Fleet Van February 2014

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fta comment: parking fines

Tackling the cost and administrative burden of PCNs

insight: new vans in 2014

Key players will generate a market uplift this year

Putting its faith in 'green' CNG over electric

spotlight: iveco

best of the van

industryWe applaud the Fleet Van Award winners in coverage of our annual gala event

on test: van reviews

A sporty Ford and an update on our Vauxhall Combo

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4 I New launchesKey new models – including the Ford Transit and Vauxhall Vivaro – will hit the UK market in 2014.

6 I Van sales analysis The UK’s van market saw registrations rise by 13.1%, reflecting the country’s improving economy.

8 I News digest We highlight the important news from the last month in the van sector.

12 I Benchmarking: parking finesPCNs can be both expensive and time consuming. Here’s how to mitigate their impact on your fleet.

17 I Fleet Van Awards Celebrating the best of the fleet industry at our annual awards.

34 I Insight: Iveco Running an electric van makes ‘no business sense at present’, says product director Martin Flach.

37 I Remarketing 2014 will see a continuation of 2013’s buoyant trends, says an industry insider.

38 I Insight: fundingChanging the way vans are funded can lead to significant savings.

40 I Ford Fiesta Sport VanSporty bodykit and alloy wheels make this small van an eye-catching choice.

41 I Mercedes-Benz Citan CompactLow payload detracts from appeal of otherwise practical and desirable van.

42 I Vauxhall ComboImpressive road manners and economy get long-term test off to a positive start.

43 I Running costs: city vansSpotlight on all the important data you need when considering your next van.

fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan February 2014 3

NEXT ISSUE - MARCH

New Ford TransitOur verdict from behind the wheel

Industry insightConstruction fleets come under the spotlight

Insight: fuel efficient tyresWe outline the benefits vs the costs of eco rubber

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NE W L AUNCHES

4 February 2014 fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan

New van launches set toboost registrations in 2014

he van market is likely to get a boost from the introduction of key new models, most of which will be larger and more efficient than the vans they replace.

According to the Society of Motor Manufac-turers and Traders (SMMT), 2014 will witness a second consecutive year of strong growth in the van market.

There were 271,013 new vans registered in 2013 – an increase of 13.1% over 2012.

Speaking of prospects for 2014, SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said key new models are expected to drive further growth (see 2013 sales analysis, page 6), with the introduction of a number of high-volume models.

Perhaps the most important of the new vans in 2014 is the replacement for larger deriva-tives of the Ford Transit.

The Ford van range is evolving to four different vehicles carrying the Transit badge. Two were launched in 2013 – the Transit Connect and the Transit Custom. While the Transit Connect was a direct replacement for the original model, the Transit Custom redefines the Transit panel van with lighter carrying capacity, replacing versions with up to three tonnes carrying capacity.

The new Transit will sit at the top of this range, replacing the heavier versions and promises reduced maintenance and repair costs, improved durability, increased cargo volumes, and ‘smart load space’ features, as well as best-in-class fuel efficiency with the extended choice of Transit Econetic models.

The Transit Econetic models deliver best-in-class CO2 emissions from 169g/km (with 62mph fixed speed limiter), equivalent to combined fuel economy from 44.1mpg.

Compared to the Econetic version of the outgoing Transit, fuel consumption has been reduced by 6%.

Powered by a 125hp 2.2-litre TDCi, equipped with stop-start and Ford’s Acceleration Control feature, the Transit Econetic range now extends to six different van models with gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 tonnes.

The standard Transit powertrain features a choice of three power ratings (100hp, 125hp, 155hp) and a six-speed manual transmission; customers also have the option of 125hp and 155hp HDT6 engines which meet the Euro 6 emission standards.

Available in front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions, the new Transit also offers extended two-year/30,000-mile service intervals, with the time required for scheduled maintenance over 90,000 miles cut from 5.4 to 4.2 hours over the outgoing model.

Read our drive of the new Ford Transit in next month’s Fleet Van

R E N A U L T T R A F I C

Sister van to the Vauxhall Vivaro, Renault has released a CGI rendering of how the new Trafic will look, with both this and the new Vivaro expected to be revealed in the metal over the coming weeks.

Information on the van is limited so far, with a few tantalising lines from the manufacturer on what we can expect, such as “boosted by revised styling, new technologies and a range of new engines that benefit from Renault’s expertise in the world of Formula 1 racing”.

F O R D T R A N S I T

NEED TO KNOWn SMMT expects strong growth in 2014n Some of the biggest players to introduce new modelsn New models will offer greater space and efficiency compared with current vans

T

F O R D T R A N S I T C O U R I E R

The Transit Courier is based on the Fiesta platform with a body designed to compete with compact cube vans such as the Fiat Fiorino, Peugeot Bipper and Citroën Nemo.

It has a standard full steel bulkhead and a load length of 1.62m, although other bulk-head options can be specified as well as a folding front passenger seat, which can extend load length up to 2.59m. Both these measurements are class leading.

With a generous load volume and maximum payload capacity of 660kg, the Transit Courier can accommodate a wide variety of cargo and equipment, including a standard Euro pallet.

The Transit Courier will be available with diesel and petrol engines that target best-in-class fuel economy and offer stop-start on all units. Customers can choose between the Dagenham-built 1.5-litre 75hp and 1.6-litre 95hp TDCi diesel engines, and the 1.0-litre 100hp Ecoboost petrol engine.

Pictures of the new Vivaro are expected to be published soon, but all we have so far is a sketch, which reveals a sharper-looking van that does without the characteristic curved ‘jumbo’ cab roof of its predecessor.

It will arrive in the summer, by which time the

previous Vivaro will have been on sale for almost 13 years.

We can expect improved efficiency from new engines as well as more user-friendly features in the cab.

Vivaros will be built at Vauxhall’s Luton plant.

C I T R O Ë N R E L A Y

Like the Peugeot Boxer, Citroën’s largest van will gain a makeover this spring. Cosmetic changes are likely to be minor compared to the current model (pictured), with a greater focus on effi-ciency. The Relay remains the only van in its sector with standard Trafficmaster Smartnav.

P E U G E O T B O X E R

The Peugeot Boxer is in line for a refresh, with a few detail changes to the styling from the current model (pictured) and measures to improve effi-ciency. The Boxer had a strong year for sales in 2013 and the chassis cab remains a favourite of a number of vehicle converters.

F I A T D U C A T O

Fiat is the lead partner in this large panel van trio with Citroën and Peugeot, and the Ducato (current model pictured) has built a strong following over the years, and a growing number of fleets appre-ciating the support of the Fiat Professional network. The Ducato will undergo the same revi-sions as the Citroën Relay and Peugeot Boxer.

V A U X H A L L V I V A R O

M E R C E D E S - B E N Z V I T O

Likely to be seen in public for the first time in the autumn, the new Vito will share its platform with the Mercedes-Benz V-Class (pictured), which was unveiled in January. We can expect an all-new cabin with better quality materials, new conveni-ence and safety technology, improved engines and better carrying capacity.

EDITOR’SCOLUMNSimon Harris, deputy editor, Fleet Van

The van industry will be hoping 2014 will continue where 2013 left off with signs of a return to growth. The

new van market was 13% up on 2012, and it’s expected to grow further in 2014.

We also ended the year rewarding the highest achievers in the van industry with our annual Fleet Van Awards, recognising the best fleet managers, industry suppliers and van manufacturers. We have big plans to improve the event this year, with an awards dinner to follow the annual Fleet Van Summit in September.

Despite the optimism for 2014, we think the market for electric vans will continue to find it hard to establish itself. This issue contains a report from Iveco, which has failed to sell a single Daily Electric after four years on the market.

For large panel vans in partic-ular, there are still many barriers that prevent fleets from choosing them, despite up to £8,000 of the front-end cost and an improving charging network.

We hope the Government will review the current subsidy set-up and accelerate the growth in infrastructure.n You might have noticed a few differences with this issue of Fleet Van. We’ve given it a facelift with a host of improvements. We hope you find the style and quality has improved, but it remains the essential reading it always has been. We value your feedback.

“There are still barriers preventing fleets choosing electric vans”



SALES FIGURES

By Trevor Gehlckenf van sales are a barometer for the general state of the country’s economy, then last year’s figures are a sure sign that Britain is emerging from the doldrums.

In 2013, sales of LCVs up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight rose by 13.1% and rocketed by 32.5% in December.

Some manufacturers saw astonishing leaps in their fortunes while others such as Renault and Peugeot recorded a fall in sales.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manu-facturers and Traders, told Fleet Van: “Van owners and operators responded positively to the wider economic recovery, finishing the year more than 13% up on 2012.

“We expect the forthcoming launches of several new LCVs to deliver further growth in this important sector.”

The biggest rise among the mainstream fleet manufac-turers was at Fiat Professional, which saw sales going up by 70.2%, while Citroën sales rose by 25.1% and Mercedes-Benz by 21.9%.

Having overtaken Vauxhall to take the number two slot last year, Volkswagen saw a rise of 19.28%.

The only two mainstream manufacturers to lose sales were Peugeot (down 0.2%) and Renault (down 11.8%).

Sebastiano Fedrigo, director ar Fiat Professional UK, said: “We are extremely proud of the achievement. We have responded to the fierce competition in the market by listening to our customers and offering more derivatives, more tech-nologies, improved efficiency, lower running costs and unbeatable customer service.”

Scott Michael, head of commercial vehicles and business centre programme at Citroën, told Fleet Van: ““The Berlingo

IImproving economy reflected in 2013 van market as Ford continues to lead sales

Registrations rise 13.1%and Dispatch ranges performed particularly strongly, with both recording 30%-plus increases.

