Commercial vehicles are essential parts of our economy and transport infrastructure. It is vital to ensure that all commercial vehicles are operating safely and regularly checked for any issues that may affect their performance.  

The Fuel Store’s main focus is to deliver the best possible fleet management solutions – one of which is our new web application, DriverToolkit. Our DriverToolkit is designed with fleet drivers in mind, allowing their various vehicle responsibilities to be conducted more efficiently.

Within the application, varying features will be made available for use – each being designed for a more specific purpose regarding the vehicle and driver. 

What Are My Responsibilities As A Fleet Vehicle Driver?

GOV.UK states that it is mandatory for drivers to complete visual, walk round checks of their vehicle and confirm the following are compliant with standards:

• Lights
• Tyres
• Wheel Fixings
• Bodywork
• Trailer Coupling
• Load and Other Equipment

In addition to the mandatory visual inspection, common vehicle safety checks that need to be performed are:

Brake Inspection

Ensuring the vehicle stops safely. Brake Pads, drums and rotors should be inspected for wear and tear with brake fluid levels being checked regularly.

Tyre Inspection

Tyres should be inspected regularly for any signs of damage, wear or underinflation. Proper tyre maintenance can improve fuel efficiency, increase lifespan, and improve safety.

Fluid Levels

All fluid levels including oil, coolant, power steering and transmission fluid, should be checked regularly to ensure the correct levels are maintained.

Lighting

All lights including headlights, taillights, brake lights and indicators need to be checked to ensure bulbs are working and there are no defects.

Steering

The steering system should be inspected for any looseness or play that can affect the driver’s ability to control the vehicle.

Electrical System

The electrical system and specifically the wiring should be inspected regularly to ensure no corrosion is present.

Why Are Vehicle Checks Important?

Commercial vehicle safety checks are crucial because they help to prevent accidents and ensure that the vehicle is in good condition and all components are working correctly. Regular safety checks can detect issues early, preventing the problem from becoming more severe and potentially causing an accident. 

It is a Statutory Compliant Requirement that commercial vehicles complete and pass a DVSA Inspection as failing to perform regular checks can result in fines and other penalties, so it is integral for drivers to ensure their vehicles are safe before beginning a journey.

Vehicles that weigh more than 3.5 tonnes will need to ensure DVSA inspections are completed daily, and it is crucial to remember drivers are responsible for confirming their vehicles are road worthy.

How Can The Fuel Store Help?

Inside our DriverToolkit, a feature called VehicleCheck allows efficient documentation of the condition of commercial vehicles ensuring they remain compliant with the latest inspection requirements.

• £1.00 PER WEEK PER VEHICLE – UNLIMITED VEHICLE CHECKS
• DVSA COMPLIANT – PEACE OF MIND
• QUICK & EASY FAULT MANAGEMENT

What Should I Do If I Find Defects With My Vehicle?

As drivers are responsible for ensuring their vehicles are road worthy, they are additionally responsible for reporting defects within their vehicle.

According to GOV.UK, if a defect/s is discovered, drivers must report this to the individual in charge of monitoring vehicle defects within their organisation and include the following in their report:

• Vehicle Registration/Identification Mark
• Date of Inspection
• Details of the defects
• Name of individual reporting defects

In addition to our DriverToolkit, we also offer a vehicle tracking solution, providing you real-time insights into vehicle usage, vehicle journey history and much more! Learn more about FuelConnect here. 

If you’re looking for a compliance solution that will help streamline your operations, improve safety, and stay on top of legal requirements, then look no further than our NEW DriverToolkit.

Visit GOV.UK for additional information regarding the legal requirements of commercial vehicles and how to properly perform vehicle checks.

For questions about our DriverToolkit, contact our team of experts for support or alternatively, you can call them on 0121 272 7780. They are always happy to help!

In the modern world, businesses and industries heavily rely on diesel engines for their operations. As environmental consciousness grows, so does the need for more sustainable solutions. One such solution is AdBlue, a high-quality diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) that helps reduce harmful emissions.

