allowed his Porsche Cayenne to be ‘keyed’ to demonstrate how a new UV system could revolutionise the way vehicles are repaired and bring major benefits to the fleet sector.

A new report from Kwik Fit suggests that Britain’s drivers are sharing the road with cars with defective brakes and are at risk of accidents as a result.

hen you consider that the only parts of a vehicle which actually touch the road are four areas of tyre each about the size of your palm, it can be too easily taken for granted.

With more than 30 million vehicles clocking up 35 billion miles in the UK each year, collisions are an everyday factor. But should you recharge damage to your drivers?

Hardening attitude of insurers blamed as accident management firms fail.

Cosmetic vehicle repair franchisor Revive is expanding into new office space to accommodate its growing team following a surge in new franchises and national contracts.

Motor Codes has announced the shortlist of businesses in the running for its Garage of the Year title.

The prolonged winter weather conditions, set to continue throughout this week, are resulting in an increase in windscreen repairs and replacements, according to National Windscreens’ regional director for North Scotland, Duncan Sutherland.

Changes to the MOT for cars and large vehicle tests come into force later this month as new European requirements on roadworthiness take effect.

Repair management company Repair Choice has launched its new repair deployment, authorisation and repair progress tracking software application called ‘myrepairchoice’.

Isuzu Truck has signed up to the 1link Service Network e-commerce platform in a new deal.

An online tool that enables fleet operators to analyse the real world ‘burn rate’ of components has been launched by Derwent Management Services (DMS).

Police lead the way in reducing SMR bills by using parts removed from vehicle write-offs. Sarah Tooze looks at how it works and why more fleets are signing up.

Low mileage fleets could be seeing their company car whole life costs increase due to a move by some motor manufacturers to cut service intervals, according to Derwent Management Services (DMS).

To ensure businesses obtain maximum value, Cambridgeshire-based fleet services provider Alliance Asset Management is offering private and public sector organisations a daily rental health check

Online service and maintenance booking in real time for company car and van drivers using 1link Service Network is being launched this month.

Network of independent tyre providers is aiming to break dominance of major providers in the fleet market.

3M has opened the doors on its new training centre in Atherstone, Warwickshire.

AutoRestore has announced its acquisition of ADR Group, the Midlands-based accident repair centre network, to create a new fixed and mobile repair business.

Technology will enable Zenith to tailor payments to individual vehicles and fleets.

Vans which are not properly maintained pose a hazard to drivers and pedestrians.

Allianz Global Assistance launches exclusive protection for BMW and Mini owners against insurance premium rises.