“The company’s LCV sales success also benefited from its expanded Business Centre network, which is providing exceptional sales growth with small and medium enter-prises (SMEs). This, combined with uplifts in our sales to large corporate users and the contract hire and leasing industry, has resulted in our best sales volume since 2007.”

Ford still tops the charts, as it has for the past 47 years, and sales were up in 2013 by 9.1%. The manufacturer is in the middle of a two-year plan to replace its entire LCV range and, with a brand new Transit due for launch in April, hopes are high for an even better 2014.

Andy Barratt, sales director at Ford of Britain, said: “The aftersales experience provided by the UK’s largest dealer network together with the huge investment into Ford’s UK commercial vehicle range has helped to deliver the best CV sales figures in four years. Significantly, the increasing strength of that business reflects in a growth in retail demand and a reduction of rental share.”

Combined Transit and Transit Custom sales increased by more than 11% year-on-year, from 52,441 in 2012 to 58,446 in 2013. Transit Custom sold 10,939 in its first full year on sale. Ford Ranger sales increased by more than 50% from 2,818 to 4,310, while Fiesta Van sales increased by almost 20% from 3,172 in 2012 to 3,792 in 2013 to maintain segment leadership with more than 58% share.

At Volkswagen, Alex Smith, director of commercial vehi-cles, said: “This strong performance is testament to the hard work of everyone involved in the brand and they deserve a huge thank you.”

REGISTRATIONS OF NEW COMMERCIAL VEHICLES < 3.5T IN THE UNITED KINGDOMMarque 2013 % share 2012 % share % change Dec 2013 % share Dec 2012 % share % change Ford 68,054 25.11 62,372 26.03 9.11 4,744 22.65 3,187 20.16 48.85 Volkswagen 36,925 13.62 30,956 12.92 19.28 2,472 11.80 2,494 15.78 -0.88 Vauxhall 29,736 10.97 26,524 11.07 12.11 2,902 13.85 1,867 11.81 55.44 Mercedes-Benz 25,667 9.47 21,055 8.79 21.90 2,722 12.99 1,854 11.73 46.82 Citroën 22,989 8.48 18,379 7.67 25.08 1,212 5.79 1,101 6.97 10.08 Peugeot 21,230 7.83 21,272 8.88 -0.20 1,262 6.02 1,470 9.30 -14.15 Renault 12,978 4.79 14,710 6.14 -11.77 2,061 9.84 934 5.91 120.66 Fiat 12,019 4.43 7,060 2.95 70.24 745 3.56 369 2.33 101.90 Nissan 10,619 3.92 10,136 4.23 4.77 588 2.81 564 3.57 4.26 Toyota 8,063 2.97 7,747 3.23 4.08 441 2.11 469 2.97 -5.97 Land Rover 6,644 2.45 5,917 2.47 12.29 491 2.34 376 2.38 30.59 Mitsubishi 5,927 2.19 4,853 2.03 22.13 484 2.31 261 1.65 85.44 Isuzu 4,112 1.52 2,762 1.15 48.88 408 1.95 282 1.78 44.68 Iveco 3,275 1.21 3,593 1.50 -8.85 195 0.93 358 2.27 -45.53 Mini 694 0.26 86 0.04 706.98 62 0.30 62 0.39 0.00 Great Wall 667 0.25 476 0.20 40.13 48 0.23 28 0.18 71.43 Renault Trucks 411 0.15 476 0.20 -13.66 46 0.22 58 0.37 -20.69 Hyundai 240 0.09 379 0.16 -36.68 5 0.02 7 0.04 -28.57 Isuzu Trucks 213 0.08 248 0.10 -14.11 23 0.11 18 0.11 27.78 Ssangyong 168 0.06 58 0.02 189.66 8 0.04 16 0.10 -50.00 Mitsubishi Fuso 148 0.05 155 0.06 -4.52 10 0.05 11 0.07 -9.09 MIA 3 0.00 0 0.00 0.000 0.00 0 0.00 0.00 0.00Other imports 291 0.11 427 0.18 -31.85 20 0.10 19 0.12 5.26 Total light CV 271,073 239,641 13.12 20,949 15,805 32.55

“We expect the launches

of several new LCVs to

deliver further growth” Mike Hawes,

chief executive, SMMT

271,073 Total UK registrations

of LCVS in 2013

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“VOSA has made it clear that it has identified non-compliant van operators and that it will be making targeted stops” Mark Cartwright, FTA head of vans and logistic buyer relations

Motorists are being warned that text messages or emails regarding a licence which is due for renewal have not been sent by the DVLA.

The DVLA does not send reminders by these methods and these services are in no way affiliated with the DVLA. Motorists may be charged more for using these services.

ALD appoints new LCV operations managerALD Automotive has appointed former Nissan national LCV sales manager Matt Dale as its new LCV operations manager. He has nearly 30 years’ experience within the automotive industry with a background in sales and operations. He is a fully-qualified mechanic and CPC holder.

Vehicle graphics and wrapping specialist Sign Language has won one of the largest fleet contracts in its history following the decision of Autoglass to switch suppliers.

Sign Language initially supplied livery for 15 new Renault Master vans that have joined Autoglass Specials, the division which caters for the needs of the coach, bus and train industry.

A further 55 livery kits were supplied for new vehicles that joined the Autoglass fleet in the final weeks of 2013. Additionally, Sign Language anticipates supplying around 750 kits for new vehicles expected to be introduced to the fleet in 2014.

The Autoglass fleet numbers 1,700 vans and is 90% Ford comprising Transit 260 and 280 models, Transit Custom 290 and 290 Hi-roof, Fiesta Vans with the new short wheel base Transit Custom 270 to be added in January 2014 as a replacement for Transit Connect 230 models.

Sign Language secures Autoglass van livery deal

Van Excellence is on the road againThe Freight Transport Association (FTA) has announced the return of the Van Excellence conferences in 2014, on Tuesday April 8, in Elstree, London, and Thursday, April 10, in Manchester.

Following the success of last year’s Van Excel-lence conferences, when VOSA informed attendees that the authority would be under-taking a programme of targeted enforcement checks on vans in all the major towns and cities throughout Great Britain, and quoted the fact that an average 75% were subject to overloading prohibition, one of the key sessions of the 2014 events will focus on load security and overloading.

Mark Cartwright, FTA head of vans and logistic buyer relations, said: “VOSA has made it clear that it has identified non-compliant van operators and that it will be making targeted stops.

“We know that keeping vans within legal weight limits can be a challenge for many operators ,particularly those using vans as mobile tool-boxes. It is vitally important that we focus load security and overloading at the Van Excellence conferences to ensure best practice is identified for all.”

BT Fleet wins Post Office fleet management dealBT Fleet has won the contract to manage the 470-strong Post Office ‘cash-in-transit’ fleet, which handles cash deliveries and provides mobile post offices in remote parts of the country.

The five-year sole supplier agreement was awarded to the fleet management company after an 18-month tender process.

The Post Office decided it was the provider best suited to meet the company’s key business objec-tive of maximising vehicle availability, reducing costs and ensuring complete compliance.

In addition, it recognised BT Fleet’s experience of managing similar fleets involved in the transportation of cash and high value goods, such as G4S.

Dave Bowen, managing director of BT Fleet, said: “The agreement highlights its confidence in our ability to deliver a comprehensive, managed fleet solution.”

Van values increased by 5.5% during 2013, despite a significant rise in their age, according to market analysis from Manheim.

While the average LCV value at auction rose from £4,179 in December 2012 to £4,405 last month, the average age of vans under the hammer increased from 60 months to 63 during the year.

Record demand sees van prices increase

Matt Dale,ALD’s new LCV operations manager

Autoglass’s 1,700-strong fleet is 90% Ford

DVLA warning over driving licence renewal reminders

45% of men ‘have nodded off’ at the wheelMale drivers are being urged to get plenty of sleep and take regular breaks, as research from Brake and Direct Line reveals that 45% admit ‘head-nodding’ at the wheel – meaning they have been asleep briefly.

Brake and Direct Line’s survey also reveals that one in three (31%) drivers overall admit ‘head-nodding’ at the wheel – nearly half (45%) of male drivers and one in five (22%) female drivers.

One in 14 drivers overall (7%) admit actually ‘falling asleep’ at the wheel – 14% of male drivers and 2% of female drivers –and almost half (49%) of drivers admit driving after less than five hours’ sleep – not nearly enough for safe driving. Again, this is more common among men (55%) than women (45%).

Challenger Lighting switches to ProaceLighting design and installation specialist Chal-lenger Lighting Services has added the new Toyota Proace van to its fleet.

The Gosport-based business has chosen Toyota for the first time, with an initial eight Proace vans going into service with its installation and main-tenance teams across the south of England. Around a dozen more are set to be ordered in the next 12 months; all are being acquired with support from Toyota Financial Services.

Challenger Lighting Services’s vehicles are the long-wheelbase/standard height (L2/H1) Proace, powered by a 126hp 2.0-litre diesel engine. Fitted with full corporate livery and specialised racking, the vans can accommodate a 1.2-tonne payload and return official combined cycle fuel economy of 44.1mpg.

‘Work schedules’ blamed by 37% of speeding driversA survey of motorists in Britain, France, Germany and Spain conducted by Mix Telematics has revealed that 63% of all drivers admit to speeding while driving for work, with more than a third (34%) admitting they speed every week.

When asked why they do it, the most common responses were keeping up with traffic flow (53%) and pressure to meet schedules (37%).

