THERE is a wealth of information either floating in cyberspace or in the public domain – and some fleets are failing to take advantage of it.

A large amount of this information is available from funding providers and many now offer a lot more than just funding for assets – everything from risk management advice to affinity programmes is up for grabs. If you just ask, some of these extra services could be provided free of charge and it is up to fleet managers to make the most of their funding providers or risk missing valuable opportunities.

After speaking to several leading funding firms, it becomes clear that the most commonly requested services from fleets are advice on risk management, online management tools and insurance services.

ALD Automotive’s deputy managing director Nigel Fletcher said: ‘Two of the major added-value services consistently requested are online solutions and advice covering occupational road risk and health and safety. We also get many queries concerning taxation about alternatives to the company car and green initiatives.’

Contract hire and fleet management groups are increasingly providing a consultancy service to fleets covering a number of issues, but fleets may have to be proactive to gain the best from the provider.

The old adage, ‘if you don’t ask you don’t get’ still rings true and the information gained can be a valuable tool with day-to-day fleet operations.

Terry Bartlett, managing director at Inchcape Fleet Solutions, said: ‘In the main, the topics offered to fleets revolve around working with clients to further deliver best practice management of their vehicle fleet in response to legislative or fiscal change, such as the recent announcement in relation to benefit-in-kind tax changes on Euro IV diesel engines and ever-increasing concerns around at-work driving health and safety.’