Working Environment Tips

Highway Code Changes for HGV Drivers 2022

In both January and March 2022, important updates to the Highway Code were brought into effect. For fleets operating LGVs, Highway Code training for drivers is vital. Safety on long journeys in large vehicles will affect not only your staff but everyone on the road. These Highway Code changes affect every road user but there are new features that specifically refer to those driving HGVs. Despite this, recent figures show that 20% of drivers remain unaware of changes to the Highway Code for HGV drivers. It is the duty of care of fleet managers to manage their drivers and ensure that they all have access to the new regulations.

The best action for fleet managers is to advise your drivers to read through the full Highway Code as there are changes to many of the rules within it, even if the phrasing has simply been altered. The changes to the Highway Code that most affect HGV drivers and fleets are focused on the below areas:

• The introduction of the Hierarchy of Road Users, which contains 3 new rules.

• Driving in slow-moving traffic.

• Overtaking cyclists, horse riders, or horse-drawn carriages.

• Advanced stop lines.

• Dutch reach.

• Charging electric vehicles.

• Cyclist road positions.

• Use of devices while driving.

In detail, these changes are:

The New Highway Code for LGV Drivers and Other Road Users

The introduction of the Hierarchy of Road Users

The first update is the creation of the Hierarchy of Road Users, which is split into three rules: H1, H2, and H3.

The first section (H1) introduces the concept of this hierarchy. Motorists driving vehicles that are more likely to cause the most harm now bear the greatest responsibility for reducing the danger to others. For example, HGV drivers now have more responsibility than those in smaller vehicles.

It is stressed in the Highway Code that this does not mean that other drivers can behave irresponsibly and should still consider the safety of themselves and others when on the road.

Give way to pedestrians or cyclists on a crossing

The second section of the Hierarchy of Road Users (H2) relates to driver behaviour when at crossings. At a junction, all motorists must give way to pedestrians or cyclists who are crossing or waiting to cross at a road that you are turning into, a road you are emerging from, or at a zebra or parallel crossing.

Do not cut off cyclists, horse riders, or horse-drawn carriages ahead of you when you are turning in or out of a junction, changing direction, or switching lanes.

The final section of the Hierarchy of Road Users (H3) states that motorists should not cut across cyclists or horses ahead of them when they are at a junction, changing direction, or switching lanes. This is the case no matter where on the road the cyclist or horse is e.g., even if the cyclist is on the cycle path.

In slow-moving traffic, allow pedestrians or cyclists to cross in front of you.

Rule 151 of the Highway Code consists of a few rules about how to behave in slow-moving traffic that have been in place since before the code was updated. These include making sure you are not blocking side roads and leaving enough space between yourself and the vehicle in front. As part of the 2022 changes, a new rule has been added to this list: when in slow-moving traffic, drivers should allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross in front of them.

When overtaking, give cyclists, horse riders, or horse-drawn carriages as much room as you would give when overtaking a car.

Drivers should wait behind motorcyclists, cyclists, horses, or pedestrians if it is unsafe to overtake. When overtaking cyclists at up to 30mph, you should leave at least 1.5 metres of space and allow even more room when travelling at higher speeds. For horses, you should slow down to a maximum of 10mph and allow at least 2 metres of space. For pedestrians, lower your speed to an appropriate level and leave 2 meters of space.

Whenever overtaking, drivers should take extra care at night or in bad weather, such as high winds.

Advanced stop lines

Pay attention to advanced stop lines.

There are new rules in place regarding advanced stop lines which, as pictured, include a section for cyclists to wait ahead of traffic.

When waiting at advanced stop lines, motorists must stop at the first stop line and not block the cyclists’ section. Drivers of large vehicles, such as HGVs, should wait far enough back that they have full visibility of the cyclist area.

Use Dutch Reach to open your door.

If you have had to park on the roadside, when leaving your vehicle, you should open your door using the hand on the opposite side to the door you are opening. For example, if opening a door on your right-hand side, you should use your left hand. This will make you turn before opening the door and allow you to check over your shoulder for any cyclists or motorists that may be passing you.

Be aware of causing a trip hazard when charging an electric vehicle.

If charging an electric vehicle, park close to the charge point to avoid creating a trip hazard with the charging cables, even display a warning sign if you can. When your vehicle has finished charging, return the cables neatly.

Cyclist road positions.

As per Rule 72, cyclists are now advised that they can ride in the centre of their lane to make themselves clearly visible if they are:

• on quiet roads or streets,

• in slow-moving traffic,

• or when approaching junctions or narrowing roads where it would be unsafe for motorists to overtake them.

Please keep this in mind when on the road with cyclists.

Use of devices while driving.

As well as the above updates the Highway Code in January, in March new rules were brought in to tighten restrictions on using devices such as mobile phones or satnavs whilst driving. Rule 149 of the updated Highway Code states:

You MUST NOT use a hand-held mobile phone, or similar device, capable of interactive communication (such as a tablet) for any purpose when driving or when supervising a learner driver. This ban covers all use of a hand-held interactive communication device and it applies even when the interactive communication capability is turned off or unavailable. You MUST NOT pick up the phone or similar device while driving to dial a number and then put it in the cradle for the duration of the conversation. You MUST NOT pick up and use your hand-held phone or similar device while stationary in traffic.

There are a few specific exceptions, however. You can call for emergency services if it is unsafe to stop during a genuine emergency, you can use a device to make a contactless payment at a terminal if the vehicle is stationary.

As the Highway Code has seen substantial updates twice so far this year, it’s important to make sure your fleet is up to date on what behaviour is expected of them when on the road. The Highway Code for HGV drivers can be included in LGV driver training, and you can also share this blog with your team to give them an overview.

For more fleet management tips, make sure to keep up to date with our blog. We also offer fleet services including telematics and bespoke fuel card solutions. For more information, get in touch with our team today.