Challenger Lighting has ordered

eight Proace vans

Vauxhall is Britain’s number one van maker for 12th year runningVauxhall built more than 44,000 vans in the UK last year, making it Britain’s number one van maker for the 12th year running, according to figures released by the SMMT.

Building more than three times that of its nearest competitor, Vauxhall manufactured 44,657 Vivaro vans at its Luton plant. UK Vivaro sales, up 34% year-on-year to 18,180, helped drive production.

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‘Driver behaviour’ is a real buzz phrase around the fleet industry. The difference in fuel economy between the best and worst drivers in a fleet can be as much as 30%, not to mention the accidents and maintenance costs...

Telematics companies have adapted their products to report in great depth on driver behaviour, but it remains the job of the fleet manager to analyse the data and talk retrospectively with the drivers. Not all fleet managers have time for this.

Lightfoot® is the new kid on the block. Lightfoot® gives the vehicle a voice to inform the driver how it wants to be driven. It works proactively with the driver in real time to help them drive more effi-ciently, like a permanent in-vehicle driver trainer who improves driving in-the-moment and sustains these improve-ments over time.

So the improvements are made in-cab between driver and Lightfoot®, not

retrospectively by the fleet manager. This self-managing approach with ‘at-a-glance’ weekly email reporting has been a hit with leading private sector fleets such as Autoglass® and public sector fleets throughout the UK.

Lightfoot® has proven fuel savings of more than 12%. Customers have also quoted ‘driver at fault’ accidents reduced by up to 50%, reduced wear and tear

and maintenance costs, reduced public complaints about drivers and reduced idling time.

In response to customer demand, Light-foot® has recently added a ‘tracking’ functionality.

Lightfoot® is not for everyone, it is for fleets with any of the following criteria:n Fleet managers who don’t have time to effectively administer telematics data nFleet managers who believe correcting bad driving in the moment is more effec-tive than retrospective analysisnFleet managers looking to save fuel and accident cost with a high impact, low admin solution.

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Mitigate the impact of parking fines on your businessDriver education is first step towards reducing costs

By Mark Cartwright, head of LCVs, Freight Transport Association

few years ago, FTA ran a campaign proudly stating that ‘If you’ve got it, it came on a truck’ – a message just as valid now as it was then.

But there has been an undeniable shift in distribution patterns with vans taking an ever-

increasing role in the day-to-day activity of UK plc. Just take a look at a typical street. There will almost

certainly be a smattering of tradesmen’s vans both from the big players such as Balfour Beatty to the local builder; there’ll be supermarket delivery vans, parcel vans etc – all the lifeblood of our daily existence.

We are totally dependent on vans to deliver the lifestyle we are so accustomed to.

And yet, not only do ‘we’ not recognise this, ‘we’ sometimes seem to go out of our way to stymie this activity in the areas where it is needed most.

The increased use of the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) as a blunt tool to manage city centre access, especially in London, remains a bone of contention for many operators who often see it as an unavoidable tax on their operation.

We took the opportunity for this month’s article to canvas the views of FTA van operators on this topic.

“Our tickets tend to be issued while unloading equipment at a music venue which has inadequate parking or loading facilities,” said Chris Palmer, of Transam Trucking. “The production teams count it as an unavoidable cost.”

A compliance manager at a London local authority who asked to remain anonymous lamented that “even our own authority seems to be targeting anything with wheels on, including our own vehicles which are often involved with the support of vulnerable members of our society. It all seems to be about income generation and taking no prisoners”.

Well over one-third (42%) of our respondents say they often or frequently incur PCNs with the great majority being issued in London. Camden, Westminster, The City and Tower Hamlets were identified as particular hot spots.

And, as intimated earlier, it’s that workhorse of distribution, the van,that picks up the most attention.

It can be a costly exercise too.Andy Blythe, national logistics manager, Alliance Health-

care, said: “We’re running a big van fleet and the nature of our business means we’re moving high-value goods in urban areas against tight timescales. PCNs are an increasingly significant operational cost each year taking into account our admin time, etc.”

BENCHMARKING BY THE F TA - PARKING FINES


AWhat can be done to mitigate the impact of PCNs?The obvious answer is to avoid picking them up in the first place. It’s not always easy, but there does seem a common theme among operators to ensure their drivers are well aware of their role. “We make sure all our staff are aware of kerb markings and encourage then to be vigilant for street-mounted cameras,” said Andrew Ingram, transport manager at TG Lynes.

And what if PCNs are still incurred?Prompt payment to avoid the increased charges and a robust attitude to appeals are the key.

“We have built a good relationship with the councils,” said Rory Morgan, logistics general manager at Iron Mountain.

“We appeal only against those PCNs that we know we can win and also provide the information to support.

How often do you receive PCNs?

Rarely 8.3%

Very rarely 18.3%

Never 11.7%

Often 23.3%

Frequently 18.3%

Occasionally 20%


42%of respondents to FTA survey ‘often’ or ‘frequently’ incur PCNs

55%of vehicles which receive PCNs are vans, according to an FTA survey

“Parking restrictions play an important role in keeping our towns moving. However, we need to get some common sense back into the debate”

Natalie Chapman, head of policy for London, FTA

“This in turns assists in building that relationship with the council as it knows we are not wasting its time.

“Our specialist has also spent time visiting the councils and talking through procedures. If you do decide to do this in-house, you must have a robust procedure that provides evidence of delivery/collection. Prompt payment is also a must where you can’t appeal to avoid increased costs.”

Evidence is important. “I have issued all my staff with camera phones and get them to photograph the vehicle, road and markings whenever they get a ticket for parking and get them to make a note of road conditions plus any other factor that would prevent them parking properly,” said Ingram.

“Also, in London, if the parking attendant is in a vehicle, I ask our driver to get a photo of where the attendant has parked their vehicle in order to issue a ticket. This has been key in overturning a lot of penalties.”

Dealing with PCNs is an extra administrative burden to businesses, adding real cost and demands to their operation.

It’s against this background that the FTA launched its PCN management service last year – a service gaining more and more business in helping clients deal with this burden.

Its trained advisors take care of the entire admin trail from the receipt of the PCN through to the payment and, if required, appeal. Clients report significant cost savings and reduction in admin resources.

To sum up, FTA isn’t against the use of PCNs to manage traffic flows in major cities.

What is needed is a recognition that PCNs shouldn’t be used as a cash cow for the authorities and should be applied in a responsible manner.

Natalie Chapman, head of policy for London, FTA, said:

“Parking restrictions and enforcement play an important role in keeping our towns and cities moving. However, we need to get some common sense back into the debate. This should not be a money-making exercise for local authorities, yet businesses are being hit for millions of pounds every year while carrying out essential delivery and servicing activity.”

Operators need to take sensible steps to reduce the number of PCNs incurred, including the briefing of drivers and taking the time to build a relationship with the issuing authorities, and to ensure they are handling any PCNs occurred in an efficient manner to minimise financial impact.n For more on FTA’s Van Excellence scheme or the PCN management service, email [email protected]

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

For industry best practice guides on how to improve efficiencies and make key savings, visit fleetnews.co.uk/vans/van-best-practice-guides/

Which vehicles in your fleet are most likely to incur PCNs?

Trucks 24%

Vans 55%

Cars 21%

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Celebrating the industry’s finest

Sponsored by


The best in the business take a bow at the Awards

Fleet Van awards were presented at Altitude 360,

at Millbank Tower, London

Stephen Briers, editor-in-chief, Fleet News

Mark Cartwright, head of LCVs, FTA

Steve Crawshaw, commercial vehicle fleet consultantLeasePlan

Dale Eynon, head of fleet operations, Environment Agency

Phil Cane, delivery operations manager,Sainsbury’s

Ken Brown, editor, Red Book LCVs & motorhomes, CAP

Simon Harris, deputy editor, Fleet News

George Alexander, editor, Glass’s Guide to CVs

John Maslen, brand director, Sewells

Alastair Houston,regional director,Northgate Vehicle Hire

Trevor Gehlcken, associate editor, Fleet Van

MEE T THE JUDGES

he highest achievers in the UK van industry took a bow in front of their peers at the 2013 Fleet Van Awards in December. Van manufacturers, suppliers to the commercial vehicle

industry and fleets gathered in London to hear our verdict on who are the best in the business.

Our judging panel with expertise in the various fields that touch the light commercial vehicle industry spent long hours analysing all of the contender companies, organisations and vehicles vying for honours in their respective sectors.

In an industry where professionalism is more important than ever, the quality of entries was exceptionally high and made the judging process an arduous task.

Nevertheless it is always a fascinating exercise for those involved, discussing how those entered have reached their positions.

Vehicles are also more capable than ever of doing their assigned jobs, with ever higher levels of safety and better fuel economy.

And both fleets and suppliers to the industry align themselves to the highest standards of operation.

It is a privilege for Fleet Van to highlight and reward these achievements that set the standards others in the industry should aspire to.

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Gary Banister, senior manager commercial vehicle consulting, Lex Autolease

Darren Bell, head of fleet management, G4S Cash Solutions

CATEGORY JUDGESFleet managersJohn MaslenStephen BriersMark Cartwright

SuppliersDarren BellDale EynonPhil Cane

ManufacturersTrevor GehickenSimon HarrisGeorge AlexanderAlastair HoustonKen BrownSteve CrawshawGary Banister

CITY VAN OF THE YEAR


WINNER: Fiat Fiorino

FIN A LIS T SCitroën Nemo Fiat Fiorino Ford Fiesta VanPeugeot Bipper Vauxhall Corsavan

HIGHLY C OMMENDEDFord Fiesta Van

Vans are Fiat’s passion, especially the smaller models where it offers excellent back-up support and a strong warranty. The overall package offered by the Fiorino is outstanding. It has huge driver appeal, strong residuals and good payload. Fiat has listened to what fleets need from this size of van and it has delivered.

