A DEDICATED scooter fleet management firm is expecting its fleet to double in size as small fleets in London switch staff on to two-wheeled transport to avoid congestion charges.

Scooters receive a 100% discount on the £5 a day charge planned for launch in February and Scooter Solutions says there has been a steady increase in orders as the launch of charging approaches.

Demand ranges from small fleets of engineers and electricians to larger companies which are looking at 20 or more vehicles so their staff can ride to work. The firm expects its fleet to jump to 400 vehicles in the next year, because of increased demand from outside its traditional customer base.

Since its launch in 2000, its core customers have been food delivery firms, couriers, supermarkets, traffic wardens and parking attendants. Its service includes the fitting of top boxes to carry documents or food and a full livery service. It recently launched the Fleet Bike, a scooter designed for firms carrying out all kinds of light deliveries, with a 140-litre capacity.

Half its customers come from London, but it also has operations throughout the country. To cope with the extra demand, the firm has invested in Chevin Computer Systems' RoadBASE system.

James Woods, the firm's managing director, said: 'Chevin software will enable us to take on total responsibility for managing the scooter fleets of firms across the UK.

'We will be there to inform them when machines need servicing, then book them into our workshops or those of approved suppliers.

'This is especially important for rider health and safety, something we are always trying to impress on clients.'

The system also prompts sales staff with information on prices and specifications of vehicles and finance packages and can generate a written quotation.