To optimize efficiency and cost-effectiveness, many businesses are turning to bulk purchases of AdBlue and diesel. In this blog post, we will explore the perks and benefits of purchasing AdBlue and diesel in bulk.

1. Cost Savings

One of the most significant advantages of buying AdBlue and diesel in bulk is cost savings. Bulk purchases often come with substantial discounts compared to buying individual units. By purchasing in larger quantities, businesses can negotiate better prices and reduce the overall expenditure on fuel and AdBlue, leading to significant savings over time.

2. Convenience and Reduced Downtime

Bulk purchases offer convenience and eliminate the need for frequent reordering. With a steady supply of AdBlue and diesel, businesses can streamline their operations, reduce downtime, and maintain a seamless workflow. This saves valuable time spent on managing inventory and placing repeated orders, allowing companies to focus more on their core activities.

3. Enhanced Sustainability

AdBlue plays a vital role in reducing harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions produced by diesel engines. By purchasing AdBlue in bulk, businesses can contribute towards a cleaner environment by actively participating in emissions reduction efforts. Bulk purchases demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices and help organizations meet environmental regulations more efficiently.

4. Improved Fuel Management

Bulk purchases of diesel fuel allow businesses to establish better fuel management systems. With large quantities of diesel readily available, companies can monitor fuel consumption patterns more effectively and identify areas where improvements can be made. This knowledge can lead to enhanced fuel efficiency, reduced waste, and ultimately, increased cost savings.

5. Reliability and Continuous Supply

Bulk purchases of AdBlue and diesel provide a reliable and continuous supply of essential fluids. Businesses that rely heavily on diesel engines can ensure uninterrupted operations by maintaining a sufficient stock of AdBlue and diesel. This is particularly beneficial for industries such as transportation, agriculture, construction, and logistics, where disruptions can be costly and result in significant delays.

6. Simplified Logistics

By purchasing AdBlue and diesel in bulk, businesses can simplify their logistics and supply chain processes. Coordinating fewer orders and deliveries reduces administrative burdens, transportation costs, and the overall complexity of managing fuel and fluid supplies. Streamlining these processes can lead to increased efficiency and improved overall operational performance.

7. Bulk Customisation and Flexibility 

Bulk purchasing often offers customisation options to meet specific business needs. Suppliers may offer flexible packaging solutions, including various container sizes or the ability to request customised packaging to fit unique storage requirements. This flexibility ensures that businesses can optimise their storage space and easily integrate bulk purchases into their existing infrastructure.

Bulk purchasing of AdBlue and diesel offers numerous perks and benefits for businesses that heavily rely on diesel engines. From cost savings and convenience to enhanced sustainability and simplified logistics, the advantages of purchasing in bulk are substantial. By embracing this approach, businesses can optimise their operations, reduce costs, and actively contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future. So, consider the perks and benefits mentioned above and make a smart choice by opting for bulk purchases of AdBlue and diesel.

Should you need additional information, you can contact our team of fleet management experts via email or alternatively call them on 0121 272 7780. Our team are always happy to help!

Click here to read more about what you can do to further support the environment.

Here at The Fuel Store, we understand the concerns about rising energy prices and the need for effective cost management. Our dedicated Energy Specialists are here to assist you in navigating the complex energy market and unlock substantial savings on your bills. Here’s why you should consider using our services:

1. Expert Knowledge & Market Insights 

Our Energy Specialists are highly trained professionals with in-depth knowledge of the energy market. They stay up-to-date with the latest trends, regulations, and pricing structures, ensuring you make informed decisions and capitalise on the best options available.

2. Tailored Solutions For Your Needs 

The Fuel Store understands that every customer has unique energy requirements. Our Energy Specialists analyse your energy usage patterns, business size, and specific needs to create customised energy solutions that maximize your savings potential while keeping your operations running smoothly.

3. Cost Reduction & Savings 

By negotiating favourable rates with energy suppliers, The Fuel Store can help you reduce your energy bills by up to 75%. Our Energy Specialists will compare various energy options and secure the best deals for you, ensuring substantial cost savings.

