Birmingham, UK: ATS Euromaster urges van operators to set up a formal tyre policy to reduce tyre costs.
ATS warns that light commercial vehicle tyres should not be considered a low cost option, as the operational tyre costs of running a modern van fleet are no longer that far removed from that of a fleet of trucks.
A survey undertaken by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) of its van operating members, in conjunction with Van Excellence industry partner ATS Euromaster, revealed a third of respondents did not have a tyre policy in place.
Fleets without a tyre policy risk paying more for their tyres as standardising on one brand can often enable a better fleet discount. A managed policy also has the potential to save businesses huge amounts in running costs, through maximising the longevity, safety, performance and fuel-efficiency of each asset.
Simon Tattersall, head of national accounts, ATS Euromaster’s, says: “The results highlighted that there are still a significant number of van fleets missing out on potentially valuable savings to their bottom line.
“A comprehensive policy, where regular inspections are carried out by experienced technicians, allows tyres to be closely monitored. This helps to guard against unexpected downtime and ensures replacements are fitted at the optimal time.”
Mark Cartwright, head of vans, Freight Transport Association, says: “It’s staggering to discover that so many don’t have a tyre policy in place. Safety is at the core of everything Van Excellence stands for, and to us it makes common sense to introduce a policy similar to which ATS Euromaster offers, it not only can help save costs but most importantly improve safety standards.”
ATS Euromaster suggests rapid e-commerce growth and the need for deliveries to be made quickly to individual customers is leading to a rise in the number of fleets running vans. In particular, it says truck operators are increasingly looking to amend the make-up of their vehicle parc to include more vans, which are easier to operate in a home delivery environment.
Tattersall says: “As numbers grow, the complexity of running a van operation increases and the process of fleet management becomes more akin to running trucks. Often vans must make timed deliveries, so having a fixed tyre policy in place is crucial to ensure productivity and uptime is maximised.”
ATS Euromaster will be demonstrating its van service, maintenance and repair skills on its stand at this year’s CV Show in Birmingham, which opens on 29 April. It will also be giving away its essential 25 top tips guide, which recommends simple steps to help run van fleets operate more efficiently.