3 Ways Customer Service Can Boost Fleet Performance

According to the Institute of Customer Service’s research, the UK customer satisfaction index has fallen to the lowest level since 2015. However, when looking at data on why our customers join The Fuel Store, the majority put it down to the fact that our team gets to know their customers and their needs. Nine out of ten customers stay with us because of the level of service they receive from the very first contact.

There’s always lots to consider when selecting a fuel card provider. Whether it’s helping you manage your expenses more effectively or making sure your drivers are safe on the road – you want to go in with your eyes wide open. If you’re looking to switch fuel card provider or are re-evaluating your priorities, here are our top tips on what to look out for when it comes to customer service.

Dedicated account managers – right when you need them

When looking at benefits, customer service doesn’t always spring to mind, however, with great customer support, you will not only get peace of mind when it comes to managing your business fuel expenses, but you will also free up time, that will allow you to focus on getting the most out of your fleet.

Having a dedicated account manager based in the UK, who makes it their business to know your business, can make all the difference and is what sets The Fuel Store apart. It is easy to get lost in the crowd when the sales team becomes your account manager. Their priority is to bring in new business, which means creating a partnership to make sure you get the most out of your fuel card and its value added benefits, is less on their radar. However, having a dedicated account manager will bring you ease of mind while on the road.

A dedicated account manager will check in with you from time to time because they genuinely want your business to do well. They follow up to see how they can help you maximise your fuel efficiency and offer detailed reports into spend as well as transaction history. Their goal is to create a reliable, transparent partnership with you, which will take the stress out of managing your fleet. A dedicated account manager will have more time to get to know you and your business’ needs to be able to offer you the best solutions. The Fuel Store is built around core family values and we carry that into everything we do, bringing us closer to our customers. We understand that businesses have different challenges and requirements. Whether you draw 10 or 10,000 litres a week through The Fuel Store Card or the Advantage Card, your account manager is there to help you manage your fuel spend for the long haul.

Intuitive software that’s easy to use

Having a fuel card that’s easy to use, and with the right information whenever you need it, can be a game changer. A user friendly dashboard with everything available at your fingertips will not only give you what you need, but also give you a clear breakdown of your fuel spend. Fuel cards are a great way to combat damaged or missing expense receipts. With a single weekly consolidated invoice and an online dashboard, it becomes even easier to manage your company’s fuel spend.

Through The Fuel Store’s online account management portal you can view and download invoices, and create bespoke transaction reports. You can also manage your existing fuel cards as well as order new ones. The online portal gives full control over your account 24/7, which allows you to put a temporary stop to a card whenever you need, in case it’s missing – or request a pin reminder for those moments where your mind just goes completely blank. The online platform allows you to submit queries to invoices and transactions which goes directly to our Customer Support Team offering quick resolutions and clear visibility through easy communications channels.

Data driven insights to boost performance

There are many options for managing your fleet and optimising performance. Installing a telematics system will allow for a much greater understanding of your fleet. It analyses driver behaviour and vehicle health to help you take a strategic approach to fleet management. Optimising route selection and keeping a close eye on driver behaviour sees a 39% reduction in accidents as well as 35% less speeding incidents. Ensuring vehicle service is up to date by scheduling preventative maintenance based on telematics insights will not only keep your drivers safe. It will also help avoid taking your vehicle off the road for longer periods if time. Adding a telematics solution to your account at The Fuel Store will see lower carbon emissions, a reduction in insurance premiums and help maximise driver efficiency.

Partnering with Trakm8, The Fuel Store gives you a 360 degree insight into fleet management. By combining fuel spend management with telematics insights, we become your total fleet management solution taking your Fuel Store account to a completely new level. With telematics you will have better visibility and the ability to take control of your fleet to boost their performance and make the most out of their journeys. From simple reports, you can plan capacity and help optimise driver performance by offering the right training and support.

Make the right choice

When taking on a fuel card, price is often the most important deciding factor. However, making sure that you understand what your fuel card can do for you through the value added services it provides is just as important. It will save you valuable time as well as help you improve your fuel spend through detailed data insights and transparency.

