Public sector fleets are driving interest in reducing van and truck CO2 emissions with private companies remaining focussed on costs, says TLS Vehicle Rental.

According to TLS, before the recession, corporate CO2 targets were frequently mentioned by private companies when renting vans and trucks but that this has fallen by the wayside over the last couple of years.

Simon Cook, sales director, explained: “Almost all fleet interest in reducing CO2 in the commercial vehicle rental market is now coming from local government and other public sector organisations. These bodies remain committed to driving down their emissions and it is something often discussed in tender documents and face to face. Many have targets.

“However, it is something that has almost disappeared completely from discussions with private companies. The overriding driving factors here are simply cost and service. Rental is seen as flexible means to meet a transport need and even if there is a general fleet CO2 policy, it is rarely being applied to the vehicles that are taken on short term hire.

“Reading between the lines, it is probable that private companies renting vans and trucks have set aside their environmental concerns until they see the economy make an improvement, at which point we expect to see it return as a factor in buying rental.”
 

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