The growth of the Bridgestone Truck Point network of independent tyre dealers, coupled with a series of company-initiated fleet gains has led to increased Bridgestone influence in the UK commercial vehicle truck market. At the time of going to press, the Truck Point network covered 306 outlets, with 1000 service vans, managing 50 centrally billed national fleet customers. (Including Europe, the total swells to 2349 outlets in 28 countries). This year, Bridgestone’s truck tyre sales development culminated with the acquisition of the manufacturer’s first four bus contracts – Thamesdown, First Bus, Veolia and Plymouth City Bus – a move that marks the manufacturer’s progression into the passenger carrying commercial vehicle market.

2008 also saw Bridgestone cement its first concrete deal in conjunction with Bandag. From now on 13 Larfarge locations, not to mention Cemex lorries will be running on Bridgestone products. The latter contract, for Cemex’s aggregates and cement fleet is said to be worth £1.6 million and represents a three-year contract. Looking forward into 2009, Bridgestone is planning to significantly increase its retread offering. First of all the company has announced that it will introduce a new Qualitread size (385/55 R22.5), which is being introduced as a result of Bridgestone’s recent bus fleet success. This will be followed by a number of other retread size additions.

Audit success

As 2008 drew to a close, Bridgestone UK held a series of Truck Point dealer roadshows designed to bring dealer partners up to speed with the latest developments. One of the key messages communicated to the network was of the importance of increasing the depth and quality of fleet checks, a message which comes off the back of significant investment from the tyre manufacturer in a complete “expert dealer” external auditing programme.

Details of the first three truck tyre dealers to successfully achieve expert level status in the Truck Point Dealer Audit Programme were given at the end of April 2007; with a further 46 named in October that year. However, the scheme has proved so successful that by the time the 2008 Truck Point roadshow came round the total had shot up to 73, roughly a quarter of the network as a whole.

Bridgestone/Truck Point’s scheme utilises the services of the world-renowned audit inspectors, Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA). By adopting this approach, both Truck Point dealers and existing and potential fleet customers can be assured of the quality of services being offered. The general feeling of those representing Bridgestone and Truck Point in front of the increasing number of fleet customers being won by the Japanese manufacturer, is that comprehensive auditing is a real “currency” when it comes to negotiating contracts.

According to Bridgestone representatives, the focus of the audit programme is to recognise the high service standards expert level dealers work to, while at the same time, continuously improving the service standards of the entire network. The Expert Level Truck Point Audit Programme audits customer service provision, casing management, health & safety policy, equipment checks, administration, invoicing and training within Truck Point dealers.

The LRQA audit programme forms part of Bridgestone’s comprehensive Total Fleet Management package. This offers fleets a full supply and support service for their tyres, covering premium product supply, expert service levels, casing management, fleet checks, full reporting, environmental and health and safety policies as well as on-line invoice checking.

The latest additions to Bridgestone’s growing list of expert dealers are: Baron Tyres, Capital Tyres, Chase Tyres, County Tyres, Elmbridge Tyres, ETB, Gordons Tyres, Harris Bros, Jetyres, Kingsway Tyres, Link Tyre Sales, Lodge Tyres, McConechy's, Nation Tyres, Robbs Tyres, Tanvic Tyres, Town & Country, Tyre Maintenance, TyreWork, two branches of Watling Tyres and finally WH Tyres.