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

SMALL VAN OF THE YEAR

WINNER: Citroën Berlingo

FIN A LIS T SCitroën BerlingoFiat Doblo CargoMercedes-Benz CitanNissan NV200Peugeot PartnerRenault KangooVauxhall ComboVolkswagen Caddy

HIGHLY C OMMENDEDFiat Doblo CargoNissan NV200Volkswagen Caddy

A highly-competitive shortlist but new eco models, an electric vehicle derivative and Traffic-master as standard swing it in the Berlingo’s favour. It also has low cost of ownership, good driver appeal, strong network support and a decent payload. It’s a very likeable van.

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

Simon Hubbard (left), sales manager, Fiat Professional, receives the award from Mike MacDougall, head of sales, Hitachi Capital

Scott Michael (right), head of commercial

vehicles and Business Centre programme, Citroën, receives the award from Harvey

Stead, sales director, FMG


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MEDIUM VAN OF THE YEAR

WINNER: Ford Transit Custom

FIN A LIS T SFord Transit CustomMercedes-Benz VitoVolkswagen Transporter

HIGHLY C OMMENDEDVolkswagen Transporter

LARGE VAN OF THE YEAR

WINNER: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

FIN A LIS T SFiat DucatoFord TransitIveco DailyMercedes-Benz SprinterVolkswagen Crafter

HIGHLY C OMMENDEDFiat DucatoIveco Daily

The Sprinter is packed with the latest technology that will appeal to safety-conscious fleets. It tops the table for residual values and also for driver appeal. Backed by Mercedes’s excellent dealer network with 24/7 response and roadside fixes, the Sprinter remains the one to beat.

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

Phil Hollins (left), director fleet

operations, Ford, receives the

award from Mike MacDougall,

head of sales, Hitachi Capital

Andrew Lawson (right), national fleet sales

manager, Mercedes-Benz UK, receives

the award from Harvey Stead, sales

director, FMG

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

The new Transit Custom is packed with innovation and technology, and all of it is useful to fleets. It has excellent build quality, ESC as standard, outstanding fuel economy and strong residuals. Ford has listened to fleets’ needs and responded with a new benchmark in this category.

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PICK-UP OF THE YEAR

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WINNER: Ford Ranger

FIN A LIS T SFord RangerIsuzu D-MaxMitsubishi L200Toyota Hilux

HIGHLY C OMMENDEDIsuzu D-MaxMitsubishi L200

Since winning this category a year ago, the Ranger has gone from strength-to-strength. It appeals to drivers but, more importantly, the financial argument is compelling for fleets. Strong residual values, a full range of single and double-cab models and solid support from dealers: Ford has taken a practical 4x4 as far as you can go for a fleet vehicle.

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

CHASSIS CABOF THE YEAR

WINNER: Vauxhall Movano

FIN A LIS T SFord TransitIveco DailyMercedes-Benz SprinterPeugeot BoxerVauxhall Movano

HIGHLY C OMMENDEDPeugeot Boxer

The Movano is the perfect base vehicle for a body conversion for a wide choice of applications, especially for specialist uses. Vauxhall’s appetite to invest in R&D makes all the difference – it’s a ‘can-do’ attitude that has resulted in a vehicle chassis which delivers a for all types of fleets.

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

Dave Petts (left), Transit product manager, Ford, accepts the award from Mike MacDougall, head of sales, Hitachi Capital

Steve Bryant (right), brand manager commercial vehicles, Vauxhall, receives the award from Harvey Stead, sales director, FMG

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GREEN VAN MANUFACTUREROF THE YEAR


WINNER: Fiat Professional

FIN A LIS T SCitroënFiatFordMercedes-BenzNissanPeugeotRenault

HIGHLY C OMMENDEDFord

Fiat has focused on the practical application of technology to ensure its vehicles minimise the use of fossil fuels. From its efficient Multijet engines to the Blue & Me telematics technology which manages driver behaviour, Fiat is equipping fleets with the tools to set their own agenda on the environment.

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

FLEET VAN MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR

WINNER: Ford

FIN A LIS T SFiatFordMercedes-BenzVolkswagen

HIGHLY C OMMENDEDFiat

Francesco Russiello (right), marketing

product manager, Fiat Professional, accepts the

award from Mike MacDougall, head of sales, Hitachi Capital

Phil Hollins (right), director fleet operations, Ford, receives the award from Harvey Stead, sales director, FMG

JUDGE S’ COMMENTSConsistency, innovation and an excellent product line-up tips the scale in Ford’s favour. The product sells itself with excellent residual values and driver appeal. And with its much-improved dealer network, Ford is best-placed to serve the needs of fleets. It is also the first to identify any shortcomings in its service and seeks to address any issues promptly.


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FLEET VAN OF THE YEAR

WINNER: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

FIN A LIS T SFiat FiorinoCitroën BerlingoFord Transit CustomMercedes-Benz SprinterFord Ranger

TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

WINNER: Bott

FIN A LIS T SBottEpyxIn-car ClevernessSmart Witness

Andrew Lawson (left), national fleet sales manager, Mercedes-Benz UK, accepts the award from Mike MacDougall, head of sales, Hitachi Capital

Ben Rotheray (right), product marketing manager, Bott, accepts the award from Harvey Stead, sales director, FMG

The Sprinter was already a 10 out of 10 van; now Mercedes-Benz has made it even better! A host of technological innovations to boost safety are ahead of their time, while the first Euro 6 compliant engines, excellent network back-up and good availability of new models combine to provide a compelling package for fleets.

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

The Bott SmartVan solution offers the potential for fleets to improve their utilisation through reconfiguration and increases flexibility for vehicle options. It can be self-fitted without expertise which, together with its low cost base, makes it ideal for short-term rentals. This is a quick solution to ensure fleets are carrying loads more safely.

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

BEST NEW PRODUCT OR SERVICE


WINNER: GreenRoad for its Smartphone Edition

FIN A LIS T SDerwent Management Systems for its SMR Burn RateGreenRoad for its Smartphone EditionKwik-Fit for the launch of Kwik-Fit Plus

This is a simple solution to implement that provides good return on investment for safety and costs. It is also a good option for smaller fleets that haven’t the means to invest in expensive telematics solutions. It is a credible alternative.

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

VAN RENTAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR

WINNER: Europcar

FIN A LIS T SEuropcarSHBThrifty

HIGHLY C OMMENDEDSHB

Europcar displayed the highest level of innovation while its excellent services and initiatives are moving the van rental sector forward. The company has a good understanding of customers’ needs and identifies solutions that are effective – it’s customer-led innovation.

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

Chris Deakin (left), senior sales manager, GreenRoad, accepts the award from Mike MacDougall, head of sales, Hitachi Capital

Stuart Russell, specialist vehicle

director, Europcar, accepts the award from

Tracey Perry, national key account manager,

Fiat Professional


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VAN LEASING AND FLEET MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR

WINNER: BT Fleet

FIN A LIS T SBT FleetGE CapitalHitachi CapitalLeasePlanLex AutoleaseZenith

HIGHLY C OMMENDEDGE Capital

Dave Bowen, managing director, BT Fleet, accepts the award from Tracey Perry, national key account manager, Fiat Professional

JUDGE S’ COMMENTSBT Fleet has been through a transformation and now offers a more diversified value-added proposition for its customers. It has a wide range of products and services and is an early adopter of new technology. With outstanding customer service as well as impressive growth with new customers, BT Fleet is one step ahead of its competitors.

VAN FLEET OF THE YEAR – TRANSPORT/LOGISTICS

WINNER: Tube Lines

FIN A LIS T SThe Clancy GroupTube Lines

A robust platform of key fleet management skills are helping keep costs, emissions and accidents down at Tube Lines. Expert advice is provided to departments when ordering vans to ensure the best model is chosen for the job, rather than just relying on a particular manager’s preference. With a London-focused fleet, initiatives have been developed to cater for the unique challenges the fleet faces, including driver training programmes that are specific to the capital.

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

Philip Constable (right), general manager stations and specialist services, receives the award from Harvey Stead, sales director, FMG

Manufacturer’s commentsFor the second consecutive year, the FIAT Fiorino was named City Van of the Year in the 2013 Fleet Van Awards, with FIAT Professional winning the Green Van Manufacturer of the Year award thanks to its innovative fuel-saving technologies. FIAT Professional was also highly commended in the overall Van Manufacturer of the Year category thanks to the strength and breadth of its range and its willingness to listen and responding to customer requirements.


City van of the year: Fiat FiorinoGreen Van Manufacturer of the Year

For more information call 08433 830614, visit www.Àatprofessional.co.uk or email contactÀ[email protected]

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VAN FLEET OF THE YEAR - UTILITIES

WINNER: E.On

FIN A LIS T SE.OnNational GridSevern TrentWessex WaterThe Clancy Group

HIGHLY C OMMENDEDSevern TrentNational Grid

Innovation, professionalism and loads of enthusiasm continue to drive change at the E.On fleet. Among great initiatives introduced in the past year are an online quotation system that streamlines the complex commercial vehicle ordering process, and video handovers designed to improve safety. Led by Lorna McAtear, this is a great example of a proactively-managed fleet that never rests on its laurels, with constant improvements designed to keep company transport cost effective and fit for purpose.

