In response ATS Euromaster is warning that the operational tyre costs of running a modern van fleet are no longer that far removed from that of a fleet of trucks and said that fleets without a tyre policy risk paying more for their tyres as standardising on one brand can often enable a better fleet discount.
Simon Tattersall, ATS Euromaster’s head of national accounts, added: ‘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, FTA’s head of vans, said: ‘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 suggests 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, it says 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.
Tattersall explained: ‘As numbers grow, the complexity of running a van operation increases and the process of fleet management becomes more akin to running trucks. Often vans must make timed deliveries, so having a fixed tyre policy in place is crucial to ensure productivity and uptime is maximised.’
ATS Euromaster will be demonstrating its van service, maintenance and repair skills on its stand at this year’s CV Show in Birmingham and will also be giving away its essential “25 top tips” guide, which recommends simple steps to help run van fleets operate more efficiently.
The guide will also be available to download at www.atseuromaster.co.uk/business from 29th April.
