Rising costs, lengthier lead times and reduced MOT slots could all lead to a ‘perfect SMR storm’ for the nation’s fleets…
An SMR Storm?
Increasingly lengthy lead times for vehicles, rising labour rates and challenges in booking MOT slots could lead to a ‘perfect SMR’ storm for fleets. That’s according to Venson Automotive Solutions. Due to the difficulty of acquiring new vehicles, fleets are having to maintain their existing vehicles for longer; increasing the chances of serious faults due to wear and tear.
Due to the ongoing semiconductor shortage, both company car and fleet vehicle registrations were down by 17.6% last month year-on-year.
Alison Bell, operations director at Venson Automotive Solutions, commented on the dire situation. She said, “longer leases inevitably mean extra MOTs, servicing and tyres, as well as increased wear and tear, but some judicious fleet management can really help to keep those overheads to a minimum”.
She continued, “every fleet is unique and so lease extensions will affect each differently. The first step in planning SMR cost savings is to examine the overall fleet in a holistic way”.
What Fleets Can Do
Despite how dire the situation may appear to be, there are a variety of steps fleets can take to mitigate the risks and challenges they face.
It’s crucial that fleets conduct regular vehicle checks, identifying faults before they become serious; and therefore more costly to repair. It goes without saying, such an action is also vital in demonstrating effective duty of care to both drivers and members of the public.
Fleets should also prioritise educating their drivers in economical driving. With an emphasis on saving fuel and reducing the rate of wear and tear. They should also be instructed to avoid overloading their vehicles.
Finally, it makes sense to determine which vehicles are being used, for what purposes and how frequently. It’s effective to share the burden, so to speak, more evenly in the long-term.
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