7 Summer Fleet Maintenance Tips

Recently, we discussed our top tips for drivers getting back on the road for long journeys after over two years of intermittent COVID lockdowns. It’s also important, as we come into the summer season, to consider summer fleet maintenance. Summer heat can play havoc on different vehicle parts and making sure your drivers are safe should, of course, be your top priority. Here are the top summer fleet maintenance tips for businesses:

Tyres:

As tyre condition will drastically affect your fleet’s safety and operation, it’s vital to make sure they are ready for summer. Switch over any vehicles using winter tyres ahead of the warmer weather if you haven’t already. Heat greatly affects the grip of winter tyres and can lead to potential safety concerns.

You’ll also need to have your fleet’s tyres assessed for damage, such as bubbles and cracks in the sidewalls or acute wear. You will also need to have the tread depth and tyre pressure monitored to confirm that they are following the given guidelines in the vehicle’s owner manual. Accidents and vehicle downtime are often caused by poor tyre pressure.

Check: Monthly.

Air Conditioning:

For the sake of drivers who may be spending long hours on the road in the summer heat, ensure all your fleet vehicles’ air conditioning units are operational. To be safe, have the units evaluated by a trained staff member or a technician. The most efficient option would be for a technician to check this as part of the vehicle’s service if this is due or upcoming.

A common cause of air conditioning units malfunctioning is a low level of refrigerant. This is easy to fix, but if it is left unmonitored and develops into a fault, these units can be costly to repair or replace.

Check: Annually, before summer.

Oil:

Before your drivers set off on their summer routes, it’s best to keep an eye on their vehicles’ oil levels. Depending on the vehicle, this is checked manually with dipsticks, through electronic monitoring, or through telematics.

It’s generally advised to change a vehicle’s oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles for conventional oil and 5,000 to 6,000 miles for synthetics and to check the oil even more frequently. However, if your fleet vehicles regularly make long journeys carrying substantial loads, you will need to schedule this more regularly.

Check: Every few weeks or every 1,000 – 3,000 miles.

Coolant:

During summer, it is vital that a vehicle’s coolant mix and coolant levels are kept topped up. Coolant changes are usually included in a vehicle’s service to keep your vehicle’s warranty in place. However, during hot weather, it’s a good idea to check them regularly.

Check: As part of a service. Check levels regularly during summer, especially if the vehicle is making long drives in heat.

Brakes:

Brakes can be left damaged by the intense weather changes between winter and summer. Obviously, checking the brakes is a priority during a service, but it’s a good idea for fleet managers and drivers to be vigilant about the condition of their brakes.

You can check the brakes visibly, by looking for cracking or discolouration, or by performing a slow test drive and applying the brakes. There are several ways, such as those listed here, to tell if brakes are in bad condition and need changing.

Check: Every six months or, for vehicles that make long trips, more frequently, such as when the tyres are rotated.

Battery:

As with the brakes, heat can speed up the ageing of a vehicle battery, especially in temperatures over 20°C. You should regularly disconnect battery cables from their terminals to check for signs of corrosion and clean any signs of corrosion away.

When replacing your cables, strap the battery back down tightly, making sure that the connections of the positive and negative leads are secure.

Check: At least every 6 months.

Belts:

When checking the brakes and tyres for signs of wear, it’s a good idea to also have a look at the vehicle’s belts for any signs of damage, such as corrosion or holes. It’s recommended to replace these every 60,000 to 100,000 miles.

Check: Along with brakes and tyres.

Making sure that all your fleet vehicles are ready for summer can be a challenge. If you are needing help keeping track of your summer fleet maintenance, or general fleet data control, we offer an excellent telematics solution which will provide you with easy to track data for each of your vehicles. Get in touch today for a free consultation.

Telematics: Top 6 Benefits for your Business

Fleet data and analytics are an invaluable advantage when it comes to improving your fleet’s efficiency and planning for the future. The most recognised technology for collecting fleet data is telematics, which lets you see real-time information about fuel use, driver behaviour, and much more.

Here are the top 6 ways that telematics can benefit your business:

What are the benefits of telematics?

1. Increased fleet efficiency:

Telematics enables fleet managers to collect extensive data including tracking their vehicles, obtaining journey history, and driver time sheets. With this data, you can map out your fleet’s movements effectively and work with staff to minimise operational downtime.

2. Reduced fuel costs and operational expense:

Drivers with bad habits, such as harsh breaking or driving in the wrong gears, can cost your company in unnecessary fuel usage. On our telematics dashboard, you can see reports on speeding, harsh breaking, and harsh cornering. By monitoring driver behaviour, you can improve the cost-effectiveness of your fleet and optimise routes which will save your business both time and money.

A common practice is to apply gamification to the data fed back to you by telematics. By adding a contest element for you drivers with potential incentives, you will encourage a culture of safe driving at the same time as bringing a fun competition into the work place.

3. Optimised maintenance scheduling:

With telematics, you will be alerted remotely and in good time of any recurring maintenance needs, such as oil changes or service requirements. You will also be sent alerts of any fault codes for vehicle issues that may later develop into breakdowns.

These are problems that would normally take vehicles off the road for an extended period, which is minimised with prompt response or planning.

4. Increased security and driver safety:

One of the main concerns of managing a fleet is ensuring driver safety and asset security, both of which can be difficult to keep tabs on if drivers are on the road alone. With telematics, you can track your vehicles’ locations at any time and monitor any incidents that should occur. You can coach your drivers on safer driving habits, find vehicles in case of emergencies, and monitor your fleet’s health and safety performance.

In the case of theft, this tracking increases the possibility of retrieving stolen vehicles, stock, or equipment from thieves. The evidence collected can then further assist in the cases of any prosecutions.

5. Legal protection:

In the event of an accident or collision involving another driver, having accurate data with which to use as evidence in any legal proceedings is a huge benefit for fleet managers. As well as the data from tracking, we also provide 360 “wrap around” cameras as part of our Vision and Pro packages, which can be used to get a clearer picture of events. There’s the obvious benefit of this saving the company in damages and legal fees, but it can also save you in terms of your insurance premiums, so is a huge benefit.