4. Time & Effort Savings

Managing energy contracts and staying on top of market fluctuations can be time-consuming. With our energy services, you can offload these responsibilities to our experts, freeing up your valuable time to focus on your core business activities. We handle the entire process, ensuring a hassle-free experience for you.

5. Environmental Impact

We’re passionate about promoting sustainable energy practices. Our Energy Specialists can guide you towards renewable energy options, helping you reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a cleaner, greener future.

In a complex and noisy market, our Energy Specialists understand it can be very difficult in finding a company you can trust to love your business like you do, here at The Fuel Store we pride ourselves on results, 9 out of 10 businesses are currently sitting on a plethora of savings and you can too!

Save up to 75% on your energy bills now!

Contact our Energy Specialists via email for additional information or alternatively, you can call them on 0121 272 7780.

As companies become increasingly aware of their environmental impact, many are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Corporate carbon offsetting is becoming an increasingly popular way for businesses to mitigate the ecological damage caused by their emissions.  Here at The Fuel Store, we ensure we take precautions to reduce our carbon footprint in everything we do, we understand the damage this can cause to the environment.

What is Carbon Offsetting?

Carbon offsetting is a process where businesses reduce or eliminate their emissions by purchasing emission credits from a third-party provider. These credits are then used to fund green projects such as reforestation, renewable energy, and carbon capture. This is something we actively do to help us achieve this, we have partnered with Forest Carbon to not only assist The Fuel Store in becoming a greener company, but this is something we have opened up to our customers as well.

What Are The Benefits of Carbon Offsetting?

The benefits of corporate carbon offsetting are numerous. Offsetting emissions can help companies meet their sustainability goals, reduce their environmental impact, and even improve their public image. It can also be a cost-effective way to reduce emissions, especially when compared to the costs of changing business practices or investing in new technologies.

What Do I Need To Know?

There are a few key things we advise customers to consider when it comes to corporate carbon offsetting. First, companies should ensure that the offsets they purchase are verified and reliable. This means that the offsets should be certified, monitored, and reported in accordance with the highest standards. Our Customers are guaranteed to receive a certificate on a regular basis, informing them how much emission they have offset. In addition to this, companies should also ensure that the emissions reductions achieved through their offsets are permanent and long-term.

Finally, businesses should be aware of the potential risks associated with carbon offsetting. While offsets can help reduce emissions, the offsets may not always be verified, monitored, or reported in accordance with the highest standards. In addition, offsets may not always result in permanent emissions reductions. As such, companies should carefully evaluate the risks and benefits of corporate carbon offsetting before making a decision.

Overall, corporate carbon offsetting is a great way for businesses to reduce their environmental impact. By carefully evaluating the risks and benefits of corporate carbon offsetting, companies can ensure that their offsets are reliable, verifiable, and permanent. In doing so, companies can help mitigate the environmental damage caused by their emissions while also improving their public image.

For more information about what The Fuel Store are doing to help, click here.

Learn more about what you can do by visiting Forest Carbon.

Should you need additional information and want to talk with someone, you can contact our team via email or alternatively call them on 0121 272 7780. 

Fuel card fraud can be a growing concern for many businesses that rely on fuel cards to manage their fuel expenses. It is, therefore, increasingly critical for businesses to take proactive measures to protect themselves. Fuel card fraud can be incredibly costly for businesses. As technology continues to advance, so do the methods that are used to commit fuel card fraud. Fuel card misuse can occur in various ways such as unauthorised purchases, fuel theft, and double dipping. Unauthorised purchases happen when the cardholder uses the fuel card for non-fuel purchases; fuel theft occurs when an individual steals fuel with the fuel card and double dipping happens when the cardholder uses the fuel card to get cash advances.

The following are warning signs which may indicate your fuel card is being used illegitimately:

• Too frequent fuel fill-ups
• Fuel charges don’t match mileage or tank capacity
• Charges from another/inconsistent site location

This, therefore, presents an increasing need for fraud protection services. A solution The Fuel Store provides is Fraud Guard, which can help safeguard your cards from fraud and misuse.

