A RAILWAY track maintenance firm has introduced an innovative drug-testing programme for its fleet drivers as part of a strict 'zero tolerance' drug and alcohol policy that could provide a blueprint for fleets throughout the country.

THE Royal National Lifeboat Institute has invested in a new fleet for the roads as part of its life-saving operations. The organisation has invested in 22 Toyota Hilux vehicles for the launch of its Beach Rescue Service

FORD has denied there is a fault with the handbrake on the new Mondeo despite a decision to recall 60,000 vehicles for checks.

THE majority of company car drivers have adapted their vehicle choice to ensure a smaller tax bill following last month's change in benefit-in-kind regulations, according to a leasing company supplying small and medium sized fleets.

GRAHAM Rixon, managing director of ARVAL PHH's fleet division, is leaving the company. The surprise departure is effective immediately.

JOHN Thomson has joined Lexus GB as general manager, operations. Thomson spent nine years with Citroen UK as zone sales manager, fleet manager and network commercial manager and will now be primarily responsible for maintaining Lexus' customer care.

CITROEN is offering two new service contracts to fleets, allowing users to budget for the unexpected, and to benefit from 24 breakdown and recovery.

VISITORS to the Volvo PGA golf championship at Wentworth this weekend will get their first glimpse of the Volvo XC90 SUV.

THE most economical petrol car in its class anywhere in the world is how Vauxhall describes its new 'penny-pinching' model.

A CALL for every fleet in the country to commit to restricting drivers' mileage has caused a split in the fleet industry as professionals offer widely differing opinions on the plan.

NATIONAL Car Rental has changed its expansion strategy by reverting to opening corporately-owned locations rather than franchises.

VAUXHALL is offering customers replacement vehicles when their cars are in for warranty repairs through a rental supply agreement with Vauxhall Rental and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

ARVAL PHH is investing £1 million in a new online vehicle rental booking service for its customers.

HERTZ, the world's largest vehicle rental company, has introduced a string of new vehicles to its corporate fleet in the UK.

TRANSLINE Vehicle Hire, part of the Northgate Vehicle Hire network, is celebrating 21 years in vehicle rental.

ONE of Britain's largest rental firms, Arriva Vehicle Rental, which has rocketed to 10 times its original fleet size in a decade, is planning further expansion.

SPECIALIST sports and performance vehicle rental company City Inter-Rent has opened a new showroom in London's Canary Wharf.

VOLKSWAGEN is focusing on business customers for its van rental service which is being rolled out through specialist centres throughout the country.

RENTAL companies throughout the UK are struggling to finance massive rises in insurance that threaten to push up prices for fleets.

FLEET efforts to reduce accidents among their drivers are being hampered because they are receiving inconsistent information from the authorities about the use of mobile phones while driving.

THOUSANDS of business travellers driving to and from Heathrow Airport could face a £5 toll charge under a new scheme proposed by London mayor Ken Livingstone.

COMPANIES in Nottingham have stepped up their battle to kill off local city council attempts to introduce charges for workplace parking.

FIVE companies have been recognised with prestigious awards for their industry-leading efforts to improve fleet safety.

COMPANIES could unearth shocking evidence of corporate waste if they investigated the true cost of their accidents, industry experts warn.

SCHOOL expedition company World Challenge has taken delivery of 10 Peugeot 307s for employees to use while travelling the country giving presentations to children. The cars will cover about 30,000 miles a year.

THE UK's first company wealth creation league table has included oil companies, manufacturers and leasing company parent firms among its European 'success stories'.

MOTHERCARE has chosen AMC Accident Management to keep its drivers on the road.

EAST Midlands Electricity, is replacing its Ford Transit van fleet with the new Vauxhall Movano.

LORD'S Taverners, a combined club and charity that gives young people a 'sporting chance', has taken delivery of 10 Citroen Relay minibuses.

SHELL Oil Refinery has launched a bid to reduce downtime on its 135-vehicle fleet by awarding a supply deal to Inchcape Vehicle Contracts.