6. Carbon reduction:

By encouraging safer and more fuel conscious driving, you are also promoting more environmentally friendly driving habits. Being aware of your company’s carbon reduction plan and being able to display, through data, how your fleet is being aware and proactive, is a huge plus to many customers in the current market.

With Fleetmate telematics, we offer multiple packages so you can choose the features that appeal the most to you. As part of our most comprehensive pro package, you will benefit from all of our features. To find out which package is best for you, call our team today and let us help you with your fleet requirements.

14 Ways to Reduce Carbon Footprint for Businesses

There’s no denying that the world is facing a climate crisis, so employers are actively searching for ways businesses can reduce their carbon footprints. Customers are also becoming increasingly tuned in to the business practices of the companies they shop from, so by failing to take climate action, you risk losing business. Although it may feel daunting, there are many simple ways for businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce their carbon footprint. Here, we share 14 ideas to get you started.

What is the average carbon footprint of a company?

The average carbon footprint of a company completely depends on the type of company, the size of company and their business processes. However, to give you an idea, according to Small 99, SMEs in the UK have a carbon footprint of at least 6% of total UK annual carbon emissions. Compare that with the fact that just 20 firms are behind a third of all carbon emissions, contributions from SMEs are relatively conservative.

As more studies have been done and climate change has become better understood, many countries have implemented policies to reduce pollution on a national or international scale, with fuel and alternative sources being put under the spotlight.

14 ways businesses can reduce their carbon footprint

1. Switch to electric vehicles

If your business has any company vehicles, whether that’s a fleet or a couple of company cars, it’s time to consider going electric . Research from Cambridge shows that, in 95% of the world, driving an electric car is better for the climate than a petrol car. Plus, as part of the UK government’s plan to be carbon-neutral by 2050, petrol and diesel vehicles will be phased out, so it’s a switch we all have to start thinking about. Although there are many alternative fuels for vehicles that you could consider, electricity is probably the most popular and accessible option.

2. Use a fuel card

If you are a fuel-dependent business looking to go green, a fuel card is a great way to start minimising your carbon footprint. Fuel cards can be used in most businesses, including sole traders, small businesses, trucking companies and start-ups – they’re not just for large fleets. With a fuel card and vehicle telematics, you can monitor how much fuel your vehicles are using and assess if the most efficient routes are being taken. Plus, you can cut down on paperwork with a ‘walk around’ vehicle checks app and digital invoices.

3. Recycle

One of the most obvious ways businesses can reduce their carbon footprint is through recycling. Set up a recycling centre in your workplace and make it clear to employees what they can recycle and how they should separate their waste. If you’re recycling confidential documents, remember to shred them first and set up a confidential recycling bin if needed.

4. Virtual meetings

‘Zoom’ became a verb during the pandemic as most of us started working from home. We learnt how easy it is to conduct virtual meetings, whether that’s with colleagues, clients or suppliers. When you’re organising a meeting or event, ask the people who are joining you if they’re happy to go virtual and make it easy for them to do so. Likewise, make it clear to your stakeholders that you’re also more than comfortable conducting business over video call. This is a simple way to cut down on business travel, slashing greenhouse gas emissions and saving you time and money in the process.

5. Car-share

If your employees work in an office, encourage them to car-share for reduced emissions and a cheaper commute. Although you can’t implement a car-sharing policy, you can make it easier for employees who have similar commutes to connect with one another. For example, when you’re onboarding a new starter, make it a point to ask them about their commute and if they would be open to car-sharing with colleagues.

6. Cycle to Work scheme

You’ve most likely heard of the Cycle to Work scheme that was launched by the government in 1999. It’s an extremely popular scheme that is used by businesses up and down the country, making it easier for employees to improve fitness and lower their carbon emissions. You can learn more about how it works on the government website, but the concept is that an employer purchases a bike and their employee ‘hires’ it through salary sacrifice – this provides a saving as the employee does not have to pay income tax or National Insurance on the bike. Once the hire period is over, the employee can either return the bike to the employer or purchase it from them.

7. Avoid single-use products

Single-use products, especially non-recyclable items, are one of the worst things for our planet, and we often see them in the kitchen. Encourage employees to bring reusable water bottles to work, and offer a convenient way to refill throughout the day.

Likewise, if you have a hot drink machine in the office, stop buying single-use cups and provide enough mugs or reusable travel cups for employees. If you have an on-site cafeteria, offer a discount for employees who bring their own mug, just as most high-street cafes do, and provide reusable cutlery rather than plastic, throw-away alternatives.

8. Keep documents digital

One of the easiest ways businesses can reduce carbon emissions immediately is by keeping documents digital. You should avoid the urge to print a hard copy of your work unless absolutely vital! Paper copies are more wasteful, cost you more money, and are less secure than digital files. But, if you do really need to print something, be sure to print double-sided and switch off the printer when not in use.

9. Switch off and unplug

Leaving lights on in an unused room in your office is no good for the environment or your budget. If you’re noticing lights are not being switched off when employees leave a room, give frequent, gentle reminders until you notice a change. You could even ask for eco-monitor volunteers to undertake regular checks around the office.

You should also remind employees to unplug devices that aren’t in use – leaving chargers that aren’t charging plugged into the wall still drains electricity.

These are two quick and easy ways to reduce the carbon footprint of any business.

Light switch switched off which helps businesses reduce their carbon footprint.

10. Invest in energy-efficient lighting

Replacing your light bulbs with energy-efficient lighting can cut your carbon emissions by up to 40kg a year! LED lighting is the most efficient you can buy and, although LED bulbs have a greater upfront cost compared with CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) and halogen bulbs, the annual running cost is significantly less.