Lorna McAtear (left), commercial vehicle

manager, E.On, accepts the award from Tracey Perry,

national key account manager, Fiat Professional


JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

VAN SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

WINNER: BT Fleet

FIN A LIS T SATSBT FleetEuropcarSelsia

BT Fleet stands head and shoulders above all the other entries in this year’s Fleet Van Awards. It has introduced a vast array of new initiatives, it has clear understanding of what its customers want and it is constantly ahead of the game when it comes to innovation and service. It delivers impressive results for its customers – and it does all of this without outsourcing any capabilities. The judges were impressed with BT Fleet’s open submission which answered all of their questions. The depth and diversity of the core product offering is market leading and it has the very clear endorsement from its customer base with excellent testimonials and retention rate.

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

Dave Bowen, managing director, BT Fleet, receives the award from Tracey Perry, national key account manager, Fiat Professional

VAN FLEET OF THE YEAR – PUBLIC SECTOR


WINNER: NHS Blood & Transplant

FIN A LIS T SGateshead CouncilNHS Blood and TransplantWakefield and District HousingYorkshire Ambulance Service

HIGHLY C OMMENDEDWakefield and District Housing

NHS Blood & Transplant stands out as a template for best practice in the public sector, but fleets in the private sector could also learn a lot from this excellently-run operation. Attention to detail is paramount and every aspect of the fleet is closely monitored and managed to benefit the NHS, taxpayers and patients. The fleet has particularly focused on tackling downtime and has an enviable 99% reliability rate, 95% vehicle availability and 98% first-time MOT pass rate. At the same time, at-fault accidents have almost been driven out of existence, while fuel efficiency is on the rise thanks to new initiatives. All this could only be achieved by a fleet that has great processes and strong management, with a clear commitment to achieving its aims.

VAN FLEET OF THE YEAR – BUSINESS SERVICES

WINNER: The AA

FIN A LIS T SThe AAIron Mountain

HIGHLY C OMMENDEDIron Mountain

A complex fleet with 19 business areas to serve requires expert management and this is the case at The AA. Close partnerships with outsourced services and a steady stream of initiatives have produced millions of pounds in savings in the past few years. Fuel costs have been a particular area of success, where, in addition to the benefits of telematics technology, area managers have been issued fuel economy targets to ensure all managers are focused on driver performance. Also, the fleet recognises the importance of listening to driver feedback and holds regular forums to obtain their expert assessment on key issues related to vehicle operations.

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

Geoff Cotter, general manager transport,

NHS Blood & Transplant, accepts the

award from Tracey Perry, national key account

manager, Fiat Professional

Sarah Dopson (left), head of group fleet, The AA,

accepts the award from Tracey Perry, national key account manager,

Fiat Professional

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS


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VAN FLEET OF THE YEAR – WHOLESALE/RETAIL/FOOD

WINNER: Sainsbury’s Online

SAFE VAN FLEET OF THE YEAR

WINNER: The Clancy Group

FIN A LIS T SBT FleetE.OnIron MountainMorrison UtilityNHS Blood and TransplantThe Clancy GroupWakefield and District Housing

HIGHLY C OMMENDEDBT Fleet Iron Mountain

With van fleets already focused heavily on risk management and reducing accidents, a fleet had to have made exceptional progress to stand out in this category. Clancy did just that for its 1,000-vehicle van fleet, achieving an own-fault accident rate of 0.000007 per mile. The extensive use of risk management programmes ranges from risk management to driver training, magazines and behavioural training. New recruits are assessed for driving competency during their induction, while some schemes have been extended to include external sub-contractors. There is clear evidence of a long-term commitment to keeping accidents down that has been shared throughout the business with a high-profile campaign that is clearly paying dividends.

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

PICTURED:Phil Cane (right), delivery operations manager, Sainsbury’s Online, receives the award from Harvey Stead, sales director, FMG

Ian Housley (left), group governance and compliance manager and Bernie Stack (right), plant hire director, Clancy Group, receive the award from Mike MacDougall, head of sales, Hitachi Capital

JUDGE S’ COMMENTSThe first aim of the Sainsburys’ home delivery fleet team is to simplify its operation where possible to support drivers in being the ‘face of the business’. Dynamic routing systems are used to optimise delivery plans, while extensive driver training is reducing the number of slots missed due to crashes. Driver feedback feeds into a system of management processes which are committed to best practice and maintaining a safe and cost-effective fleet. The fleet recently achieved accreditation to the Van Excellence scheme, becoming the first supermarket to do to.

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GREEN VAN FLEET OF THE YEAR


WINNER: Yorkshire Ambulance Service

FIN A LIS T SEnvironment AgencyUniversity of BirminghamYorkshire Ambulance Service

HIGHLY C OMMENDEDUniversity of Birmingham

Yorkshire Ambulance has focused on the critical role played by drivers in helping to reduce emissions, particularly on a long-term basis. Its extensive use of eco driver training is combined with a determination to share best practice and ideas with other services to find the best way to achieve results. Its work with Leeds University has led to the development of a lightweight ambulance conversion with an aerodynamic light bar, which increased average fuel economy from 18mpg to 26mpg. With vehicles travelling 25 million miles a year, the carbon savings will be substantial.

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

VAN FLEET MANAGER OF THE YEAR

WINNER: Michael Jackson, Scottish AmbulanceService

FIN A LIS T SLarry Bannon, NHS Blood and TransplantMichael Jackson, Scottish Ambulance ServiceSarah Dopson, The AARick Young, Wakefield and District Housing

Michael Jackson has decades of experience in fleet management but he has constantly invested in learning and development to improve his fleet skills. With a string of successful initiatives behind him at Scottish Ambulance Service, his expertise has been recognised through his secondment to carry out a major cradle-to-grave review of the 12,000-strong NHS Scotland fleet – including the 1,450 vehicles operated by the Scottish Ambulance Service. Jackson’s review aims to identify the potential synergies that can be gained from greater collaboration of fleet management across the NHS Scotland fleets, and how any benefits can be fully realised.

JUDGE S’ COMMENTS

Richard Smith, fleet engineering manager, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, accepts the award from Tracey Perry, national key account manager, Fiat Professional

Michael Jackson (right), general manager fleet, Scottish Ambulance Service, accepts the

award from Mike MacDougall, head of sales, Hitachi Capital

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Running an electric van ‘makes no sense at present’More Government help is needed, says Iveco’s Martin Flach

By Trevor Gehlckenveco has questioned whether large electric panel vans will ever be viable in the UK, after admitting it has yet to sell a Daily Electric after four years on the market.

The Italian commercial vehicle manufacturer has invested millions in bringing alternatively-

fuelled vehicles to market in the past 10 years after govern-ments across the EU urged manufacturers to embrace cleaner fuels.

But while countries such as Italy and Germany offer generous discounts for fleets running green-fuelled vans, the UK Government is lagging far behind and needs to do more, according to Iveco.

“As things stand at present there is no way it makes busi-ness sense to run a Daily Electric van,” says Martin Flach, Iveco product director.

“An electric model will cost around £50,000 more than a diesel one and, if you count up the fuel savings and not paying the London Congestion Charge, it would take eight years of average fleet mileage to get your money back.

“After eight years the batteries are likely to need replacing at a cost of around £10,000, so you are back to square one.”

Flach and his team have been talking to local councils and utilities for the past four years trying to persuade them to take on the Daily Electric but to no avail.

INSIGHT - IVECO


I

0number of Iveco Daily Electric vans sold in the past four years

25number of CNG filling stations in the UK by the end of the year

He says: “It is not as though they are buying electric vehi-cles from anyone else – they just aren’t buying them at all.

“One of the problems is that when Modec went out of busi-ness, some fleets got their fingers burned and they say ‘never again’ to us. But Modec was a small firm and we are a major global manufacturer.

“There is no way we are going to stop selling electric vehi-cles and there is no way we are going out of business, so fleet buyers can rest assured when buying vans from us.”

Leaving aside the problem of restricted mileage, Flach feels that pricing is the main drawback of the Daily Electric and he believes that the Government should offer more cashback deals. He says: “At present they offer £8,000 across the board, which is a sizeable sum if you are buying a £17,000 Renault Kangoo ZE, but on a £65,000 vehicle it just isn’t enough and the Government should introduce a sliding scale depending on the price of the van.”

Another problem for Iveco is that its smallest van weighs in at 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight, which means that when the electric components are added on, it tips the van over that weight, meaning that an O-licence and tachograph is needed to operate it. Also, people who passed their driving tests after 1995 won’t be able to drive them without a further driving test.

Flach says: “In Italy and Germany this is taken into account.

For more industry profiles, visit:

www.fleetnews.co.uk/vans/case-studies/

The Daily Electric is exempt from the London Congestion Charge


“The Tesco.com fleet has been running 71 CNG Dailys for the past two years with no problems” Martin Flach, product director, Iveco

The vans end up weighing 3.8 tonnes but the governments there still class them as 3.5 tonners. The UK Government should do the same.”

As for the cleanliness of electric vans, Flach revealed data that will be no surprise to those who have investigated the use of these vehicles. He said that while in France 90% of electricity comes from nuclear sources, 60% of electricity in the UK comes from coal-fired power stations, so although the Daily has zero tailpipe emissions, it does have a carbon footprint when the way the electricity is generated is taken into account.

He says: “I have estimated that while a Daily diesel emits 200g/km of CO2, the Electric version in the UK, counting the pollution from actually making the electricity, emits 180g/km. That’s not exactly pollution-free motoring is it?”

