SOME risks, the MoD agrees, are best managed by industry rather than the military. This translates into £1billion-plus a year business for companies such as Lex Defence, one of several RAC plc offshoots specialising in fleet management and logistics support.

Lex Defence is a top ten supplier to the British Armed Forces through the DPA and the MoD’s Specialist and Utility Vehicles Integrated Project Team (SUV ITP). Among its conscripts are:

  • Lex Defence White Fleet – jointly managed Lex Transfleet and Lex Vehicle Leasing manages the tri-service ‘white fleet’ of more than 13,000 cars, commercial and specialist vehicles.
  • Lex Multipart Defence – contracted to supply 30,000 items of general engineering hardware, including spares to Challenger 2 tanks through contracts with Alvis Vickers.
  • RAC Software Solutions – its Tranman product is the most widely-used commercial off-the-shelf fleet software solution in the armed forces.
  • Lex Vehicle Leasing – pioneer of the RAF’s Pathfinder contract, it continues to manage ‘white fleet’ vehicles up to 3.5-tonnes for the MoD as well as parts of the US Navy and US Air Force.
  • Lex Transfleet – supplies and manages vehicles over 3.5-tonnes, along with workshop and transport services to six garrisons.
  • RAC Business Solutions – roadside breakdown services for the MoD.
  • RAC Auto Windscreens – glass repair and replacement services.
  • BSM – trains more than 6,000 military personnel each year.

    David Ruff, director of strategy and business development for Lex Defence, said: ‘The principles of military fleet management are much the same as those of company car fleet management. Above all, there’s the need for flexibility and adaptability. Our successful delivery of practical defence service solutions draws on both commercial and defence best practice. One of our USPs is the ability to respond rapidly and adapt to any requirement.’