Published as ‘Black Friday’ hits and the Christmas shopping season gets underway, the research from RAC Truck Rescue was undertaken among 500 UK businesses running fleets and also highlights that the cost of breakdowns coupled with a lack of drivers could affect deliveries on what has become the busiest day of the year for many supermarkets and retailers.
According to the survey, almost half of businesses (45%) view the cost of maintenance and repairs to their distribution fleets as a major issue, second only to the cost of fuel.
The warning about the importance of maintaining fleets comes ahead of the time of year when the number of breakdowns rises sharply. The drop in temperature that comes with the arrival of winter weather conditions usually coincides in a sharp rise in callouts for the RAC’s Truck Rescue service. Last year RAC Truck Rescue attended more than 100,000 breakdowns with about 10,000 taking place in November and December.
said: “Black Friday, and internet sales in particular, are now a key element of the Christmas shopping season and this year sales are expected to pass the £1bn mark for the first time. Most of those transactions will come from online sales and that sudden spike will put pressure on the distribution and haulage sector.
“Consumers expect prompt and reliable delivery of the items they have bought online and fleet operators will be preparing for the extra pressure that comes at this time of year. As such they need to ensure their vehicles are fit for purpose and that they have the right cover in place to mitigate the impact of any unexpected breakdowns.”