However, the carbon cost of drilling for oil, refining and transporting would add further CO2 emissions from well to wheel of a diesel vehicle.

So what should fleets which want to embrace a greener transport agenda do? Flach believes that compressed natural gas (CNG) is a better alternative – and Daily is offered with a CNG powerplant too.

Not only is there no worry about how far the vehicle can travel, but the engines can run on gas which is reclaimed from rubbish tips and suchlike, so is more sustainable than mining it from deep underground.

Until now, CNG has been available only from onsite facili-ties, but now several pumps are being installed at motorway services. By the end of the year, around 25 such sites will be in operation – although a tiny fraction of the public charging points for electric vehicles.

Flach said: “The Tesco.com fleet has been running 71 CNG Dailys for the past two years with no problems and we believe that this is a true green fuel alternative. We work with companies such as Gasrec and British Oxygen to supply firms with pumps on-site and we reckon that any fleet with at least 20 CNG vans can make a go of it.”

As for LPG, Flach says Iveco has never invested in the technology. He says: “When the Iveco bosses first sat down and talked about producing alternatively-fuelled vehicles they didn’t even consider LPG as it is not technically a green fuel. It does have reduced tailpipe emissions and can be cheaper to run, but it is not a green fuel as it is made as a by-product of petrol production.”

Hybrid technology is also an area manufacturers are developing, with several car makers producing new models. Iveco showed a concept hybrid Daily at the Hannover Commercial Vehicle show two years ago, driven by an elec-tric motor but with a small diesel engine on board purely to charge the battery up.

But Flach said: “Although this is an exciting development we are not going to see this van going on sale at any time soon. As things stand, CNG is the green way forward.”

ABOVE: Martin Flach believes CNG is a better green alternative than electric vehicles

Europe’s No.1 vehicle remarketing companyLog on to bca.co.uk or call 0844 875 3480

January 2014 posts highest figure on record so far


Average values for commercial vehicles continue to rise in 2014, as January posted the highest figure on

record, according to BCA’s latest figures. Demand for LCVs was strong throughout the month, with a number of record sales around the BCA network as professional buyers competed for stock.

BCA’s general manager – commercial vehicles, Duncan Ward, commented: “Average values for all light commercial vehicles increased marginally in January 2014 to £5,322 – a rise of £11 compared to December – as buyers competed strongly for stock. January’s average value was the highest since Pulse began reporting in 2005 and was the sixth month in a row that average values across all light commercial vehicles exceeded £5,000.

“Corporate vans from the fleet and lease operators fell back in value compared to December to £6,454 (down by £215, 3.2%), largely as a result of the changing model mix as volumes rose significantly. However, values were up by £1,071 (19.8%) year on year, underlining the ongoing growth in average values in the light commercial sector.”

Ward added: “Long term trend data from BCA suggests that values for the average used LCV reaching the wholesale sector may continue to rise in the months ahead, despite vans being older and higher mileage. Average van prices are up 45.5% compared to five years ago in the depths of the recession, despite being nearly a year older and having covered 9,000 more miles.

“While this is good news for sellers, from

the buyers’ perspective the outlook for 2014 is that supply issues could actually worsen. There was a significant drop in new van sales between 2008 and 2009 and with the average van being sold at just under five years old, this will be reflected in the volume of used vans reaching the wholesale markets in 2014. This ‘supply gap’ means the used light commercial vehicle sector may be short of stock for some time to come.”

Across the boardWard said: “Demand has been right across the board, from older higher mileage vans through to younger ex-fleet, lease and rental vehicles, while the few sub one-year-old light commercials on offer can make exceptional values.

“The end result has been record-breaking average values for fleet/lease and dealer P/X vehicles. As always, good condition is the key and vans with a nice specification and in an attractive retail colour are very desirable.

“Similarly any vehicle with body-build configuration such as tippers, dropsides or lutons with tail-lifts, will generate a lot of interest from buyers, not just in the UK but further afield.”

Ward commented: “While this sounds like great news for corporate vendors, this situation must be approached rationally and sellers must continue to deliver on all the basics.

“The usual rules still apply and damage management, stock selection, pre-sale preparation, appraisal and sensible valuation remain as important as they ever were. The simple rule of thumb is that a well-prepared and presented van will make more money than a similar vehicle in poor, dirty or damaged condition.

“While demand remains strong for light commercials, the market is still subject to the usual seasonal peaks and troughs and fluctuations may occur if there is an oversupply of a particular model, for example. Sellers should stay in touch with the market trends and work closely with their remarketing supplier to stay ahead of the game.”

£6,000

£5,000

£4,000

£3,000

Jan

Feb

Ma

r

Apl

Ma

y

Jun

e

July

Au

g

Sep

t

Oct

Nov

Dec Jan

LCVs – average used values 2013-2014

Well-prepared and presented vans are attracting the buyers


REMARKE TING

By John Challen s it continued its recovery, post recession, the van sector enjoyed a relatively fruitful 2013. And the market is set to continue in this vein, according to James Davis, head of

commercial vehicles at Manheim.“Older and [higher-mileage vehicles] were the

story of the year,” he says. “However, it is likely this has peaked, as fleet replacements are starting to kick in and availability of funding is no longer such an issue.

“Retail activity varied geographically according to the feedback we’ve had from our dealer customers, while seasonality was clearly back in the market; most evidently during Easter, summer and Christmas.”

Davis says it was a strong year for vendors due to the lack of de-fleet volume, “specifically three- to five-year-old corporate fleet product”, and is adamant that “vendors who move to the market will be rewarded with buyer loyalty”.

Growth in the online sector will continue, although he says physical auctions are continuing to perform well.

ARemarketing expert predicts this year will be continue the trends seen in 2013

Road ahead for van values leads to buoyant 2014

Davis also suggests that investing in profes-sional valets is worthwhile, to ensure the stock is well-presented.

Despite the average age of vans at auction being older, and having higher mileages, long-term trend data from BCA suggests that, in 2014, used LCV values will continue in the same direction.

BCA reported a continual rise in average values throughout 2013 and, over five years, average prices are up 42.9%.

“Average values for used LCVs have been substantially higher this year, despite anecdotal reports suggesting that van retailers have been relatively quiet,” says Duncan Ward, general manager commercial vehicles, BCA.

“However, the key factor driving the market is the supply of good retail quality stock – or rather the lack of it – and this means there is plenty of competition for the best examples reaching the market.

“Demand has been right across the board, from older higher-mileage vans through to younger ex-fleet and lease vehicles, while the few late-plate light commercials on offer can make excep-tional values.”

But Ward’s words come with a warning for vendors. “From the buyers’ perspective, the outlook for 2014 is that supply issues could actu-ally worsen,” he says.

“There was a significant drop in new van sales between 2008 and 2009 and with the average van being sold at just under five years old, this will be reflected in the volume of used vans reaching the wholesale markets in 2014. This ‘supply gap’ means the used light commercial vehicle sector may be short of stock for some time to come.”

“Over the past 12 months the average age of vans bought online has increased by eight months, with mileages creeping up by only 4,000 miles,” he says.

“As a direct result, average selling prices online have fallen, year-on-year, by £463.

“But we’ve seen the total opposite in the halls, as average selling prices have increased over the past 12 months by £814, despite age and mileage broadly remaining flat. This shows that online buyers are having to cherry pick the lowest mileage, older vans available to satisfy demand.”

There is, then, clearly a need to maximise residual values of fleet vehicles, and Davis offers some advice on how best to achieve this.

“It is important that vehicles are exposed to the largest potential buyer base, through physical auction centres and also online buying platforms, which can attract bids from both the UK and international buyers,” he adds.

“Stock should be allocated to the right channels dependent on profile and condition, not simply a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

“Condition reports should be detailed and easily accessible, with plenty of relevant photography.”

“The key factor driving the market is the supply of good retail quality stock and this means there is plenty of competition for the best examples” Duncan Ward, general manager commercial vehicles, BCA

SWITCHING FUNDING METHODS

Over the past six months, Duncan MacBain has started funding his company’s vehicles through contract hire with Ogilvie Fleet instead of purchasing them outright.

“I wanted a fleet of more reli-able vans that would appeal to new and existing employees while also presenting the right image to our customers,” he says.

“We’re also saving on large upfront capital outlays on purchasing the vehicles outright at a time when we’re expanding rapidly.

“We currently operate a fleet of 70 vans and it’s projected that we’ll be operating 100 vans within 18 months – all of them hired.”

MacBain founded Hydraquip Group in 1989 and today the multi-million pound business consists of two independent companies – Hyrdaquip Hose and Hydraulics as well as the Hydraquip Braided Hose Division.

All the group’s vans possess fully-equipped workshops which are capable of manufacturing hydraulic hoses – among other kinds – on-site to meet the needs of customers operating across many different sectors.

The average price of purchasing one of Hydraquip Group’s Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans was previously around £22,000, while the costs associated with installing racking and on-board

INSIGHT - FUNDING


workshop equipment were £10,000.MacBain had bought vans outright since estab-

lishing the company and previously ran them until they reached the end of their useful life.

He realised the potential benefits of switching to contract hire after deciding to expand Hydraquip’s 24-hour service by adding a fleet of fully-equipped Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans previously oper-ated by a collapsed rival in February last year.

He says: “I was getting fed-up with increasingly large and unpredictable maintenance bills for our fleet of owned vehicles and then we acquired a fleet of 16 new vans on a lease from Ogilvie Fleet, which also provided a fleet management service.

“This was a light-bulb moment for me. The benefits are fixed monthly costs, reduced main-tenance bills and improved vehicle downtime.”

