Fleet Business
ARC Fleet Solutions has switched its tyre-servicing relationship from a large national provider and appointed ATS Euromaster to supply, fit and service tyres across its 300-strong business rental fleet. The executive car and van hire specialist reportedly chose ATS Euromaster for the wide range of tyres it stocks in each of its 370 centres.
Dave Brydon Tyres Ltd, an independent garage in the Scottish Borders has joined the HiQ network, rebranding as HiQ Galashiels. The centre has been established for more than 30 years – HiQ says the centre will receive significant investment in re-branding, but will also maintain its community friendly focus and experienced staff. It will offer a complete vehicle maintenance and repair service. Franchisee Graeme McGauchrane said that joining the HiQ fast fit network was an exciting business investment, as it brought the support and experience of a national brand to the centre: “Becoming part of a national franchise is beneficial us because it adds credibility to the services we already offer.
National Fleet has won the contract to provide fleet services to Venson Automotive Solutions. The contract will cover over 6000 vehicles which provide services to a number of public, private and not-for-profit organisations.
National Fleet reports that it will provide tyre supply and fast-fit solutions for the Venson vehicles via National’s network of over 210 branches nationwide with support from National Fleet’s mobile fitting units.
Wrightington’s One Stop Hire, the largest independent tool and equipment hirer in the North West, has appointed ATS Euromaster to service tyres across the firm’s fleet of 30 light commercial vehicles and eight company cars. Steve Hitchen, managing director of One Stop Hire, says: “Our own business is modelled around being able to provide a one-stop-shop service to our customers, and that’s exactly what we need from a tyre service provider. ATS Euromaster has the expertise to supply and fit tyres for both our cars and light commercials – and can carry out the work in the most convenient locations.
The Bridgestone Eco-Rally took place for the fifth year running this year and was more relevant than ever as motorists are hit in the pocket by ever-rising fuel costs.The rally started from Broad Street, Oxford at 10.00am on Sunday 31st July and culminated in the UK's largest sustainable transport exhibition at The Mall in London at 3pm, after a pitstop at the BRE Innovation Centre in Watford. As always the rally was a convoy of the world’s best low and zero emission vehicles from cars and motorbikes to vans, trucks and taxis.
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Representatives of the Westlake truck tyre brand in the UK have announced plans to appoint between eight and 10 UK-based agents for the brand produced by leading Chinese tyre manufacturer Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber.
According to the company, the new distribution network will be comprised of partners that are independent, established commercial retread processers, retailers, tyre repairers or casing dealers. Once the right partners are identified Westlake is understood to be offering to agree “appropriate and exclusive territory” such as North East, North West with the right companies.
As of July 2011, Conti360° Fleet Services has extended its European coverage into Austria. This is the first addition to the German tyre maker’s service portfolio following its launch in eight core European markets – Belgium, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Spain and the Czech Republic – and Continental now has plans to further expand the network into other regions.
Cam Systems has launched a casing management module, designed to simplify and improve the overall efficiency of the casing management process. It will help to track the location and value of tyre assets which have been removed from a vehicle. The module is available as an integrated component within Cam’s UniSerV suite alongside Call Logging, Integrated Mapping and Document Manager, enabling customers to track each individual casing for its full lifespan.
Norfolk-based Apex Car and Van Rental has appointed ATS Euromaster to supply tyres and a complete SMR (service, maintenance and repair) package across its 1,000-strong fleet. In announcing its selection as supplier, ATS Euromaster comments that the deal will streamline fast-fit services across the fleet’s 600 cars and 400 vans and minibuses, replacing a system which previously relied on up to ten smaller independent providers. It will also, it adds, increase fleet management efficiency throughout the rental company’s affiliates and partners.
The longest-serving Continental AG board member, Hans-Joachim Nikolin (55), leaves the company’s Executive Board at the end of July and its youngest member, Nikolai Setzer (40), will take over a combined tyre business and thus lead the company’s most successful and currently highest turnover-generating division. The company’s business unit structure has decreased at a management level to adapt with future requirements and now benefits the previously independently-led truck tyre division, which in many past years failed to meet expectations and suffered under the griping of Nikolin’s fellow board members Wennemer and Hippe. During that time, numerous threats were allegedly made to sell off the entire commercial vehicle tyre division should it prove unable to rapidly achieve an EBIT margin of or near double figures. Such threats placed Dr. Hans-Joachim in a very helpless position as yield-hungry analysts could have all too easily interpreted them as promises.
The US military’s Defense Logistics Agency has awarded two tyre supply contracts worth over US$60 million in total to Goodyear and Michelin. The Akron, Ohio-based Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., was awarded a fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract with a maximum $37,104,838 for aircraft tyres intended for the US Army and Air Force. The contract’s “performance completion” is scheduled for 13 September 2013.
Pan-European operator and Pall-Ex member John Bywater Transport has announced its return to ATS Euromaster and Michelin, saying the two companies offer the most competitive truck tyre package on the market. The Kent-based haulier ended a 20-year tyre supply and servicing agreement with ATS Euromaster in late 2009 in favour of a local dealer fitting an alternative brand, but after 16 months managing director John Bywater has chosen to return.
Stoke-based bus and coach operator Bakers Coaches says trialling Michelin’s X Energy SaverGreen tyres is the next step in a series of fuel-saving initiatives it is undertaking. The company was awarded an Environmental Business Award for its commitment to reducing carbon emissions at local newspaper The Sentinel’s Business Awards ceremony in March 2011 for its pro-environmental activities. These include the construction of an eco-friendly operating centre in 2007 and recent fleet-wide installation of advanced GreenRoad vehicle telematics and Masternaught tracking technology.
Automotive logistics firm Blue Dragon Transport has appointed ATS Euromaster to supply and service tyres across its fleet of 20 trucks and 28 trailers. The Nottinghamshire company ended its previous agreement with a local supplier after ATS Euromaster offered to carry out a free fleet inspection and highlight issues it thought might be affecting its tyre budget. ATS-E considered the company’s “lack of brand consistency was contributing to unpredictable fluctuations in tyre expenditure”.
One of the UK’s fastest-growing fleet companies has signed up to a Michelin tyre policy across its fleet. Leicester-based Total Motion, which was set up in 1998 and typically manages fleets of more than 30 vehicles, has historically used a variety of premium brand tyres. However, the company says new internal cost and performance analysis demonstrated that using Michelin tyres and fast-fit specialists ATS Euromaster would provide significant benefits to the company and its customers.
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