For those of you that manage fleets, it can be a tricky business devising a policy that’s fit for purpose. With changing demands of varying contracts and workforces alongside the increased pressure of sustainability targets, could a move to more flexible approach be what the sector needs?
In this interview, leading fleet management expert Peter Crabtree, of Europcar Mobility Group, explores the challenges fleet managers are facing and possible solutions. With insights on sustainability practices, managing changing workforce demands and navigating economic uncertainty, he offers some great advice to support improvements in a variety of aspects of fleet policy. This is a real must-see for anyone with responsibility for fleet vehicles.
It's important that an effective fleet manager understands the broad needs the business and then sources solutions to meet those individual requirements rather than an all embracing solution.
– Peter Crabtree
Europcar Mobility Group UK
Watch the exclusive Spotlight Interview with Peter Crabtree
Increased speed of change
Unprecedented changes are happening in the fleet sector at the moment – environmental, economical, vehicle technology and vehicle taxation. This makes putting together a fleet policy which is fit for purpose very challenging. Fleet managers need to find solutions that help them cater for the differing needs of both their users and their organisation as a whole – one size no longer fits all.
"I’ve been in the industry for 25-30 years, and I think it's fair to say that we’ll probably never work through such levels of change for a number of reasons. Firstly, we've got significant economic uncertainty, whilst we've finally got through Brexit – that's been a real challenge for many companies. We have big changes around vehicle technology. We have transient work forces, we have changes in vehicle taxation classification…"
– Peter Crabtree
Europcar Mobility Group UK
Sustainability Factors
By adopting the correct technology, businesses can support the Government's sustainability and carbon-reduction strategies. But balancing cost and environmental pressures, whilst keeping drivers happy, has never been more difficult in these uncertain times. Choosing vehicles that are the most CO2-efficient is a good place to start – this will become a key factor in meeting organisational environmental targets, as well as ensuring access into Clean Air Zones in central city locations in a cost-effective way:
"Carbon reduction is an increasingly important agenda item for most medium to large corporates. Many of them are working towards a sustainability agenda as part of their corporate social agenda. What we're working on is trying to make sure we're supporting them by buying the right vehicles with the lowest CO2 emissions. We have the the youngest fleet in the rental market – that means we buy more vehicles, more frequently – and we can have access to the more modern technology, more frequently."
– Peter Crabtree
Europcar Mobility Group UK
Roundtable Discussion Opportunity: "The Challenges in Devising a 'Fit for Purpose' Fleet Policy"
If you've found this interview valuable then you may benefit from joining our upcoming roundtable. It's a great opportunity to take part in an open discussion with peers – considering points such as the effect of economic uncertainty and how to align your policy with sustainability plans.
Article written by Daisy Miceli | Published 05 March 2020
Share
Related Articles
Mercury Rising, Straw Dogs, Hot Fuzz, Top Guns, The Crown & Vikings
We've got an FM Digest so good you'd almost want to make a movie out of it. Mercury have taken the Almac contract; Elior are eliminating plastic straws; Tenon are...
Skanska has won a £240 million contract to construct 20 Ropemaker Street in Central London for Great Elm Assets Limited, in association with Old Park Lane...
The City of London Corporation has approved 1 Undershaft - AKA The Trellis - which will be the second tallest building in the Capital after The Shard and thus the second...
A Top Ten Guide To Making Your Venue More Accessible
Eight venues have received awards from the disabled access charity Euan’s Guide for their work welcoming disabled visitors – and this prompted ThisWeekinFM to...
Airline Company Guilty For Unsafe Operation of Passenger Lift
Flybe, the airline company, was sentenced on 4 February 2020 for the unsafe operation of a passenger lift. Meanwhile, a number of other firms have found themselves...
Report - CBRE and ThisWeekinFM recently lead a delegation of experts to provide a briefing on technology in workplace and real estate strategy.
The breakfast briefing...
Net Zero Rush-Through Criticised By Lords, Forum Claims
The Global Warming Policy Forum has claimed the House of Lords has rebuked the Government for rushing through a commitment to a Net Zero economy.
The Forum refutes the...
ProptTech history has been made with global M&E firm Croonwolter&dros agreeing to connect the 5,000 commercial buildings it runs in the Netherlands to the...
'IRA' Claim Parcel Bomb Responsibility In Correctly Coded Call
A claim has allegedly been made on behalf of the ‘IRA’ for the parcel bombs that were delivered to premises in the UK - using a recognised codeword.
A call...
Emcor UK, has been awarded a contract with multinational insurance company RSA Insurance Group which is being described as a total facilities management contract. It will...
Rinnai Transforms Coventry City FC’s Training Ground With Instant, Efficient, Scale Protected Hot Water System
Rinnai’s N series range of continuous flow water heaters have been installed by Midlands-based Aquagas at the newly refurbished training ground of Coventry City FC. Click Image To Read More
Energy Transition Update
Global energy supply is undergoing a fundamental change, switching from widespread fossil fuel dispersal to renewable energies. Click Image To Read More
EPC Upgrades Offers UK Contractors & Installers Decarbonising Opportunity
Josh Owen of the Rinnai Technical Design looks at some possibilities coming out of the forthcoming EPC scheme. Click Image To Read More
Rinnai has produced a new CPD titled ‘Water Neutrality’ and it details a subject that will become increasingly important as UK water supplies become less accessible due to overpopulation and climate change. Click Image To Read More
Understand SPF for Smarter Heat Pump System Design with Rinnai CPD
Rinnai’s CPD, ‘Seasonal Performance Factors and Heat Pump Design’, evaluates SPF when measuring a heat pump system's overall energy efficiency throughout an entire heating season, whilst considering variations. Click Image To Read More