Supply chain management specialist Fleet Assist has seen the number of company cars and vans passing through its garage network break through the 800,000-mark after winning a number of new contracts.

The Cambridgeshire-based organisation has business partnerships with 75 contract hire, leasing and daily rental company customers and that figure is expected to increase further by the end of 2017 following additional planned contract wins.

Go Plant Essential Fleet Services is the latest new contract to be won by Fleet Assist, which has also seen long-time customer Days Fleet extend its relationship.

Lincoln-headquartered Go Plant Essential has signed a three-year contract to use Fleet Assist’s network of more than 5,000 franchise, independent and specialist garages to undertake service, maintenance and repair (SMR) work on light commercial vehicles supplied to customers across the UK, while also using the company to provide a vehicle service booking facility to customers thus directing work towards the network and vehicle maintenance authorisation.

Go Plant Essential, which has 35 depots and service centres across the UK, operates around 3,500 vehicles, of which 2,250 are vans covered by the agreement with Fleet Assist.

Mark Smith, head of operational services at Go Plant Essential, said: “The company specialises in funding and managing maintenance of complex specialised assets such as refuse collection vehicles and HGV grab tippers.

"These assets are managed utilising our in-house maintenance team, service centres and dedicated repairer network, but joining Fleet Assist allows our LCV customers access to a much wider network of appropriate repairers in locations which minimise their downtime.

“Go Plant Essential will benefit from a reduction of service and repair booking administration and tight control of repair costs of light vehicles.

"Our customers will benefit from more convenient service bookings and maintenance carried out in locations which reduce their downtime, particularly as they will now be able to have minor work such as bulb replacements carried out at fast-fit centres local to wherever their drivers are working.”

The Days Fleet contract extension follows Fleet Assist earlier this year winning a three-year deal with sister company Days Rental, which operates a growing fleet presently in excess of 5,000 vehicles. The contracts sees Days Rental use both the Fleet Assist garage network and vehicle service booking facility.

Fleet Assist managing director Vincent St Claire added: “We are witnessing fantastic growth as a result of winning new business and securing contract extensions all based on our high quality service delivery and product menu, including advancements in our service booking product.”