As reported previously, the line dividing company fleet vehicles and ‘private’ company vehicles is becoming harder to define in regards to vehicle maintenance. With so much emphasis being placed on care of duty and the impact this has upon drivers who use their own cars for work, it is unsurprising that when looking at the fast fit retail sector in 2008, one cannot escape also thinking in terms of fleet business. Kwik-Fit Fleet chief Mike Wise reports that many motorists who previously would have come under the retail umbrella are now, for legal reasons, being afforded the same vehicle service arrangements as those driving company vehicles.

“A number of customers that already have tyre safety checks undertaken by Kwik-Fit Fleet on their company cars already extend the offering to cover so-called ‘grey’ fleet vehicles because they understand that existing corporate health and safety legislation extends to cover all vehicles driven on business, irrespective of ownership,” comments Mr. Wise. “As a result, I expect Kwik-Fit Fleet to undertake an increasing number of tyre safety checks on ‘grey fleet’ vehicles as well as company-provided cars and vans.”

In total, the company’s mobile servicing fleet expects to perform more than a quarter of a million tyre safety checks at the customer’s premises, a little over 13.5 per cent more than the number carried out in 2007. “We expect checks to increase by at least 30,000 this year,” Wise says. While Kwik-Fit Fleet does not release month by month figures, he notes that this increase should be fairly uniform, however he does add: “Although, as more companies wake up to the importance of the new legislation and its impact on fleet safety we would expect tyre safety check demand to rise significantly in the second half of 2008.”

“In addition, numerous industry surveys highlight the ‘grey fleet’ as being an area of occupational road risk management weakness in the vast majority of companies,” Wise further comments. “Therefore, as more businesses start to react to the legislation and best practice advice and monitor issues around ‘grey fleet’ vehicles such as service schedules and MoTs I expect more work to be directed towards Kwik-Fit centres due to their accessibility and seven-day-a-week opening – something that franchise dealers cannot compete with.”

The head of Kwik-Fit Fleet gives the case of Crewe based mobile phone company 20:20 Mobile as an example of how many drivers not previously covered by fleet service agreements are now benefiting. Not only does the company’s fleet of 147 vehicles receive monthly safety checks, 20:20 Mobile assistant manager Andrea Shipman reports that steps are taken to ensure the on-road safety of all employees. “Employees who are not au fait with how to check tyres for pressure and wear and tear have nothing to worry about; and we ensure that qualified and fully trained technicians carry out the checks and any repair and replacement work. The company employs more than 1,050 people and tyre safety checks are part of the benefits package that is available to all staff as part of 20:20 Mobile’s suite of affinity programmes.”

Ms Shipman adds: “Safety of our drivers is paramount. The forthcoming corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act further underlines the importance of tyre safety checks.”

Kwik-Fit’s all makes fixed price menu has proven popular with retail customers since its introduction two years ago, however Mr. Wise reports that there has been concern from some quarters that undertaking servicing on the late model vehicles typically used for business purposes, including company fleet vehicles, could compromise manufacturer warranties. Kwik-Fit has acted to counter any such fears. “Our new manufacturers’ servicing initiative will enable technicians to download each vehicle manufacturer’s exact service schedule on a model-by-model basis. The cost of each service will be individually calculated by adding together ICME service time, hourly labour rates and spare part prices.

“Most retail customers drive cars that are more than three years old and therefore outside of the warranty cover offered by most carmakers,” Mr. Wise points out. “Vehicles are serviced using long-established service procedures and even if warranties are in place they are not impacted.”

Recently Kwik-Fit made a range of additional services available to both retail and fleet customers, services that – for the time being at least, round out the company’s fast-fit menu. “Last year Kwik-Fit Fleet completed its one-stop shop of motoring services with the roll-out of a new vehicle windscreen repair service,” says Wise. “The launch came on the back of adding air conditioning recharging, vehicle servicing and MoTs to our menu of services.”

With Kwik-Fit’s extended range of services now in place, the company intends to focus upon making itself more attractive to both retail and fleet customers. As Mike Wise says: “With regards to our 670-strong centre network and mobile fleet we will continue to roll-out our multi-million pound fast-fit centre modernisation and refurbishment programme and, earlier this year, we announced that we would add a further 30 units to our 200-strong mobile fleet in 2008 to cope with the boom in demand for tyre safety checks and mobile tyre repair and replacement.”

In closing, Mike Wise comments on what he believes sets Kwik-Fit apart from its customers. “Time is money,” he says. “Our seven-day-a-week opening and our ability to offer an MoT and service within typically 48 hours of booking rather than the 14 days of most franchised dealers makes our expansion into all SMR sectors very attractive…Additionally, it should be remembered that the whole ethos of fast-fit is a drive-in service, something which, in today’s 24/7 world, is significantly more customer-friendly than the rigid opening hours of franchised dealers.”