11. Invest in energy-efficient appliances

You’re probably aware that many appliances in the UK are sold with an energy efficiency rating. This is a legal requirement, helping customers make informed decisions while encouraging manufacturers to design more low-energy products. If you’re in the market for a new appliance for your business, such as a fridge or dishwasher, be careful to choose one with the best energy efficiency rating for reduced emissions and cheaper running costs.

12. Turn down the thermostat

Turning down the thermostat by just one degree can make a significant difference to the amount of energy your office uses every winter, and you probably won’t feel any colder. If your employees wear a uniform to work, you could also provide them with a thicker uniform during the colder months, such as a fleece or thermal top. This is a simple, quick way to reduce the carbon footprint of your business – just don’t make it so cold that it’s uncomfortable or unsafe!

13. Offset carbon emissions

Transitioning to zero carbon emissions is not a quick process, and for many businesses it’s simply not possible. However, aiming for net-zero carbon emissions is more feasible. There are numerous programmes available for businesses to become carbon-neutral certified, typically done through funding projects that remove emissions. Although this would incur a financial cost to your business, it’s an impactful way to make a difference and shows customers you’re serious about minimising your contribution to climate damage.

14. Plant trees

Another way to offset carbon emissions is by planting trees (trees absorb carbon dioxide). According to One Tree Planted, the average tree absorbs an average of 10 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year for the first 20 years. Trees also provide other environmental benefits, such as habitat for animals and regulating temperatures. There are plenty of organisations that can help you with a tree planting initiative. You could either provide a donation to plant trees, or you could turn it into a company activity for your staff, serving as a great morale-boosting and team exercise.

We hope these ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your business inspire you to take action! It may not feel that way, but every small change can make a big impact, especially when we work collectively.

If you are a fuel-dependent business looking to improve fuel efficiency and minimise your carbon footprint, please contact our fuel card experts and we’ll see how we can help you. We also have a Chargemate card for electric vehicles to improve efficiency and streamline your processes.

Navigating Fuel-Dependent Businesses Going Green

Climate change has become an unavoidable topic in the last few years, and the government is beginning to push the UK towards a greener and more sustainable future, including creating incentives for businesses going green. However, the pressure to reduce dependence on fossil fuels puts more strain on the many industries that currently rely on it.

As the government unveils plans to reduce fuel dependence, we’ve got a few tips to offer fuel-dependent businesses to help keep your drivers and fleet ahead of the game during this time of transition.

What is Climate Change?

There are often a lot of buzzwords and technical terms thrown around to do with climate change, and it can be a complex topic. However, the most basic definition of climate change is that the global temperature is experiencing a significant shift, which can have a series of effects from the inconvenient to the disastrous.

Due to the invention and progression of certain technologies and fuels, greenhouse gases (particularly carbon dioxide) are pumped into the air. These trap the heat from the sun and slowly warm the planet.

As the effects of climate change make themselves more apparent, the need to change certain patterns and behaviours is clear. In the UK, 2020 was the first year since records began over a century ago to stand in the top ten for heat, rain and hours of sunshine.

Why Should Businesses Go Green?

It can be frustrating for fuel-dependent businesses to face the challenges associated with going green, such as the cost of investing in greener technology. However, there are several benefits of going green for a business.

Most importantly, saving the environment is a global issue that requires a global response.

Change on a global level is necessary – according to the Yale Environment Review, the ‘point of no return’ (after which no amount of aggressive action will stop the global climate from rising more than two degrees and causing potentially irreversible damage to the planet) is in 2035.
This means that aggressive action is needed now, and businesses going green is necessary as everyone needs to commit to adapting to the new standards.

If that wasn’t enough to convince you, then think of your customers – according to a study by Deloitte, one in five people have stopped using a certain brand if it doesn’t align with their values.

Add that to the fact that 38% of respondents ranked climate change as the number one most important issue to them, and you can clearly see the benefits of going green for a business.

Furthermore, it’s not really an option any more.

Governments plans, goals and initiatives are being implemented to encourage or insist that businesses become more environmentally friendly. You can learn more about the UK government’s ten-point plan to reach net-zero by 2050 and the effects that could have on your business over on our blog.

What Does Going Green Mean for Businesses?

Okay, so we’ve established that your business should consider becoming more environmentally friendly (if you aren’t already doing so). The question remains, though, how do you do that as a fuel-dependent business?

This can feel particularly daunting for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs); replacing existing machinery or resources with more environmentally-friendly options can potentially be a large expense which many SMEs may struggle to meet. However, SMEs’ advantage is their flexibility, which may help them adapt more easily to changing standards and requirements.

The methods of businesses going green vary greatly. However, if large-scale changes aren’t feasible right now, even small changes, such as switching out the office light bulbs and letting employees work from home where possible to reduce commutes, can make a significant difference over time.

If you’d like to go greener, but you’re not sure where to start, our twelve ways to reduce your business’s carbon footprint are a great jumping-off point!

Additionally, many grants and loans are available for businesses going green, including tax reliefs for businesses investing in green technology, support for businesses heated using biomass fuel, and even competitions rewarded by funding. Find more information or contact your local authority to discuss grants and funding in your area.

The Future of Diesel and Electric Vehicles

There’s no denying it – with the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles being banned in less than ten years as part of the government’s plan to focus on green resources, the future of diesel looks a little bleak.

Other energy sources are available and being improved upon all the time, including electric vehicles, HVO fuel, biofuel and hybrid vehicles, to name a few. Additionally, as alternative energy sources become more necessary, more studies are being undertaken to set up a more sustainable future.

In contrast to diesel and petrol, it looks like electricity will have a bright future as one of the dominant forms of energy. With more homes and businesses going green, plans are being drawn up to create easier access to electric charge points because electricity is a renewable source of energy and one of the more affordable alternative options to fossil fuels.

What Else Is Changing?

As the plans to reduce carbon emissions start to kick in, we’ll start seeing changes across the country and in a range of industries. Notably, as of 2022, there will be changes to the sale and use of rebated gas oil (known as ‘red diesel’) – see our guide to the red diesel tax change for more information.

