Building and civil engineering business Kilnbridge is set to save up to £25k a year in fuel costs after partnering with FleetMaxx Solutions.
Kilnbridge operates as a turnkey specialist structures contractor, running dedicated business units in construction and civil engineering, concrete cutting, fabrication, fire protection, and waste management.
It currently runs a 125-strong mixed fleet, including vans, refuse and skip vehicles and articulated trucks, used across significant national infrastructure projects. These span a range of sectors, including commercial, residential, infrastructure, aviation, rail, energy including nuclear, all serviced by the firm’s inhouse plant and equipment business, K-Plant.
Head of fleet Mick Kemp joined the business in September 2021 and was tasked with saving money and improving on the high standards already set. One of the biggest spends at Kilnbridge is fuel and his work to lower the spend saw Kemp get in touch with FleetMaxx Solutions.
Kilnbridge is a Gold Accreditation member of the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) and one of the requirements of its membership is that it only uses FORS-accredited companies – such as FleetMaxx Solutions.
Rachel Pearson, key account manager and FORS practitioner at FleetMaxx Solutions, inspected the invoices of the previous fuel card provider and showed me an instant saving of around 5p a litre at one of the depots, which draws 15,000 litres a month. That saving equated to £9,000 a year.
Pearson also demonstrated that changing fuel card brands didn’t add any pressure points, and the business could continue using the usual garages – which led to the two firms formally partnering.
Kemp added: “Knowing how busy we all are within the business, FleetMaxx ensures they watch our spending and the price of fuel weekly. Rachel is now our account manager, and she speaks to us and gives us the advice we need to hear. There is no fluffiness; instead, we get straight-to-the-point advice, looking after the company’s interests that the other fuel card provider didn’t provide.
“Before agreeing on our partnership, I really tasked Rachel to deliver sound advice, she returned to me within a week with advice on our potential fuel cost savings. On hearing her assessment, I informed our CEO, this partnership can save the organisation £25k a year in fuel costs.”
Kilnbridge is now also benefiting from extensive data from FleetMaxx, showing where it can make smarter business decisions, including targeting vehicles or drivers who are underperforming. FleetMaxx has also provided other data to help Kilnbridge, including how to reduce the impact of the increase in HVO red diesel from 1 April for plant vehicles.
Pearson added: “‘It’s been fantastic to assist Kilnbridge with lowering their fuel costs and for FleetMaxx to provide free-of-charge emissions data to include CO2, NOx and particulate matter, which will help when they prepare for their FORS audit. It’s important that we go the extra mile for customers.
“Personally too, it has been great to work with Mick for the benefit of reducing Kilnbridge’s overall fleet and fuel costs as well as accurately monitoring and reducing their environmental impact. We hope to be able to provide Kilnbridge with bulk AdBlue in the future, which is made easier as FleetMaxx provides a comprehensive range of fleet and fuel products, meaning our valued customers have all their needs met under one roof – a one-stop shop if you like!”