Switching between suppliers to chase the best deal will cost you in the long run. It takes time and effort to keep up with which supplier has the best rates. It isn’t conducive to your productivity and causes confusion with drivers when changing cards week on week. Making sure your fuel card benefits are working for you is paramount and will not only allow you to focus on making the most out of your fleet, but will also let you be in total control of your fuel consumption. In turn this will provide you with cost savings and help you boost your fleet’s performance.

Knowing what makes nine out of ten customers stay with The Fuel Store makes us better equipped to become your trusted partner. It puts us in the lead to develop new solutions and continue to support you, whatever you may need.

Contact your account manager or reach out to us on 0121 272 7780 to see how we can support your fleet goals, or visit our services page for more information.

How Telematics Can Improve Fleet Efficiency

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, now more than ever, fleet managers are looking for ways to prioritise financial efficiencies. It is key to running a successful fleet. Therefore, an important aspect of fleet management needs to involve telematics.

Having recognised how crucial fleet telematics solutions are in helping our customers achieve better fleet efficiency, The Fuel Store has partnered with Trakm8, a UK based innovative provider of fleet management technology. This therefore allows you to gain a Total Fleet Management Solution.

By incorporating our existing business fuel card offering with Trakm8’s innovative fleet management telematics products, customers can now receive data insights on vehicle health and performance. This therefore helps you to secure maximum ROI from your fleet. As well as to give grounds for encouraging more eco-friendly driving habits from your teams.

What is telematics?

Telematics is the monitoring of vehicle location, movement and status of a vehicle or fleet. 40% of commercial businesses use fleet telematics, which can save on average 12% in annual fuel costs. Fleet tracking, for instance, helps to reduce speeding events and fines.

By utilising the data collected, it is possible for fleet managers to optimise vehicle movements and fuel consumption, which in turn, reduces the cost per-mile.

Along with cutting costs, telematics will also help to reduce carbon emissions, improve road safety, and boost productivity across your fleet.

 

How does telematics solutions work?

A GPS-enabled tracking device is installed on each vehicle in the fleet. This collates and transmits tracking data to obtain deeper vehicle performance data.

The Fuel Store can provide fleet managers with two options; The Connect 320, which is our small and simple cost-effective option; and The Connect 430, a compact and robust device, which is engineered specifically for the insurance and fleet sectors.

Once it is installed, the data can be managed 24 hours a day, or if the vehicle is in use in real-time.

Our telematics solutions come with a Connectedcare package included at no extra cost. Connectedcare provides customers with true odometer readings, service intervals, prognostics and diagnostics.

Telematics improve fleet performance

Whether the fleet’s purpose is deliveries or employee use, telematics products will benefit the delivery of goods and the timeliness of staff. This improves the reputation of the business which leads to more business in the future.

Commercial telematics will keep tabs on servicing needs and on the actions of drivers, which in turn means vehicles are less prone to breakdowns.

Fleet managers can also be informed of how a vehicle is being driven. For example, unnecessary acceleration by a driver can contribute to extra costs.  Managers can then decide on whether driver training and welfare is necessary.

Find out more about our telematics solutions or speak to one of our specialists today.

Want to discover more? Visit our knowledge base now for the latest updates from The Fuel Store.

The Flexible Pay As You Go Fuel Card

As we move forward in a ‘new normal’, businesses are getting back to some normality too.  If your fleet is getting back out on the road, it couldn’t be a better time to look at the available options and possibilities for your business to make savings. Whether that be on transport with credit or pay as you go fuel cards, or through reducing overheads by making your premises more eco-friendly.

Using a fuel card not only simplifies the management of your fleet; a fuel card can also help make huge savings for your business. This therefore means there are a multitude of benefits. It’s important to assess the features and benefits of the different fuel cards in order to identify the best for your business. For example, our Advantage Card is great as it’s a no credit check – pay as you go fuel card, which offers flexible fuel payment solutions. This consequently means it’s an ideal solution for new businesses, as well as those with limited access to credit.

Thanks to its pay-as-you-go system, The Advantage Card helps to reduce administration costs for your business. Instead of being laden with expense claims and credit card bills, fleet managers can easily track fuel usage by drivers.