This will affect industries from construction to waste management and everything in between. Of course, there are alternatives available, including Superheat35 for heating purposes and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel, but the disruption will still affect numerous companies.

Additionally, it’s worth considering what will happen to petrol stations as the world goes electric. By 2030, there will be substantially fewer vehicles frequenting petrol stations, and by 2040 petrol will be all but moot. As a result, petrol stations will have to adapt quickly if they are to continue to exist, or they’ll risk being lost to the history books.

Petrol stations are currently a widely-used, easily-accessible source of fuel. Still, as petrol and diesel become less financially lucrative, it’s reasonable to believe access will become more limited.

What Does Going Green Mean for Fleets and the Haulage Industry?

It’s the million-dollar question – with all of the changes being put into place, what exactly does all of this mean for fleets and the haulage industry? Many companies within this industry, at the moment, largely rely on petrol or diesel fuel to stay on the road. In fact, currently, fleet vehicles are more likely to be equipped with a diesel engine than passenger vehicles. Ten years after the ban on petrol and diesel for cars and vans, in 2040, a similar ban will come into place for HGVs.

Many fleet managers believe that the haulage industry will be almost completely unrecognisable in the next few years, with a total overhaul needed to continue operations in the new climate. So, it’s important to prepare your business before it happens.

A key pre-emptive measure of businesses going green is to remain on top of your current fuel usage. One of the benefits of using fuel cards for your business is that you can track the routes your drivers are taking and where they typically stop to fuel up, and this will put you in a better position as availability changes. Check out our telematics software system and how to use and store fleet data to find out more.

Does the Future of Fleets Look Electric?

As alternative vehicles gain in popularity, you’ll need to consider what type of alternative energy your fleet will use which, of course, will depend on what type of transport you require and your budget. In addition, as your business changes or expands, you’ll need to consider fleet buying in a changing world and educating your haulage team appropriately.

McKinsey Sustainability estimates that by 2030, fleets of electric vehicles will have a total cost of ownership that is 15 to 25% lower than that of internal combustion engines. Additionally, as electric cars become more popular among domestic users, the availability of electric charging points is set to skyrocket in the coming years.

At Fuelmate, we think electric fleets and businesses going green are great ideas; we’ve already rolled out our Chargemate payment card, designed to allow you to continue tracking how your vehicles are used using charging point data instead of petrol stations.

So, there you have it – our top tips on navigating going green for fuel-dependent businesses. We know there’s a lot to unpack here, and thinking about how much change will happen over the next few years can be overwhelming, but rest assured that here at Fuelmate, we’ll be by your side and help you through it every step of the way.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our friendly team today, or have a look at our blog for more fleet management tips.

Techniques that Leaders can use to Motivate Teams

Within your business, motivating your team should always be a top priority. Each individual within your team represents your company values, and they need to be inspired to work efficiently. Whether your team seeks motivation in team building, or through constructive feedback, there are many techniques that leaders can use to motivate teams.

When it comes to successful fleet procurement, your team isn’t just those within the procurement department; you need to consider your team as every individual who helps to achieve your end goals. Motivating your team at work includes anyone from the fleet administrator and drivers and fuel card users, to the fleet managers and owners. In procurement, every individual in your organisational hierarchy contributes to the overall mission and values. Therefore building relationships with colleagues is of high importance with many benefits.

Techniques for motivating your team:

Here, we take a look at ten techniques that leaders can use to motivate teams. After all, how can your team be expected to meet your companies goals when they don’t feel inspired?

1. Keep your team in the know

A motivated team is one that feels confident and comfortable with any changes or developments within the business. As a leader, it’s your responsibility to make sure that your team understands your organisations most recent priorities, goals, key statistics and any changes that can impact or improve the business performance. Keeping your team updated is easily achievable through a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly email sent to all team members. For instance, once you have a procurement strategy developed, your team should be informed of key updated strategy details to ensure that they understand the most accurate objectives they are working towards.

2. Define clear goals

Motivating your team at work by taking the time to ensure each member clearly understands your organisation’s goals and objectives, is key. Don’t do this by putting individuals on the spot during team meetings or calls. Define your clear goals and expectations by repeating the message often, whether this is written at the beginning of a team email, on social media, or mentioned in a team meeting. The trick is to be consistent. Don’t just stop there; when your team is close to or has achieved a goal, it’s important to let them know! By doing so, each team member can be proud of their contribution to achieving this goal.

3. Open Communication

One of the most obvious techniques that leaders can use to motivate teams is to encourage communication! Your team needs to feel comfortable to talk, discuss and deliberate daily. Whether this is in person or virtually, ensuring that your team feels that they are free to express their ideas and opinions will make each of them feel valued and motivated. Moreover, a business can feel halted by its hierarchal structure, hence encouraging communication between different departments will result in a more blended organisation. Depending on the size of your immediate team, it might not always be possible for you to interact with all these team conversations. Although, it’s possible to ask your team to give you key feedback and positive points from their discussions if they wish.

4. Offer praise and constructive feedback

To be motivated to work hard, your team needs to feel appreciated. To show your appreciation, offering praise on an individual and team level will show to your team or department that you are aware of their contribution to your organisations goals and objectives. Offering positive feedback and constructive criticism will not only aid in motivating your team but will also be a learning point for them to implement.

5. Listen to your team’s needs

Communication is a two-way street. An actively listened to team, is a motivated team. Whether that’s listening to group feedback or an individual’s suggestion, listening to your team and implementing ideas and solutions to make your teams working life easier will result in positive outcomes.

6. Find time-saving solutions

No employee enjoys completing a task that they know could be more efficient. Finding time-saving solutions for your fleet is important to boost morale.

For example, if your company has a fleet, fleet fuel cards aid in making fleet operations run more efficiently and allow you to budget your fuel costs more effectively. They also make the driver’s job easier when it comes to paying for fuel with the pre-loaded fuel card, meaning that there’s no need to store receipts and spend time sending them to the fleet administrator. Therefore, keeping your fleet drivers and those who help with the operations happy, without sacrificing budgets to do so!

