Vehicle rental provider U-Drive has appointed Fleet Assist on a multi-year deal basis as its SMR partner as it focuses on growth plans that will see its fleet rise by 25% to 5,000 vehicles.
U-Drive will use Fleet Assist’s garage network to conduct servicing and MOTs on its fleet of cars and commercial vehicles. Access to Fleet Assist’s data set of garage capabilities, coupled with a network able to accommodate larger vehicles and the full range of MOT classes, was vital for U-Drive to support its fleet of LCVs, minibuses and trucks.
U-Drive will use Fleet Assist’s service booking facility to book services and MOTs, and its experienced technician team to manage all SMR authorisations. U-Drive is already making use of Fleet Assist’s mobile network of 950+ technicians, with 65% of SMR jobs to date benefitting from the flexibility of being undertaken at the customer’s premises – a particular advantage for U-Drive, where approximately 95% of business is now B2B.
In addition, U-Drive has opted for PayBill, under which Fleet Assist settles all SMR invoices and produces a single consolidated invoice, with management information available by customer and work type.
“We have turned to Fleet Assist to take advantage of its extensive SMR experience and to support a clear work direction policy, under which newer vehicles are placed within the franchised dealer network and the balance of work is directed across the wider network and our own workshop.
“That gives us consistency of service for our customers alongside proper control of cost. Paying consistent prices for work conducted across the network also makes fleet maintenance budgeting considerably simpler,” explained Richard Sutton, Director at U-Drive.
“PayBill removes a substantial amount of administrative time. All SMR invoices are managed on our behalf, and we settle a single invoice each month.
“Having this structure in place gives us confidence as we continue to expand the fleet and extend our rental footprint,” he added.
U-Drive currently runs nine rental locations and operates its own workshop in Poole, with a second workshop in Bristol fitted out and due to open once recruitment is complete. Both have been factored into its work direction policy to maximise use of its in-house maintenance capability.
“We are pleased to be working with U-Drive and to support its business at a time of growth,” said Vincent St Claire, Fleet Assist’s Managing Director.
“Rental fleets place particular demands on SMR, and our network, technology and technical team are built to handle exactly that kind of operation at scale.
“Fleet Assist continues to set the fleet SMR standard with its technology-led supply chain management: “One Network. One Standard – expert support for all its garages and customers,” he added.
