Employee Benefits
While many incentive schemes can produce significant results in the short term, they can often reduce as the impact of the reward lessens over time. Consistency of message to drivers is paramount to an incentive scheme's continuing success; historically this message has been from a financial perspective, encouraging drivers to be efficient for the sake of the organisation's profitability. However, in light of British industry's increasing Corporate Social Responsibility focus, the message has been added further weight by the clear contribution of transport road movements have had to increasing carbon emissions. Furthermore, there is a clear connection between drivers with good fuel economy and drivers with a low accident rate. In short economical drivers are safer drivers.
Employers can set in place fuel efficiency programmes by offering their employees the following scheme elements:
- Fleet managers can narrow the car choice list to more economical vehicles, whilst providing incentives by increasing the specification allowed for smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles.
- A choice of alternative fuel vehicles can also be added to the car list and drivers can be offered a bonus incentive for choosing them.
- Fuel card schemes are an effective method of providing data around fuel usage and efficiency. This information can be used to demonstrate the best and worst drivers in terms of fuel efficiency. Incentives and penalties can be built around this system. This is a useful method for ensuring continued high profile messages. Fleet managers should set employees clear and measurable targets, which if met, will award them a bonus.
Employers can encourage economical driving in the following ways:
- Training and information provided to employees around more economical driving. This can be in the form of internet assessment, marketing material, or one to one coaching
- Fuel efficiency should Form a part of the employee's appraisal process
- Senior management must lead by example and be seen to support the cause
- Consider introducing driver behaviour systems such as Drive Diagnostics
- Regular communication to employees giving overall performance feedback of the company as a whole
- Communicate as part of your Corporate Social Responsibility policy
Clearly not all of these incentives are able to be introduced in every fleet. The most important thing to remember when planning an improvement in fuel efficiency is that there must be a long term and continued commitment and that combined with some or all of the ideas above will almost certainly result in lowered overall fleet cost and safer employees.
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Leasedrive Velo is the largest independent privately-owned vehicle management group in the UK and comprises two main operating divisions.
Leasedrive Velo Vehicle Management
Working in partnership with fleet managers, or delivering a complete outsourced service, Leasedrive Velo offers blue chip clients a range of bespoke fleet management services. Major investments in the finest asset management system and pioneering, flexible, web-based customer service technology have resulted in Leasedrive Velo offering customers a truly world class fleet management service capability.
Leasedrive Velo Rental Management
One of the largest short-term vehicle rental management companies in the UK, with access to an almost unlimited choice of vehicles and locations throughout the country, Leasedrive Velo Rental Management offers a simple and transparent pricing policy with no hidden surcharges. For rentals of 28 days or more, it offers the Stopgap mid-term vehicle rental solution. Rates are substantially reduced compared to daily rental.
The headquarters for Leasedrive Velo is at hi-tech offices at TRL in Wokingham. Leasedrive Velo is the winner of the 2006 Fleet News Award for 'Best Contract Hire/Fleet Management Company' the 2006 GreenFleet Award for 'Leasing/Rental Company of the Year', The 2007 and 2008 Thames Valley Business Awards for 'Business Management Team of the Year' and the 2007 ITM Award for 'Independent Vehicle Management Company'.
For further press information on Leasedrive Velo, contact:
Mr Jeremy Snook
JSPR Ltd
Telephone: 01488 670002
Mobile: 07957 867139
Facsimile: 01488 670008
E-mail: jeremy.snook@jspr.co.uk
Website: www.jspr.co.uk