CLM is introducing a number of proactive, web-based initiatives, including greater use of independent garages, tighter cost controls and the minimising of vehicle downtime through the use of its downtime management module.

The RSPB, which is based at Sandy, Bedfordshire, manages 200 nature reserves covering 130,000 hectares that provide a home to 80% of the UK's rarest or most threatened bird species.

The charity runs a totally work need fleet composed of low-emission hatchback and estate cars, plus about 100 off-road light commercial vehicles, and switched from its previous fleet management supplier in a bid to improve the maintenance performance of its vehicle fleet.

'One of our objectives will be to ensure that vehicle downtime on the RSPB fleet is reduced by greater use of web-based technology,' said Robert Wentworth-James, head of sales and marketing at CLM.

'For example, our downtime management module contacts service garages via the internet to ensure that work being carried out on customers' vehicles will be finished in time, to ensure that drivers are not left without a vehicle or without any form of forward mobility. This cuts down vehicle downtime dramatically, increases efficiency and reduces additional on-costs such as vehicle hire,' he said.