The start point for the best source of fleet information |
GREY FLEET: Where now for grey fleet?
Date: 24 September 2013
Grey fleet isn't necessarily something that needs to be eradicated completely. Like anything, the most important factor and the thing that makes the difference is whether it's properly managed or not.
James explains that, despite all the voices to the contrary, it's sometimes the easiest and most appropriate solution for the job in hand: "[Other methods are] never going to be as convenient. There are some roles where you're accessing a car three or four times a day. With rental, you'll book those journeys either on an internal or on an external platform and there may be times when rental vehicles aren't available. Our mileage can be very local, so if we had to hire from a depot that's 20 miles away, it wouldn't work."
He adds that having a system of alternatives in place - but not ruling personal car use out completely - is the most effective way forward for a working fleet: "You need alternatives. Can you offer cycling opportunities, for example? Public transport, taxi contracts, etc.? Grey fleet is just one solution."
This is a view that's shared by others in the industry, that you can run grey fleets quite effectively as part of an overall business transport policy without having to resort to a single alternative method. It's managing them properly that's the crux of it.