The collapse of a rival company last summer led to a decision to take in its fleet of 20 Volk-swagen Crafter vans, which were also leased from Ogilvie Fleet.

Today, Hydraquip Group has 58 vans – 38 Sprinters and 20 Volkswagen Crafters – on lease from Ogilvie Fleet.

In recent months, the company has identified that Sprinters best meet its needs and a further 12 of these vans are currently on order to replace older vehicles that are currently owned.

MacBain anticipates that when current renewal or replacement cycles conclude, Hydraquip’s entire fleet will consist of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

SWITCHING FROM OUTRIGHT PURCHASE TO CONTRACT HIRE313 CDI hi-roof models operated on three-year/120,000-mile replacement cycles.

Each vehicle is fitted with racking and storage solutions by Bott.

MacBain says: “One of the things that impressed me about Ogilvie Fleet was that it operates a pooled mileage arrangement across the van fleet to limit the risk of penalty charges for breaking contracted mileage parameters.

“Furthermore, a comprehensive suite of driver and fleet decision-maker online tools are now available to us through the MiFleet dashboard.

“This offering impressed us and caused us to stick with Ogilvie.”

The van fleet has continued working highly effi-ciently since he took the decision to switch to contract hire in June last year and he has yet to encounter any challenges with this decision.

He adds: “My advice to anyone considering switching to contract hire is to examine the costs closely in the first place and take reassurance from the fact that they are fixed monthly costs.

“Also consider the many intangible benefits that could result.

“Apart from avoiding the downtime that occurs with older vans, employees like having new vehi-cles and this helps with staff retention.

“And for any rapidly-growing business like ours, contract hire also means that you can ensure your cash reserves remain strong, which is always a bonus in business.”

HYDRAQUIP GROUPDuncan MacBain, managing director

“I was getting fed-up with increasingly large and unpredictable maintenance bills for our fleet”

Duncan MacBain, managing director, Hydraquip Group

Changing the way you fund your vans can lead to significant savings, as these two companies show. Ben Rooth reports.


“It’s more cost-effective for us to source vans and SMR options in the way we’re now doing it”

Stuart Wiseman, fleet and transport manager, Yorkshire Housing

The main factor influencing York-shire Housing’s decision to switch from contract hire to outright purchase was the potential to make savings of £1.5 million over a five-year period.

The organisation had histori-cally funded its van fleet through contract hire, but the arrival of an experienced fleet manager in August 2010 caused it to reassess this policy.

Stuart Wiseman quickly identified that it was possible to “get more for less money” across Yorkshire Housing’s fleet of vans which are used to carry out repair and maintenance work on 16,000 properties countywide.

Wiseman says: “My previous experience working for a large council in Yorkshire had already taught me that outright purchase can work well if you’ve got the money in place.

“But when I took up the job here, I came in with an open mind. The contract hire agreement had been in place for several years and I quickly real-ised that it was simply not giving us best value.”

At that point, 150 light commercial vehicles were on a three-year contract.

But Wiseman discovered that Yorkshire Housing was paying for three months more than it needed – three months upfront followed by 36 monthly payments. He subsequently calculated that by switching to outright purchase, it would

be possible to save £1.5m over five years.Consequently, since April 2012 the organisation

has been purchasing all its 152 Fords outright and it now runs them for five years or 100,000 miles.

Of these, 98 are short wheelbase, low roof Transits while a further 20 are long wheelbase Transits. The remaining 34 are also Fords and consist of chassis cabs, crew cab tippers, caged tippers, Connect vans, and two Fiesta Vans.

Yorkshire Housing has purchased these vehi-cles through the Government Procurement Service (GPS) framework agreements since making the decision to switch in December 2011.

Wiseman has calculated that in the first full year alone, Yorkshire Housing made savings of £250,000 and this total is set to increase to £600,000 by April this year.

He adds: “The average hire and maintenance cost per van was previously £47 a month. I’ve calculated that this figure has fallen to £13.50 per vehicle since we’ve purchased them outright.

“These savings are simply down to the fact that it’s more cost-effective for us to source vans and service, maintenance and repair (SMR) options in the way we’re now doing it.

“I initially approached our previous provider in summer 2011 and said that we wanted some terms and conditions, but when this didn’t happen, I went to our finance director with details of the projected savings from outright purchase. He reassured me that we had the cash in place.

“The change in funding for our fleet subse-quently went before the departmental heads as well as the chief executive before it was taken to the board of directors. This whole process took around four months to complete and by December 2011 we’d notified our previous provider that we were phasing out the contract.”

After assessing the options available through seven different manufacturers through the GPS, Yorkshire Housing chose Ford as a result of its vehicles’ versatility, endurance and strong residual values, as well as the discounts offered.

Wiseman also highlights the fact that the manu-facturer offered him reassurance that he would have back-up from the Polar Ford dealership for the vans’ SMR needs.

The only challenge arose when there was a hiatus between the delivery of Ford’s new range of Transits and the terms of previous vans under contract hire expiring. Wiseman says: “To over-come it we briefly went down the flexi-rent route for a short period – it hasn’t proved an issue.”

He adds: “My advice to anyone considering outright purchase is to ensure initially that you know precisely what your organisation needs the vehicles for and then work carefully through the costs of that option – and others.

“At that point, speak to the manufacturers directly if you’re going to buy the vans before going to the dealers and asking them for further discounts – you get the best deal that way.”

SWITCHING FROM CONTRACT HIRE TO OUTRIGHT PURCHASE

YORKSHIRE HOUSINGStuart Wiseman, fleet and transport manager

By Trevor Gehlckenooking at the picture of this van, you may come to the conclusion that it is in no way, shape or form a fleet van.

But the needs of a modern van fleet are many nowadays and we can think of a few instances

where a vehicle like this will be just the ticket.Many users don’t actually want to drive vans so for, say, a

photocopier salesman who really wants a company car and is a valued employee, this vehicle ticks all the right boxes.

The Fiesta Van was upgraded last year as part of Ford’s commitment to replace every single one of its vans with new models in the space of two years.

This particular model is one of the range of Sport vans that

L

NEED TO KNOW n 1.6 TDCi engine produces 95hpn Load volume of 1cu m n Official fuel economy of 78.5mpg; CO2 of 95g/km

Sporty bodykit and alloy wheels make this small van an eye-catching choiceFORD FIESTA SPORT VAN

1.6 TDCI

Taut, pin-sharp handling proves a joy on the highway


DRIVEN

On the ‘wow’ factor scale, this van comes pretty much near the top of the class – it looks fantastic.

Parked on my driveway at home I noticed several of my neighbours stopping to take an admiring look.

And, looking at the spec above, there’s a lot to go ‘wow’ about for any driver too, as few employees who use commercial vehicles will ever get so much many goodies.

Climbing aboard, its figure-hugging sports seats make it feel as though you are in a sports car and not a van, although larger drivers might find them rather tight.

Storage space is at a premium but at least there are two coffee cup holders and a wire to plug in smartphones.

There’s a half-height solid bulkhead with mesh above it and in the rear the floor is carpeted.

However, the lip at the rear means loads cannot be slid in and out.

Even without a solid bulkhead behind there isn’t a lot of noise in the cab and the Fiesta Sport Van has impeccable road manners with taut, pin-sharp handling that proves a joy on the highway.

It’s top marks on safety too as electronic stability control comes as standard on this van.

The Active City Stop option is a godsend too. Although I didn’t

manage to test it with the Fiesta Sport Van, I’ve tried it on a track with the bigger Transit Connect and it works a treat when faced with the possibility of a rear-end shunt, automatically bringing the vehicle to a safe stop.

On the downside, we didn’t manage to get anywhere near the claimed 78.5mpg during our test week. The best average fuel economy we got from the trip computer was 59.2mpg.

SPECGross vehicle weight (kg): 1,565Power (hp): 95Torque (lb-ft): 147Load volume (cu m): 1.0Payload (kg): 505Comb fuel economy (mpg): 78.5CO2 emissions (g/km): 95Price (ex-VAT): £13,670

V E R D I C T

Good looks, high spec and impressive official fuel economy. This combination is bound to make the Fiesta Sport Van a favourite among both drivers and fleet managers.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Ford offers, whereby the looks are ramped up but the power remains the same. So while employees will be chuffed with their swanky-looking vans, they won’t be able to waste fuel and risk more accidents with excessive speed.

That doesn’t mean to say that this van is slow. The 95bhp on offer is delivered smoothly and gives plenty of acceleration.

Costing £13,670 ex-VAT, the Fiesta Sport Van offers a combined fuel economy figure of 78.5mpg and CO2 emis-sions of 95g/km from its 1.6 TDCi common rail powerplant, while in the back there is exactly one cubic metre of space and payload of 505kg.

The vehicle features a high standard of specification, including 16-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured side skirts, sports style bumpers and grille, sports seats, scuff plates, a Quickclear heated windscreen, leather-trimmed steering wheel, air-conditioning, power heated and folding mirrors, USB connectivity, front, side and knee airbags and Electronic Stability Control.

Options include rear parking sensors at £250 and Ford’s Active City Stop system which automatically applies the brakes if it senses an object ahead (£210).

By Trevor Gehlckenhe arrival of the Mercedes-Benz Citan last year marked the German manufacturer’s first foray into the small van sector.

In a tie-up with Renault (the Citan is based on the Renault Kangoo), the van’s launch meant that,

for the first time, fleet buyers could order commercial vehi-cles from 1,700kg to 44 tonnes gross vehicle weight in a single deal.