Gaining Control of your Fuel Spend

The top-up system also allows fleet managers to forecast how much they are set to spend each month. So not only will you be reduce the time you spend on admin, you will also be in better control of your fuel spend.

The Advantage Card gives you access to over 3,000 fuel stations across the UK. This means drivers can refuel at a multitude of sites on their journey.

The stations can be easily found by using our online Station Finder. This relieves you of the burden of trying to find the nearest fuel station. The Station Finder also helps you to plot alternative routes, which may take less time and require less fuel.

A Multitude of Fleet Management Services

The Advantage Card comes with the same fleet management services you receive with our credit account option. From Telematics to FraudGuard, our services are designed to give you peace of mind and offer you full support when using your fuel cards.

You will also have a designated account manager who is on hand to ensure you are getting the most out of your fuel card.

Want to know more? Contact our fuel card specialists to get your account up and running with us.

 

Keeping Your Fuel Spend Safe and Secure

To say the Covid-19 lockdown has been a testing time for businesses across the UK, is somewhat of an understatement. We have faced obstacles we never imaged we would have to face. One of those obstacles has unfortunately been a rise in fraud and cybercrime. Thankfully, we have developed FraudGuard, designed specifically to keep you protected from fraudulent activity on your fuel cards. The new service will offer you peace of mind, knowing that in these difficult times you won’t be exposed to further financial risk whilst purchasing fuel to keep your fleet on the road. 

Along with scammers exploiting the spread of Covid-19, in recent years there has been a worrying trend towards rising card fraud, highlighted in the ‘Fraud the Facts 2019’ report, published by UK Finance Ltd.  

The report revealed that there was a 19% uplift in card fraud losses in 2018 when compared to reported cases in 2017.  

Here at The Fuel Store we take our customer’s security seriously, which is why we have developed, FraudGuard. The unique service will help protect our customers from this concerning trend and the current rise in cybercrime that was highlighted by the government. We understand that any additional financial risk during this time is a huge hindrance to your business, and that is why we believe this is a vital service for our customers.  

How does FraudGuard work? 

In the unfortunate event of your fuel card(s) being lost or stolen, you will not be held liable for any fraudulent transactions on your account, from the moment you let us know. 

All you will need to do is contact us by email or phone, as soon as you believe a card has been lost, stolen, or that the PIN has been compromised. 

You are then reassured that our team will cover the cost of any fraudulent fuel spend, providing you with the peace of mind and security that your business deserves and that we demand for our customers. 

Are there additional costs? 

FraudGuard will protect your business for just £1.50 per card per month. That’s just £18 per year to safeguard your fleet from the increasing impact of fuel fraud. 

If you would like to learn more about FraudGuard and how it can protect your fleet and your finances, please contact our team today to find out more.

We are here for you during this challenging time and our product specialists are available to support you via the usual channels. If you have any queries regarding our fuel cards and fleet services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. 

Alternatively, to read more about buying UK Fuels for fleets, explore our collection of fuel cards today.

 

 

We Are Here For You

Life as we know it has been on hold during the Covid-19 lockdown. However, for many of our customers, especially those who work in couriering, haulage, logistics, freight, construction and transportit is business as usual. And for some, they are even busier than they were before lock down.

Therefore, our top priority during this uncertain and testing time continues to be providing an uninterrupted service. Our customers are the key links within Britain’s supply chain. Never has it been more important for fleets to get from A to B in a timely and safe manner. And the Fuellers have been here every step of the way.  

Working remotely from our homes has not deterred us from delivering our high standard of customer service. Our fuel cards continue to be distributed so that drivers have access to the fuel they need to carry out the important work that they do.   

Our Account Managers continue to be in communication with our customers to offer reassurance during this time of uncertainty for many businesses.

They aim to ensure clients are taking advantage of all The Fuel Store’s services that are available to them and which can prove useful during this time.  

