FIT4FLEET, the fast-fit firm backed by General Motors, has launched a new Proactive 'Booking-In' Service, designed to help fleet managers reduce vehicle maintenance costs.

The service aims to remove the need for drivers to call their leasing supplier when a service is due.

Fit4Fleet's new service, PBIS, predicts when a vehicle's service is due and initiates driver contact four weeks prior to this predicted service date. This enables the leasing company to proactively book the service.

A spokesman said: 'The day before the vehicle is booked for its service, the drivers automatically receive an SMS message through their mobile phone to remind them where and when the vehicle is booked in.'

Fit4Fleet estimates that fewer than 20% of drivers currently remember to call their leasing company's freephone number prior to booking a service, meaning 80% of vehicle services are booked by the driver.

This could mean that neither the driver nor the leasing company benefits from the advantageous rates and added-value services that have been negotiated with a preferred supplier.

Fit4Fleet has developed PBIS in partnership with Interleasing, a GM sister company, that has been successfully trialling the service for the past three months.