Some pundits may query why anyone would buy a Citan rather than the cheaper Kangoo.

And they may have a point, unless we are talking about the van on test here, the Citan Compact.

That’s because Renault stopped offering its version of this particular model in the UK a couple of years ago.

T

NEED TO KNOW n Based on Renault Kangoo Compactn Fuel economy of 61.4mpg; CO2 emissions of 123g/km n ESC and Acceleration Skid Control fitted as standard

Low payload detracts from appeal of otherwise practical and desirable vanMERCEDEZ-BENZ CITAN COMPACT

109CDI

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We are beginning to see more Citans on the roads as fleets see the appeal of driving around with a three-pointed star on their vans.

This may be a Renault Kangoo underneath but there are certain things you get with a Mercedes-Benz that you don’t get with other brands.

There are higher residual values for starters, as well as the

German company’s unrivalled back-up if you break down.

Mercedes-Benz has its own system of dealing with breakdowns thanks to the truck levels of aftercare and says it gets 84% of people moving again rather than having them towed into the nearest garage as most manufacturers do.

As for the van itself, the cab is huge for the size of the vehicle and features big supportive seats, a

large chunky dash and a handy overhead shelf.

The passenger seat folds right down into the floor and there’s a swivelling bulkhead that protects the driver from moving cargo. This means that loads of up to two metres long can be carried.

The rear end doesn’t have a side loading door.

The wipe clean floor is a boon and is something that’s an extra in many vans of this size.

On the road, the Citan Compact is a lively performer, with ESC fitted as standard.

This van has an amazingly tight turning circle too, just what you need for urban deliveries and manoeuvring in tight car parks.

However, the mesh bulkhead meant that a fair amount of noise emanated from the back end, including a variety of annoying little rattles, the source of which I couldn’t quite pinpoint.

SPECGross vehicle weight (kg): 1,785Power (hp/rpm): 90/4,000Torque (lb-ft/rpm): 147/1,750-3,000Load volume (cu m): 2.4Payload (kg): 330Comb fuel economy (mpg): 61.4CO2 emissions (g/km): 123Price (ex-VAT): £13,375

V E R D I C T

Another great performer from the Mercedes-Benz stable which takes the firm into a whole new selling sector. However the low payload compared to the opposition may prove a problem for some fleet buyers.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

The Compact is rather a curious vehicle as it is basically a standard length Citan with the rear end cut off.

That means that the cab is far bigger than that in rivals Citroën Nemo, Peugeot Bipper and Fiat Fiorino, which is good thing, but it does give this van a rather strange look – a bit like a bulldog, which is all front end and not a lot at the back.

Power is courtesy of a 1.4-litre Renault turbodiesel power-plant offering 90bhp and 147lb-ft of torque.

This gives 61.4 mpg fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 123g/km.

In the back, there’s 2.4 cubic metres of loadspace on offer, which is on a par with the rivals in the sector, while payload is 330kg, which is half the 660kg offered by the Nemo/Bipper/Fiorino.

However, standard spec is much higher than these rivals. Adaptive electronic stability control (ESC), comes as part of the £13,375 ex-VAT package, along with ABS brakes, Acceleration Skid Control, Brake Assist, folding front passenger seat, a plastic loadfloor in the rear, cruise control, stop-start technology, remote central locking and Bluetooth connectivity.

By Trevor Gehlcken’ve been running our Vauxhall Combo long-termer for a couple of months and to say I am impressed is an under-statement – although, to be fair, the odd niggle has mani-fested itself during that time.

But let’s look at the good points first. Build quality is superb and this van has a proper premium quality feel.

Although the Combo is classed as a small van, you get an awful lot of metal for your money in long wheelbase format. The four cubic metre loadspace is not far off that of the Combo’s bigger brother the Vivaro, which offers 5cu m, while payload hits the one-tonne mark.

The seats are massive and comfortable. I’ve been doing a fair amount of long distance work lately, so I’ve given them plenty of opportunity to show up any shortcomings (which they haven’t).

This van is a corker in the ride and handling department, too. The 105hp from its 1.6 CDTi engine is plenty for everyday

I

NEED TO KNOW n Impressive 4cu m cargo capacityn Electronic stability control not fitted as standard n Average test fuel economy is 46.8mpg

Impressive road manners and economy get long-term test off to a positive start VAUXHALL COMBO

1.6 CDTI LWB

Combo offers an awful lot of metal for your money in long wheelbase form


LONG-TERM TEST

SPECGross vehicle weight (kg): 2,350Power (hp/rpm): 105/4,000Torque (lb-ft/rpm): 214/1,500Load volume (cu m): 4.0Payload (kg): 1,000Comb fuel economy (mpg): 52.3CO2 emissions (g/km): 141Price as tested (ex-VAT): £15,800

purposes and the Combo’s road manners mean that long journeys are not a chore.

Turning to the niggles, the biggest is that the Combo doesn’t have electronic stability control as standard.

Other notable items missing on this van are electrically-operated wing mirrors (it’s a damned nuisance moving the nearside one by hand unless you have a left arm that’s about nine feet long) and a decent sound system, ours being more the ‘cooking’ variety.

I also miss reversing sensors. They are a paid-for extra and most of our test vans have them nowadays. And once you get used to having them, you don’t half miss them when they’re not there.

My final niggle is that the 12-volt take-off is placed right next to the handbrake in the central floor area.

This means that when I plug my portable sat-nav unit in, or charge my mobile phone, the wires get tangled up with the handbrake lever.

Of course, when moaning about lack of equipment, it must be remembered that the vast majority of drivers are given low-spec vehicles like this so at least I can give an unbiased opinion from an average driver’s perspective.

At the time of writing we have been blessed with unsea-sonably mild weather, so I haven’t managed to undergo any sub-zero weather testing as yet, but I am certainly pleased with the fuel economy so far.

Our van is currently returning 46.8mpg – under the official figure of 52.3mpg, but the engine is brand new so hasn’t loosened up yet.

I’ve also been doing a lot of motorway driving which means the standard stop-start system doesn’t really kick in and help lower fuel consumption very much.

When you also bear in mind that the official figures are calibrated on a rolling road with no wind resistance, my test figure begins to look more and more favourable.

I’ll be interested to see how it improves as the engine beds itself in.

“Build quality is superb and this van has

a proper premium

quality feel”


RUNNING COSTS

By Trevor Gehlckenhen deciding on which new vans to put on your fleet, it’s impor-tant to study all the relevant specifications and prices, as a bad decision at buying time

could cost you dear in the coming years.All the information required to make the right

choice is available at fleetnews.co.uk and here in a series of features where we highlight a sector each month and pick out the six best contenders

in terms of running costs and leasing rates, using figures from our website and those from www.comparecontract hire.com.

This month we look at city vans on a three-year/60,000-mile lifecycle.

The Vauxhall Corsavan returns the cheapest running costs, although it must be noted that this van holds only one cubic metre of cargo, against 2.5cu m for the Citroën Nemo, Fiat Fiorino and Peugeot Bipper.

In second place is the Ford Fiesta Van, although

once again this vehicle has a severely restricted load area compared to some of the rivals.

At the other end of the scale, the Mercedes-Benz Citan Compact and DFSK Loadhopper van don’t make the top six, with running cost figures of 30.09 pence per mile and 31.19ppm respectively.

Meanwhile, cheapest for leasing rates is the Citroën Nemo at £207.51 per month, while surprisingly (as they are basically the same vehi-cles), the Fiat Fiorino and Peugeot Bipper trail behind at £236.77 and £220.91 respectively.

M I N I C L U B V A N O N E

1.6 98 Euro 6 Media 6Spd

Leasing price: £254.12Purchase price: £12,979Load volume: (cu m): 0.86Fuel costs (ppm): 11.56Maintenance costs (ppm): 2.28Running costs (ppm): 28.36

Our verdict: Stylish contender has won the hearts of many drivers. High predicted residual values make up for lower fuel economy figures to produce competitive running costs.

F I A T F I O R I N O C A R G O

1.3 Multijet II 75 DPF SS Euro 5 SX

Leasing price: £236.77Purchase price: £12,570Load volume (cu m): 2.5Fuel costs (ppm): 9.57Maintenance costs (ppm): 2.6Running costs (ppm): 28.36

Our verdict: Sharing a platform with Nemo and Bipper, the Fiorino is a vehicle which really raised the game in the sector with a huge loadspace in a small body.

P E U G E O T B I P P E R

1.3 HDi 75 DPF Euro 5 Professional


Our verdict: It offers a load volume of 2.5cu m, identical to that of its Nemo and Fiorino siblings. However, it has the highest running cost of the three thanks to higher maintenance costs.

B E S T I N C L A S S - C I T Y V A N S

W

FLEE TNE WS.CO.UK / VANS

C I T R O Ë N N E M O L C V

1.3 HDi 75 DPF Euro 5 Enterprise


Our verdict: Made on the same production line as the Fiat Fiorino and Peugeot Bipper but better spec gives it a slightly higher list price than the Fiorino and thus a higher running cost figure.

F O R D F I E S T A V A N

1.25 82 Euro 5


Our verdict: A great-looking vehicle which is fun to drive too. Fuel economy is worse than many rivals, but running cost figures compare thanks to its high predicted residual value.

V A U X H A L L C O R S A V A N

1.3 CDTi 75 DPF Euro 5


Our verdict: Great for people who want to drive cars rather than vans as it feels more like a sports car than a commercial vehicle. Top contender in the sector for running costs too.

Fleet Van February 2014

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Transcript of Fleet Van February 2014