How can The Fuel Store’s Fraud Guard help you?

At The Fuel Store, we understand fuel card fraud is not easy to notice and it can take a while before you notice inconsistencies. This is why we have a simple process to help you deal with potential fraud:

1. If you begin to suspect one of your cards is victim to fraudulent activity, contact the customer service team as soon as possible.
2. The fuel card in question will be placed on stop to prevent further fraudulent use.
3. Following the stoppage, an investigation will be conducted regarding the card’s activity to determine the facts and gather evidence.
4. Once the investigation has concluded and sufficient information has been gathered, your account manager will provide you with a detailed report, along with the outcome.
5. If you were a victim of fraud, a credit note will be placed on your account. Once we receive payment to cover the fraudulent activity, you be granted a refund within 30 days

What are some of the best practices for fuel card security?

To ensure your fuel card is secure, businesses should implement employee training programs on fuel card use, implement a fuel card management system and regularly monitor fuel card transactions. Regular monitoring of fuel card transactions is critical for businesses to ensure that there is no fraudulent activity on their fuel card accounts. Similarly, at The Fuel Store, you can contact your personal Account Managers who can give you a breakdown on where your fuel cards were spent on how much providing you with further insight into your fuel card usage.

There are many ways for businesses to be susceptible to fraud use on their fuel cards. Signs of fraudulent use on fuel cards can include too frequent fuel ups, charges don’t match tank capacity and getting charged inconsistently from various locations. There are similarly various techniques that can be employed to mitigate fraud card use such as better training, management systems or transaction monitoring. The Fuel Store provides business with Fraud Guard – a service that covers businesses should fraudulent spending take place on any of their fuel cards.

To learn more or if you’re interested in optimising your protection and security, please contact the team on 0121 272 7780 or alternatively contact our team via email.

Debt can leave you feeling vulnerable or overwhelmed. This is an issue that can impact businesses or individuals, and with rising costs and constant unpredictability, the occurrence of debt is now a very real possibility. However, this does not mean it’s a problem that must be battled alone.   

In line with Debt Awareness Week, it’s important that we address this issue head-on and break the stigmas that come with debt, and how The Fuel Store assists their customers and employees.  

If our customer has missed a payment, we will examine the situation and depending on the customer and circumstances involved, a payment plan will be negotiated to better suit the customer.  

To help businesses effectively manage how much is spent on their fuel cards, ControlMax, an additional service can be set up with accounts. This sets up a spending limit, ensuring there is no overspending.   

Our fuellers are also supported if they too run into financial worries. Our team has access to MediCash ensuring their health is looked after. Similarly, we have members within our Leadership team that have trained as Mental Health & First Aiders to best support those who need it within the business.  

Rising living costs are impacting everyone, so we understand that buying necessities can be difficult. This is why within the business, we provide our fuellers with access to breakfast, tea and coffee and lunch every last Friday of the month.

We always encourage our customers and fuellers to speak out and communicate about what is troubling them, regardless of what it is. Similarly, The Fuel Store emphasises the importance of listening and helping each other.  

If, however, there is something we cannot help with; we will always ensure that you be directed to someone more qualified who can help you.  

If you have any queries, or would like more information, please contact Customer Service on 0121 272 7780 or alternatively, you contact our team via email. 

For further advice on debt, you can visit StepChanges website for more information on some of the help that is available.  

The Fuel Store provides a range of fleet management solutions for all business sizes, we guarantee we’ll have a solution that is suited to your business needs.

Our ESSO fuel cards solution, is part of a network that provides the three most popular branded fuelling stations such as Shell, BP & ESSO, allowing fleet drivers & managers to navigate routes with ease and convenience.

How does ESSO compare to normal fuel?

Our ESSO Card is the most premium card we offer, if you are looking for a fuelling solution that offers convenience and premium fuel in one place, the ESSO card is the answer to your business needs. ESSO is the only fuelling station that offers Synergy fuel; engineered to help improve intake on valves and fuel mileage.

