Sinclair Finance & Leasing

Cost fears deter fleets from going green

According to a new survey, smaller fleets are put off going green because they perceive it as expensive.

More than 70% of companies with fleets of up to 100 vehicles rate having a green fleet as important or very important.
This figure is not matched by a keenness to invest, as 56% are not prepared to allocate any budget.

Do biofuels have a future?

The publication of an independent review of the government's biofuel plans have caused the future of biofuels to be thrown further into doubt.

The review found that the government's target that 10% of all transport fuels must be biofuel by 2012 is too ambitious and needs to be reconsidered.

Fleet managers concern for environment grows

"85% of organisations surveyed found reducing overall environmental impact to be a concern, yet 41% of respondents still so not include an environmental strategy in their fleet policy."

Fraud rises as fuel prices increase

Rising fuel prices are leading to an increase in company vehicle drivers attempting to defraud their employers.

“Fuel fraud on fleets usually rises when petrol and diesel pump prices rise rapidly,” said Neville Briggs, managing director of CFC Solutions.

“Judged solely on what we are hearing from fleets, it could be quite widespread right now.”

Dramatic rise in parking fines following law change

Concerns that changes to the way parking tickets are issued would lead to more spurious tickets being issued appear to be justified.

At the beginning of April the law changed making it easier for officers to issue tickets.

The rules allow CCTV evidence to be used.

In addition, traffic enforcement officers – traffic wardens – no longer have to fix Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to a windscreen.

Now one fleet manager has complained that within days of the new law coming into force his vehicles operating in London were given an unusually high number of PCNs – none of which should have been issued.

“On just the first week we were issued 13 PCNs that we should not have been,” said Dermot Coughlan, who manages a fleet of 1,200 vehicles for Kelly Communications.

“Of those issued, 12 were for vehicles parked legally, and all clearly displaying a valid pay and display tickets or visitors’ permits.”

Parking website

A new website – www.parkopedia.com – has been launched to provide drivers with answers to their parking-related questions.

The website aims to help to reduce congestion by telling motorists the best place to park.

Congestion busting projects get funding

£8m has been awared to improve congestion and journey times on the roads. Three major research projects are being constructed looking into providing relevant driving information, environmentally friendly driving styles and enhancing transport systems.

The three projects, which will see companies working with academic institutions and network operators, have been awarded the funding through the Government's Future Intelligent Transport Systems initiative.

"Congestion and pollution are problems that both affect the economy and are frustrating for road users. With the number of vehicles on the UK's roads set to rise, along with levels of congestion, we need to find solutions - and new technology will play a key role,” said science and innovation minister Ian Pearson. "We are confident that these projects will help to provide innovative solutions for this major challenge."