7. Consider work-life balance

As a leader, you need to recognise when your team is feeling burnt out. It’s no secret that low employee morale doesn’t produce the best quality of work. Take time to talk to your team about how they are finding their work-life balance. If individuals are struggling, offer the option of flexible working hours or the opportunity to work from home if they are mostly office-based or vice versa to increase motivation and morale.

8. Build good working relationships

Your team will feel more motivated and inspired to work harder when they know that they have a team leader who cares. By taking time to have a conversation to get to know your team members personally, it shows that you appreciate them as more than just a way to reach your organisational goals. By building good working relationships, it makes for a more comfortable working environment for everyone.

9. Get your team involved

With a fleet, your team may be based in different geographical locations, so it can be hard for them to feel connected. Team building activities are a great way to reward your team for their hard work, increase motivation, morale and build relationships. Motivation in team-building aids in successful fleet procurement and can come from many different activities for all to enjoy, from escape rooms and professional driving courses!

10. Positive working environment

A positive working environment is one that is also the most productive. Certainly, it depends on whereabouts your team members are based. In light of COVID-19, working from home is more common, and this can be a situation where individuals feel isolated and lack motivation. For some of your team, they’ve only ever worked in the office surrounded by their colleagues. Hence, as a leader, it would be best to offer positive advice on creating the ideal home office space and encourage virtual communication through video calls on Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams or Zoom.

Of course, this is not possible with your drivers. However, you can build rapport with fleet drivers and check-in to make sure that they are comfortable or have any questions about their routes, drop-offs and ensuring that drivers can talk to one another.

We hope that these ten techniques that leaders can use to motivate teams will be useful for you. Motivating your team at work and managing relationships is a key area for achieving successful fleet procurement. If you’re interested in finding out about fuel cards that are tailored to your drivers, routes and locations, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Fuelmate team today!

3 Ways to Manage Drivers Well

Understanding how to manage drivers well is one of the most important skills for a fleet manager; you’ll forge a better working relationship with your drivers while improving productivity. However, effective fleet and facility management aren’t always straightforward.

When it comes to corporate fleet management, your drivers will make up one of the largest sectors of your workforce. For the most part, your drivers will be out on the road and therefore away from the office, so feeling confused about your fleet service management strategy is understandable. You may struggle to feel confident about the effectiveness of your managerial approach and find it difficult to monitor your fleet goals.

In this article, we’re going to share three key ways to manage drivers well so you can maintain a happy and productive workforce, including driver rewards, communication tips and fuel card monitoring.

1. Publicly acknowledge & reward drivers

Maintaining a positive approach to fleet and facility management when you can will make a world of difference. A great way to keep up the enthusiasm is to publicly acknowledge and reward your drivers when they’re performing at their best, or when they achieve a goal. For example, you could reward the safest driver of the month.

When you manage drivers, you need to show you’re invested in their work and that you value their accomplishments. This will foster a positive working environment, motivate your drivers and encourage more of that behaviour.

Not only will this praise help your drivers feel proud of their work, but it will also encourage other drivers to work harder to achieve the same recognition.

You could also go one step further and offer rewards for drivers who achieve certain fleet goals. One idea is to implement a tally system, where points lead to benefits like an extra day of paid holiday. Or, you could hand out gifts, such as restaurant vouchers. If these rewards can be factored into your budget, it’s an excellent method to lift spirits and encourage ambitious behaviour.

2. Keep open channels of communication

Open communication is crucial for effective corporate fleet management. Without proper communication channels, how are your drivers supposed to share their concerns, ideas or feedback comfortably? Likewise, how are you as a fleet manager supposed to support your drivers, communicate your fleet goals and address issues?

When your drivers feel comfortable talking to you, you’re in a better position to get the most out of them. You can gain a comprehensive understanding of their character, ambitions, strengths and weaknesses and, with that knowledge, manage them more effectively.

You’re also in a better position to understand your drivers’ experiences on the job. They can offer valuable feedback on vehicles, routes, drive times and overall efficiency, which can help you improve your fleet service management.

Drivers who feel heard and valued by their manager are more likely to feel motivated and happy at work. This is obviously fantastic for productivity, morale and drivers’ wellbeing, but it will also help with driver retention. Reducing driver turnover is a priority when it comes to corporate fleet management, and it’s often one of the key fleet goals. So, don’t underestimate the power of being active and invested in your drivers’ opinions and experiences.

3. Use data to measure performance

The last of our corporate fleet management tips is to use data to measure driver performance. Of course, this isn’t the only way to measure performance, but it’s an effective tool when used correctly.

Data is a tool you should harness when you manage drivers because facts and figures don’t lie. They provide an accurate image of driver performance. You can then share this information with your team and use it to praise drivers or highlight areas of improvement.

Fuel cards, fuel management systems and telematics are all excellent tools that offer insightful data into driver performance. Many fuel cards offer management features such as online reports and dashboards, which provide data about fleet efficiency. You can use this information to gain an understanding of driver and vehicle performance. Advanced telematics also provides accurate data about vehicle location, providing further insight into driver productivity.

These three tips share how to manage drivers effectively and can be utilised and adapted to fit your managerial style. Effective fleet service management is all about creating an environment where your drivers can thrive so you can get the best out of them. This will have a positive knock-on effect for your fleet efficiency and productivity, so be sure to keep these tips in mind.

For more fleet manager tips, please explore the rest of our blog.

The Importance and Benefits of Building Relationships with Colleagues

Building relationships with colleagues is key when it comes to successful fleet procurement. It’s very easy for each working day to fly past us, focusing on our tasks at hand, yet have you ever stopped and thought about how well you know your colleagues? A good working relationship with colleagues not only results in a good work-life balance but also can improve yours and your colleagues’ mood whilst at work, amongst other things. We take a look at the importance and main benefits of having good working relationships with your colleagues, including how successful management of relationships internally and externally can make your job much easier day-to-day.

