Launched by Barclaycard Business Solutions in conjunction with The Miles Consultancy (TMC), Fuel+ has already been piloted with 30 corporate clients including supermarket brand Morrisons, which saw a £700,000 reduction in its like-for-like fuel spend in its first year with Fuel+.
The fuel card is now being made available to all organisations with large vehicle fleets with a fuel spend of more than £500k and there are plans to roll it out to smaller fleets in due course.
Fuel+ combines a fuel expenses Barclaycard with a mileage capture and audit system, developed by TMC.
The Fuel+ Barclaycard, with global Visa acceptance, allows drivers to refuel at almost all petrol forecourts in the UK while the TMC mileage system gives fleet managers complete visibility of their staff’s fuel spend and reduces costs by streamlining and automating processes.
Alejandro Stein, managing director of Barclaycard Global Commercial Payments, said: ‘Fuel costs are a significant and rising cost for many businesses and can be complex and time consuming to manage. Fuel+ will help to make things much simpler for both drivers and fleet managers and could help businesses cut, on average, a quarter off their business fuel costs.’
Paul Jackson, managing director of The Miles Consultancy, added: ‘Fuel+ gave outstanding results during the extensive trials when it was in daily use by thousands of drivers employed by 30 fleets. It is a single, proven, fleet fuel and mileage solution combining market-leading audited mileage capture options with a global Visa corporate payment card. It also sets new standards for visibility and control over corporate fuel budgets, helping ensure HMRC compliance while freeing drivers to buy fuel efficiently wherever they are.’
The new fuel card is one of a number of initiatives aimed at controlling vital fuel spend and driving more economically at this year’s Fleet World Fleet Show.
The organisers of the Show have already announced a new eco-driving initiative on the infield Stowe Circuit at Silverstone in conjunction with Allstar Card Services.
The Allstar Card Services Eco-driving Hub will be the focus of a range of fuel and cost saving initiatives at the Show, all designed to make fleet managers aware of the wide range of products and services available in this area of the fleet market.
Another new initiative will comprise a team of eco-driving experts from corporate driver training specialists, IAM Drive & Survive, who will be available on the day to help fleet managers understand how they can achieve – or even exceed – the published fuel consumption figures for popular fleet cars.
Fleet Show organiser Jerry Ramsdale commented: ‘There will be a focus on fuel cost control and management at this year’s Show, which will be further enhanced by the presence of the new Fuel+ card from Barclaycard and TMC.
‘We are confident that Show visitors will find plenty of information at this year’s event that will help them to manage their fuel costs more effectively.’
The Silverstone Grand Prix circuit has been split in two this year, so that the National circuit can be used for high-speed laps, and the International Circuit for road speed drives.
For the first time there is also an off-road circuit for those wishing to try one of the many 4x4s that will be on offer.
The Show will also feature an indoor exhibition in halls 1-3 of the Silverstone Wing, with up to 60 exhibitors demonstrating some of the latest developments, products and services in the fleet arena. This will provide Show attendees with the chance to hold face-to-face meetings and network with exhibitors and other visitors alike.
For more details of the Fleet World Fleet Show 2014 please phone 01727 739160, visit www.thefleetshow.co.uk or click here to register: http://www.thefleetshow.co.uk/visiting/