The Fuel Store have partnered with ESSO for over 2 years as a reseller. This provides us with the amazing opportunity to not only open a wider fuelling network for our customers but also one that provides premium fuel.

What do you get with the ESSO Card?

Did you know that with an ESSO Card you are able to collect loyalty points through Tesco and Nectar at all participating stations. For every litre spent on fuel, you’ll collect one Nectar point. With a Tesco club card, you’ll collect one point for every £3 spent on fuel. You can also use your ESSO card at BP and Shell stations.

ESSO forecourts have excellent facilities that are also very visually pleasing, that are available to help with customer journeys such as rest stops, food courts, option to do essential shopping, toilets and lastly cafés. With the added benefit of having just under 6000 sites, 1584 of these are specifically designed as HGV sites and 2245 sites have 24/7 access.

As with all fuel cards that you get with The Fuel Store, you will get a dedicated Account Manager after your onboarding process has been completed. Your Account Manager will be your main point of call throughout your card’s lifespan.

As a Fuel Store Card customer, you will have the ability to apply for a credit limit on your account subject to eligibility and expenditure habits. For more information or assistance, you can contact our sales team via email or via phone on 0121 272 7780.

Energy brokers have always had negative connotations, the first thing that always comes to mind is additional charges, commissions, and lack of good customer service. Here at The Fuel Store, we aim to break that mould and change this perception with the Energy Brokerage service.

Why choose us?

We pride ourselves on being customer focused; providing the best experience possible which is why we have been able to grow so rapidly in such a short space of time. We have been in the industry for 6 years; this has allowed us to build some solid relationships with suppliers, allowing us to cascade the perks and benefits to our customers. With our services, you also have the added benefit of our Energy Brokerage service having no obligation to suppliers, our obligation and loyalty sits with our customers.

It costs you nothing for us to generate commercial quotes, any commission earned is paid directly to us by the supplier. What this also means is we have additional buying power, as well as having access to a preferential price book too which we can pass on to our customers.

We have access to a plethora of contracts that customers can choose from to suit their businesses requirements:

• 2 months term
• 3 months term
• 6 months term
• 1-5 year term

We have access to the national database which we use to compare your consumption with market prices, allowing us to quote you accurately based on your current consumption, not your estimated consumption. In addition to this, we also provide a bill validation free of charge. As a part of this service, such as:

• Ensure the MPAN & MPRN registered against your account are accurate
• Your consumption is accurate & matches the national database
• Identify if customers were put on a fair deal based on their contractual agreements such as, unit rates & standing charges

Did we forget to mention, all quotes we provide consist of green renewable energy!

We are the modern solution to an age-old problem. It is no secret that you cannot go onto a comparison website to find a quote for commercial energy, like you can do for domestic energy. Our service will cut the time it takes to individually call up suppliers for quotes, making our customers’ lives much easier, allowing you to focus on the things that matter within your business.

For more information on the services we provide get in touch with our energy specialist via email or via phone on 0121 387 3245

Read more about the Author:

Leython Wedderburn

Head of Energy

Leython has 12 years of experience in the energy industry, for more information on the services we provide, you can contact him via email or via LinkedIn.

With the current ongoing economic crisis, everyone is looking to make savings anywhere they can. Here at The Fuel Store, we really appreciate how the current economic climate has or can impact our customers, so we have put in place a free invoice review process as part of the services we offer potential customers.

What is it we actually do?

We always start by identifying your needs, this will allow us to see how we can assist you and which product we offer to be most suitable for you based on your business needs. We then ask for the most up-to-date invoice you have with your current fuel card provider; this will allow us to analyse the current services you are a) paying for b) receiving and c) compare them to what we offer.

We use the above information provided by customers to provide you with a breakdown of what each suitable product has to offer, its benefits and all the terms & conditions for that product. Please note, our Fuel Card specialists can only advise which product is suitable for your business’s needs based on the information customers provide them.

As a family-run business, we aim to be as transparent as possible which is why we have no hidden fees or charges for any of our services. For more information on this service get in touch with one of our Fleet Advisors on 0121 272 7780 or by filling in our contact us form.