‘Support…fleet managers’, Bridgestone asks Truck Point network

Supporting truck fleet operators who are already under pressure from high fuel prices and increased competition is crucial over the next 18 months, delegates at Bridgestone’s recent Truck Point conference heard.

Just as Bridgestone is coming under greater pressure to supply tyres which help truck OE manufacturers meet their stringent European legislation on emissions, the network has a responsibility to support operators as they fight to preserve already tight margins in a tough market, according to Greg Ward, commercial sales director, Bridgestone.

“With a 20 per cent under inflation accounting for  a 25 per cent  reduction in the life of a tyre and up to five per cent increase in fuel consumption, fitters are ideally placed to offer top quality advice that can save operators tangible sums of money,” said Ward.

The annual Truck Point conference – a five stop nationwide road show throughout November – was attended by more than 300 delegates from the network, which provides 24-hour breakdown cover, proactive tyre husbandry and a tailored selection from the Bridgestone new and retread range for each vehicle.

Delegates heard an honest assessment of market conditions, namely that despite flat demand in the UK, growth nations China and India were putting pressures on supply, as well as raw material costs. Meanwhile in the retread market sales were strong, but casing procurement and management while keeping production targets would be key to success in 2012.

Ward added: “The service levels currently offered by Truck Point are the best in the industry and we will strive to ensure that they remain so by finding areas to improve across the business. We are continually testing our service offer, and recent contract wins and retention demonstrate that the network is already operating at very high levels.”

And during the conference, Bridgestone and Truck Point’s presence at the 2012 Commercial Vehicle show at the NEC was confirmed to underline its strategic commitment to improved performance and presence in the fleet service sector.

Alltruck contract win

Conference delegates were told of a raft of new business wins for the Truck Point network, one of which was Alltruck, specialists in contract hire, truck rental and fleet Management, based in Nottingham.

A combination of the state-of-the-art MegaFleet system, Truck Point’s unrivalled reputation and the durability of Bridgestone products led Alltruck, which specialises in contract hire and direct rental, to take the long-term view and ally itself with Bridgestone

The system is a comprehensive billing and tyre management package that collates all tyre activity across a fleet against company specific criteria, and displays all of the information in a single, user-friendly web application.  The system will enable Alltruck to monitor each tyre – from fitting to disposal – in real-time, as well as cost and wear per mile, allowing the company to accurately track overall tyre expenditure for the fleet.

Natalie Coates, contract services director at Alltruck, said: “Aside from the online account system on offer we also made tyre quality a top priority when making our decision on our tyre fleet contractor.  Bridgestone tyres deliver high durability, performance and safety. These are all qualities which are key for us and more importantly mean we can deliver leading quality, performance and long-term savings for our customers out on the road.”

The company, which already uses a specially designed fuel efficient body across some of its fleet, will also be taking advantage of the Truck Point service package, which will provide 24-hour breakdown cover, proactive tyre husbandry and a tailored tyre selection from the Bridgestone new and retread tyre range for each fleet vehicle.  

Paul Emery, national fleet sales manager at Bridgestone UK, said: “Our new relationship with Alltruck shows that fleet agreements are changing. Forward thinking companies like Alltruck realise that by combining the latest technology in monitoring as well as fitting durable, premium products that are tailored to an individual vehicle and not ‘a one type fits all’ approach to an entire fleet, can deliver tangible, long term financial savings.”

Related news:

• Bridgestone offering free industry seminars at CV Show 2012

• Bridgestone introduces Tube Multicell winter tyre compound