Whilst we have faced mounting challenges along with many other small and family run businesses at this time, there does seem to be a continued and slowly increasing demand for commercial fuel. Our Fuel Card Specialists are still supporting new customers with getting set up with fuel solutions, which is a possible sign that some businesses are starting to return to work and/or pivot their fleets to service the pandemic response efforts of the essential services.  

When called upon, our team have made sure that new customers receive all the fuel cards they require as quickly as possible to ensure fleets remain on the road. Our dedicated family of Fuellers have been a friendly and familiar voice at the end of the phone, offering advice and support where needed to customers new and old. 

With signs that lockdown measures are set to be eased by the government following the Prime Minister’s national update yesterday evening (Sunday 10th May 2020), we are here to  help should you need any guidance or advice regarding the latest changes and how they might affect your fleet.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have a query or would like to know more about our Fuel Cards and other fleet services. We are here to help you now as we have always been and as we will continue to be for the remainder of the pandemic and beyond.

Questions Facing Fleet Managers – COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a testing time to say the least for individuals and businesses across the UK.  To support the government’s lockdown measures, difficult decisions had to be made that will undoubtedly have a knock-on effect for businesses. 

The situation is continuously changing and as talks of easing lockdown restrictions arise, the uncertainty surrounding rules and regulations for company fleet management continues. 

The uncertainty in how long the lockdown measures will last has made it increasingly difficult for businesses to know how to address their future fleet requirements. Fleet managers must find answers to questions they haven’t faced before. 

To support our customers, the Fueller family has pulled together to offer reassurance and a continuation of service in this time of need. In order to offer further support and provide some claritywe thought we should share some answers to questions currently facing fleet managers and business owners here in our blog. 

Of course, our dedicated team remain on hand to help, so If you require any support during this time, please don’t hesitate to contact our team via the usual channels.  

How can you maintain car tyres when a vehicle isn’t moving for an extended period? 

Not using a car for several weeks could cause problems for the tyres. As the weight of your vehicle presses down on the tread area, which remains unchanged if you don’t move the car, your tyres could deform. This could damage the internal structure and cause deflation. If possible, take the car for an uninterrupted 15-minute drive at least once a week. Before driving longer distances, be sure to check the pressure and adjust if needed. 

Do I still need to get my vehicle’s MOT if it is due to expire during lockdown? 

The government announced that your car, van or motorcycle’s MOT expiry date will be extended by 6 months if it’s due on or after 30 March 2020. However, the government’s guidelines highlight that you must keep your vehicle safe to drive. 

The extension also applies to vehicles that are due their first MOT test on or after 30 March 2020. 

You must make sure your vehicle is roadworthy. It can be unsafe even if your MOT expiry date has been extended. 

Take your vehicle to be repaired at the nearest open garage if it’s unsafe. Garages can stay open during the coronavirus outbreak. 

How should I keep my vehicle maintained during lockdown? 

It’s not a good idea to leave a vehicle parked untouched for weeks or months on end 

Even if dealership showrooms are closed, garages are still allowed to remain open for urgent repairs and maintenance. This may be a good time to schedule an appointment for maintenance or to swap winter tyres back to summer tyres. 

What useful things can you do now you have more time due to COVID-19? 

Just a few weeks ago, fleet managers filled most of their time with the day-to-day operation of their vehicle fleets. With many fleets operating at reduced capacity, there is plenty of time to focus on other areas and ensuring you are using your time productively. 

You could take this time to offer online training. Businesses are seeing the benefits of online meetings and fleet managers can use the technology to produce courses on driver behaviour. The importance of driver safety has never been more paramount and will also positively affect your fleet in the long term.  

My vehicles are not being used during this period. Do I have to carry out a pre-use inspection before I put them into use again?  

Although it is always recommended that a pre-use inspection is carried out before putting vehicles that have been stood idle back into service, the traffic commissioners recognise that operators will want to start using vehicles as soon as possible and there may be delays in businesses starting again when there may not be enough slots available at maintainers to inspect vehicles. 

How can we ensure the safety of our drivers? 

Firstly, to reduce the spread of COVID-19, sanitising shared equipment must become part of your safety routine. 