Importance of a Good Working Relationship with Colleagues

The Advantages and Importance of Peer Relationships

Improving wellbeing

Be prepared for open two-way communication with your colleagues, regardless of if you’ve worked together days, months or years. Stopping what you are doing for a moment and having a meaningful conversation where you listen, engage and respond is the starting point for building relationships with colleagues.

Ensuring that your colleagues feel understood and listened to is a simple step to lift their wellbeing as they will feel more at ease to speak out about any problems. As we all know from experience, the quicker any hiccups or mistakes can get aired and resolved – the better!

Open and personal rapport

Taking the first proactive step to develop a good working relationship with colleagues is to take a genuine interest in them. You are both individuals with your own personalities and interests. Some of these interests may be shared, so why not start the conversation to find out more?

Building this trust, even by asking how their day is, will help in ensuring that you both have a more transparent and stronger rapport. Small steps, little and often to show interest in your colleagues will also result in a more open and comfortable conversation about work and operations going forward.

Not everyone will want to discuss work if they are having a moments break, so why not ask a more personal question? Having a personal interest in a colleagues life outside of their daily work tasks can create that conversation.

Feeling appreciated

Due to the nature of your role in the company, you may feel building relationships with colleagues is too time-consuming. The best way to build relationships efficiently is by allocating time out your schedule where your colleagues know you are available for them to come and have a chat with you; whether they are from your department or others. As your colleagues may comprise of fleet managers, fleet administrators, drivers and more, it is most likely that you are not all together at once to cement that relationship. By proactively setting aside time for honest conversations, this will not only make your colleagues feel valued and appreciated but will also increase their trust in you as they feel actively listened to.

One way to ensure your department feels appreciated is through team-building activities, such as an escape room or an outdoor activity day. Why not come up with a list of possible activities and ask your team which they would like to do? This way they’ll feel more involved in the decision and the activity will be more enjoyable for everyone.

Respect

As a member of senior management or the head of the department, it is vital to establish respect in a working relationship so that each party can feel valued and heard within the workplace.

For instance, during the allocated scheduled time for open conversation as recommended, a fleet administrator may state that they feel too much of their time is being taken up with chasing or processing receipts from the drivers. By listening to the fleet administrator and realising that this needs to change, you could try and look for a solution. In this scenario an option could be for the fleet to start using fuel cards, these will ensure an efficient invoicing process for the fleet administrator and are easy for the drivers to use; keeping both colleagues in mind.

By overcoming this challenge, it not only reduces the time spent on administration, but it will also show to your colleagues that you respect and take into consideration how they are feeling.

Breaking the hierarchy anxiety

As the head of a department, try and put yourself in your fleet drivers’ shoes. Your organisation may have a hierarchy which some may feel restricts their opportunity for building relationships with colleagues; this anxiety can be overcome during team building sessions. Remember, whilst at work, you are all actively contributing to your organisation’s mission and values where ever you may fit on the hierarchy.

Workplace conflict is reported by one in four workers according to the CIPD, which can be caused by shouting or heated arguments. To reduce the chance of conflict, it’s important to ensure you consider your tone of voice when interacting with your colleagues to ensure that there is a level conversation.

By speaking to colleagues from a variety of different roles and various levels of seniority, it’ll give you a much more effective insight into how operations are running and may give you ideas on how it can be improved via the procurement department. Additionally, having a good working relationship with your drivers will assist in employee retention due to the trust and respect built through your working relationship. This increased in trust is likely to create a better platform in order to promote a better and more proactive safety culture throughout your fleet.

Consideration of boundaries

With the pandemic, your colleagues may prefer a virtual conversation to build that working relationship, and that’s perfectly fine! A LinkedIn message can still be personal and professional. You may be able to find out a few of their interests before starting the virtual conversation from recent posts that they have engaged with or written themselves. This also applies when creating a relationship with suppliers. Be cautious not to overstep any boundaries, only connect with their social media accounts if you feel this will be a comfortable and welcomed interaction.

We hope you now have a more thorough understanding of the importance of peer relationships and the benefits it can bring in terms of successful fleet procurement. If you’d like to put these benefits into action and start by developing relationships with the employees in your own department, please check out our article on effective employee management solutions, to help you on your way to developing your employee management skills.

Effective Employee Management Solutions

The relationship between a manager and an employee can have a significant effect on the productivity of any procurement department. When a procurement employee is performing at their best, it aligns positively against business goals and department targets. Generally speaking, employee management can be split into three different areas:

Acquisition
Employee engagement and retention
Performance feedback and development

For you to deliver the most elevated level of management at each of these stages, you need to implement effective employee management solutions. We’ve created a list of some effective procurement employee and manager tips that you can apply at all of these stages to ensure a successful relationship between manager and employee.

Developing the Relationship Between Manager and Employee:

1. Motivating the team
As part of employee engagement and retention (and so that your department can run smoothly), workplace efficiency and productivity may need to be boosted from time to time. As the head or senior manager within your department, boosting morale and motivating the team needs to come from you. Whether it’s team-building activities or incentives, you need to make sure what you choose is based on the team you have. Often, the best way to know what motivates people is to simply ask them. Making this part of the appraisal process will allow them to feel heard and will help you tailor your solution to each procurement employee.

2. Lowering employee costs
Many businesses in the current climate are trying to reduce expenses. For some, current perks for employees have had to be reviewed and brought into question. Before you decide on what needs to go to meet your department’s new expense target, take a read of our blog post that outlines five different ways to reduce expenses. Be sure to explore all avenues for reducing expenses before you remove any employee perks . Tools, such as fuel cards and putting time into doing further research on company vehicles and equipment, can really help to reduce costs and may mean that perks can stay.

