MISSING: Fleets could save more money, say ATS
Van operators without formal tyre policies are paying over the odds for their vehicle’s footwear and reducing fleet efficiency, ATS Euromaster have warned.
The commercial vehicle tyre specialists claim LCV tyres should not be considered a low cost option, as the operational costs of running a modern van fleet are no longer that far removed from that of a fleet of trucks.
A recent survey undertaken by the Freight Transport Association (FTA), in conjunction with ATS Euromaster, revealed a third of respondents did not have a tyre policy in place.
ATS Euromaster say that fleets without a tyre policy risk paying more for their tyres as standardising on one brand can often enable a better fleet discount.
An expertly-managed policy also has the potential to save businesses huge amounts in running costs, ATS claim, through maximising the longevity, safety, performance and fuel-efficiency of each asset.
“It’s staggering to discover that so many don’t have a tyre policy in place.”
Mark Cartwright, FTA
Simon Tattersall, Head of National Accounts at ATS Euromaster, said: “The results highlighted that there are still a significant number of van fleets missing out on potentially valuable savings to their bottom line.
“A comprehensive policy, where regular inspections are carried out by experienced technicians, allows tyres to be closely monitored.
“This helps to guard against unexpected downtime and ensures replacements are fitted at the optimal time.”
Mark Cartwright, Head of Vans at the FTA, added: “It’s staggering to discover that so many don’t have a tyre policy in place.
“Safety is at the core of everything Van Excellence stands for, and to us it makes common sense to introduce a policy similar to which ATS Euromaster offers, it not only can help save costs but most importantly improve safety standards.”
ATS Euromaster believe rapid e-commerce growth and the need for deliveries to be made quickly to individual customers is leading to a rise in the number of fleets running vans.
In particular, they claim truck operators are increasingly looking to amend the make-up of their vehicle parc to include more vans, which are easier to operate in a home delivery environment.
“As numbers grow, the complexity of running a van operation increases and the process of fleet management becomes more akin to running trucks,” added Mr Tattersall.
“Often vans must make timed deliveries, so having a fixed tyre policy in place is crucial to ensure productivity and uptime is maximised.”