The Department for Transport (DfT) issued guidelines to reinforce the fact that all drivers must have access to welfare facilities in the premises they visit as part of their work. With the advice for hands to be washed regularly, failure to allow access to welfare facilities may increase the risk of the COVID-19 infection spreading. 

DfT also announced the temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of drivers’ hours rules in England, Scotland, and Wales for the drivers of vehicles involved in the delivery of food, non-food and over the counter pharmaceuticals. However, the DfT are clear that driver safety must not be compromised, and they should not be expected to drive whilst tired.  

For more details of the government’s guidelines for fleets, click here.

How can we ensure the safety of our drivers?

Firstly, to reduce the spread of COVID-19, sanitising shared equipment must become part of your safety routine.

The Department for Transport (DfT) issued guidelines to reinforce the fact that all drivers must have access to welfare facilities in the premises they visit as part of their work. With the advice for hands to be washed regularly, failure to allow access to welfare facilities may increase the risk of the COVID-19 infection spreading.

DfT also announced the temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of drivers’ hours rules in England, Scotland, and Wales for the drivers of vehicles involved in the delivery of food, non-food and over the counter pharmaceuticals. However, the DfT are clear that driver safety must not be compromised, and they should not be expected to drive whilst tired.

You can gain access to more details on government guidelines here.

Alternatively, take a look at our post to discover how we can help keep our fleet operators safe in a post COVID society.

How To Stay Productive Working From Home

For many businesses, working from home is a foreign concept and has been another obstacle for businesses to face during this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Like thousands of businesses across the UK, The Fuel Store has temporarily closed our head office to contribute to the global effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. However, we recognise the work we do is an essential part of our customers’ supply chain in ensuring you can keep your fleets on the road.

Where possible, we have ensured our employees can continue their vital roles safely at home. By utilising remote working technologies, our teams can work alongside one another, albeit remotely yet remaining productive.  Our Fuellers are proving our outstanding service can continue to be delivered at this crucial time.

Working from home is a challenge, especially with nurseries and schools closed. It is also easy to be distracted in the comfort of your home. Working on your own can also leave you feeling isolated, so it’s important to keep up morale within your teams.

So how do we stay focused and productive?

We have put together some simple steps to take to begin your working day at home. Plus, we have some tips on maintaining productivity, even during the inevitable afternoon slump.

Step 1 – Get up, showered and dressed, just as you would for the commute to work.  

Step 2 – Before you sit down to work, take your daily walk or run, or do some stretches and a few minutes of meditation.

Step 3 – Create a designated work space, away from where you’d usually relax. I.e. Not on the sofa in the lounge!

Top Tip: Drink plenty of water throughout the day, as well as having a caffeine fix. Snack on nuts and fruit rather than reaching for the treat cupboard.

Step 4 – Make sure you take a break from your laptop every hour and a half.

Step 5 – Always have a lunch break, and not at your desk!

Top tip: Before eating, take your daily walk/run or try out a new online exercise routine. It will change your mindset and help you to keep productive throughout the afternoon.

Step 6: Keep in touch with colleagues throughout the day, via Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Skype. It’s a good idea to make phone calls to talk through any projects or queries, rather than just emailing. Human interaction will keep morale high.

Step 7: Make sure you finish work at the usual time. Turn off your laptop and put it away ready for your next working day.

 

Feel free to share these ideas to colleagues and employees, and let us know how you are keeping morale and productivity high.

For more information about the government Covid-19 guidelines for businesses, click here.

COVID-19 Pandemic: We Are Keeping Our Nation’s Fleets on the Road

Here at The Fuel Store, we recognise that the work we do directly contributes to the success of the UK economy and is an essential part of our customer’s supply chain in ensuring you can keep your fleets on the road.  

During this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic, never has this statement been more true. We have taken every step necessary and are working harder than ever to keep our services running to make sure our customers can keep their fleets on the road. 

Our customers are some of the key links within Britain’s supply chain, delivering goods to ensure shelves continue to be stacked, raw materials continue to be supplied, ultimately ensuring our nation’s heart continues to beat. We are here to support them with their efforts, and we are here for you, too. 