3. Open Communication

When it comes to developing a positive relationship between manager and employee in the workplace, communication is key. Although you may not be able to communicate face to face right now, ensuring that frequent conversation continues is important for building and developing trust and continuing with a positive employee and manager relationship. Video calls are great and allow you to see your colleagues. However, if connectivity is a problem, instant messaging, such as Slack or Microsoft Teams, is a great method for ensuring that the communication line is still open.

4. Feedback
Having to deliver both positive and negative feedback is part of being a manager in any industry or department. However, the way you deliver such feedback (particularly negative feedback) can affect how any employee develops within the business. As a manager or department head, you need to aid in your employee’s development and, any time you deliver feedback, this needs to be kept in mind. Self-evaluations, either via a form or survey, are a great tool for breaking the ice on a tricky subject and set up a more comfortable environment for you and an employee to discuss a key area for development.

5. Lead by Example
We’ve found that one of the most effective employee management solutions is to lead your team by example. Sometimes, this may mean being open and honest with your team if something doesn’t go to plan or if you do something wrong. However, being open and honest with your team about your failings will help to develop trust between them and you. Mistakes and problems are always going to occur, however it’s how well you deal with them and how you resolve or control the damage of a problem, which is the most important factor. To help encourage employees, use an example of when this has happened to you in the past and explain what happened and how you resolved it. Your team members will respect and appreciate your honesty and will implement the same process and fundamentals should they make any mistakes.

Incorporating the ideas behind each of these five points will help with the ongoing growth of a working relationship and make the engagement and retention part of your role much easier. When it comes to successful procurement, employee management is just one part of the job within your business. Managing the relationship with your supplier is equally important. To find more about the importance of procurement supplier relationship management, please check out our dedicated blog post on this topic.

5 Ways to Reduce Driver Turnover Rate

If you’re regularly replacing drivers, it’s time to assess your driver turnover rate. There are several ways to do this, including gathering annual turnover figures and comparing them to the industry average to get an idea of how your company is doing. Separate the data into voluntary and involuntary turnover to get a clearer picture of the extent to which the problem lies with the employee or you, as the employer.

Fleet turnover is high, especially in the haulage industry, and many factors are contributing to drivers leaving their roles so quickly. Here are three of the main causes of driver turnover:

Loneliness
Drivers required to travel long distances will inevitably spend a lot of time alone on the road. This can be isolating and especially difficult for drivers with families. After a while, drivers may find that it’s not sustainable to be away for work so much.

Wellbeing
Driving for long stretches can lead to tiredness, poor sleep, unhealthy eating, and a whole host of back issues. This can become difficult to cope with for a long period.

Loss of morale
When employees don’t feel rewarded or invested in, morale can suffer across the board. After a while of feeling unfulfilled, employees might decide to cut their losses and jump into another company that acknowledges their strengths.

Lower Driver Turnover

Thankfully, as a fleet manager, you can do plenty to increase your drivers’ job satisfaction and reduce driver turnover rate. It’s never a bad time to think outside the box and try new approaches to benefit your employees. After all, the happier your drivers are, the lower your driver turnover rate will be, and the more productive your team will be. By investing in your drivers, you invest in the company as a whole.

So, what are some practical actions you can implement to reduce fleet turnover? This depends on the nature of your team, but here are five ways to get started.

1. Choose the right people
While many drivers leave their jobs because of the demands of the role, others might leave because they just aren’t a good fit for the company. If someone doesn’t share your company values or can’t be trusted, there’s not much that can be done. To avoid this, it’s important to choose drivers who gel with the company and are trustworthy. When you have clear criteria during the recruitment process, you can rest assured that the right people are on board. From there on out, any turnover may well be down to factors you can control. Let’s look into those in more detail.

2. Offer relevant staff benefits
Most companies have staff perks these days, but not all of them are particularly relevant or useful. Instead of having benefits for the sake of it, choose perks that will help your drivers. For example, discounted gym memberships will help your team stay active between journeys while birthdays off guarantee time spent with family rather than spending their birthday behind the wheel. Additionally, be sure to draw inspiration from these three team building activities.

3. Listen
Listening to your drivers is a solid place to start when you’re keen to reduce driver turnover. Employees who don’t feel their voice is valued or heard won’t stick around for long. To avoid this, try regularly asking your employees for feedback about their experiences and listening to their answers. Anonymous evaluation forms can motivate individuals to be honest without fear of being judged for their answers. But, having open one-to-one conversations can build trust and rapport. Active, judgment-free listening is a sure-fire way to learn about the things you can do to make your drivers’ jobs more satisfying.

4. Take staff wellbeing seriously
When employees feel that their wellbeing isn’t taken seriously by their employer, it’s no wonder they become disengaged and, eventually, leave to find a new employee who will treat them better.

Caring for your staff’s wellbeing is a key part of being a good leader. When you master listening skills, your drivers will trust you enough to share the aspects of the job they find most challenging. Once your fleet drivers have voiced their concerns, get creative! If a driver is concerned about eating unhealthily on the road, why not sign up your team for Graze boxes to ensure they have the option of snacking healthily on the road?

If sitting for extended times is causing back or joint issues, look into orthopaedic devices to install onto the driver’s seat. You could also offer your drivers access to a physiotherapist to help them with posture and any lingering issues.

We’ve already touched on tiredness being a factor for disgruntled drivers. Enforce regular breaks and, where possible, try to vary journey lengths so that drivers can alternate long and short journeys as much as possible.

You can also reassure your drivers that you’re considering their safety by studying these fleet risk mitigation tips.

5. Offer flexibility
All employees have personal lives, and work can be particularly demanding for fleet drivers. Flexible working is no longer a rarity. If you’re not offering flexibility in work patterns, your drivers may move to a company that does. Where possible, offer flexibility so that your drivers don’t have to compromise so much of their personal lives to get the job done.

If fleet turnover has been a concern for your company, try these five suggestions and monitor how your driver turnover rate is impacted. For more tips on managing a fleet, please read our comprehensive guide to fleet management or browse our fleet fuel card options. If you haven’t already, ascertain your management style in our recent blog post.