01-05-2014

According to ATS Euromaster, one in three van fleet operators risk paying over the odds for their tyres...because they don’t have a formal tyre policy in place.

The 50-year old nationwide tyre retailer warned that Light Commercial Vehicle tyres shouldn’t be considered a low cost option, as the operational tyre costs of running a modern van fleet are no longer that much different from those of a fleet of trucks.

Simon Tattersall, head of national accounts at ATS Euromaster, said: “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.”

ATS Euromaster pointed to the rapid e-commerce growth and the need for deliveries to be made quickly to individual customers as a reason for rise in the number of fleets running vans.

Tattersall said: “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.”

Mark Cartwright, head of vans at FTA, added: “It's staggering to discover that so many don't have a tyre policy in place.

"It not only can help save costs but most importantly improve safety standards.”