Being a family run business, we are also being impacted by the challenges facing all of us at this timewe understand the pressures that businesses around the UK are facing. This has made us more determined than ever to give you peace of mind by delivering uninterrupted and highly effective services to manage your fuel expenditure.

 Your fleets need to be kept moving and our customers and the wider fleet community have oucontinued support. We will ensure fuel cards are distributed and your drivers have access to the fuel they need to carry out the important work that they do.  

Providing uninterrupted service to our customers remains our top priority

Where possible, we have ensured our employees can continue their vital roles safely at homeUtilising remote working technologies, our teams can continue to work alongside one another and are proving that even in such challenging times, our Fuellers have unwavering commitment to ensure outstanding service continues to be delivered at this crucial time.  

 If you need our support or assistance you can continue to contact us via the usual channels. We are here to support you as we always have been. 

 In times like these, families must come together and support one another, and the Fueller family is no different. We are confident that the steps we have taken mean that we will be able to continue to deliver our essential services 

On behalf of The Fuel Store family, we want to say a massive heart felt thank you to all of those who are putting themselves at risk to keep vital services running. 

How to Ensure the Safety of Your Fleet Drivers

Our aim at The Fuel Store is to keep our nation’s businesses moving forward by providing fuel cards and other essential fleet services. We also like to ensure fleet driver safety on our busy roads. A new report has highlighted the importance for fleet managers to comply with basic vehicle standards to avoid ‘tragic’ consequences on our roads.

The report, by Brake’s Global Fleet Champions, a not-for-profit global campaign to prevent crashes, states that fleet managers should be regularly checking and servicing safety-critical components, such as brakes and tyres. This will help fix small problems early on before they escalate into costly repairs and expensive insurance claims.

John Eastman, from the Institute of Road Transport Engineers, suggests that fleet managers should take a systematic approach in maintaining their vehicles to ensure fleet driver safety. Mr Eastman says that preventative maintenance has lots of benefits. This includes the safety and well being of drivers and other road users.

There was also advice from Autoglass in the report. They advise fleet managers on how they can effectively maintain advanced driver-assistant systems (ADAS) for the technology to work effectively.

Keeping Up With The Latest Technology

Jeremy Rochfort, national sales manager for Autoglass said: “The adoption rate of ADAS in fleet vehicles is much higher as fleet cars tend to be newer and come with up-to-date safety features. However, our research shows that keeping up to date with technology ranks low down on fleet decision-maker’s priorities.

“That’s why we’re committed to educating the fleet industry on the importance of ADAS calibration and investing in our technical expertise and capabilities to ensure we can match the rising demand for these services.”

For more information, visit https://globalfleetchampions.org/

How We Help Offset Your Carbon Footprint

As concern for climate change continues to grow, it’s become evident that businesses are keen do more about their environmental footprint. However, due to lack of time and resources, businesses are at a loss at what they can do to offset their carbon footprint. In this post we will discuss the various methods for how businesses can influence their teams on reducing their impact on the environment.

The Fuel Store decided to do all the hard work for our customers by creating The Clean Air Partnership with Forest Carbon.

The membership allows companies to keep their fleets running smoothly, whilst offsetting their C02 omissions. How does the Clean Air Partnership work? Simply put, the clean air partnership works through the planting and management of trees in new woodlands.

Not only do these new green spaces reduce pollution through the absorption of Co2, but they also help us to adapt to our changing climate by helping to reduce flooding, which continues to make headlines across the globe.

New woodland also creates cleaner air and rivers, sustainable timber sources, green space for people and nature to enjoy, and employment creation. It’s a win, win for our customer’s peace of mind and our environment.

The Partnership makes it simple for our customers to give back to the environment by offsetting their carbon footprint. Doing something about this has got to be better than doing nothing. What’s more, you can even use your membership as part of your marketing, PR and CSR programmes.

Make Small Changes

Businesses can also encourage their employees to make small changes in the workplace. These include turning technology off rather than leaving it on standby; turning the office thermostat down; cutting down on unnecessary travel; recycling plastics, paper, and unused furniture; and reducing the use of paper.

Find out more about our Clean Air Partnership here