Paul Holmes launched Fleet Managers’ Friend after becoming concerned at the lack of skills being employed by some organisations in managing their fleet operations – typically the second biggest cost to businesses after employees.

Fleet Managers’ Friend is offering to review organisations’ fleet operations on a no win no fee basis. The health check claims to deliver a full overview of the fleet operation, and either give it a clean bill of health or suggest areas for improvements.

Where areas for improvements are identified, Fleet Managers’ Friend will charge a flat fee dependent on fleet size and review duration. To book a review potential customers pay a 50% deposit, which is then refunded if no operating efficiencies or cost savings are identified.

Holmes, who started his career with Centrica-owned British Gas and over 18 years with the organisation became fleet manager in charge of more than 14,000 company cars and commercial vehicles with a revenue budget of £150 million, has launched the businesses after two years in the corporate sector.

During that time, Holmes said he came into contact with some fleets that were very well run, with excellent systems in place. However, he also believes many businesses need to improve their focus on fleet operations as significant improvements could be made to replicate best practice and ensure compliance.

Having launched his new business after two years as strategic account director risk at incident management company FMG, Holmes said: ‘I and the team use our experience to assist experienced and inexperienced fleet managers in the delivery of excellence in relation to managing their fleet operation. The application of good fleet management techniques will reduce business costs and the Fleet Managers’ Friend is all about helping clients save money.

‘Our mission is to help others optimise their fleet operation through the application of tried and tested best practice.  My knowledge and skills have been gathered at the sharp end of managing fleet operations for many years. I want to use that experience to help companies improve their fleet operations and save money because there is a clear lack of informed decision-making in many business and that is proving extremely expensive.’

The fleet review focuses on all aspects of an organisation’s operation including:

• Fleet procurement and funding practices
• Fleet efficiencies in relation to maintenance and arrangements for unplanned eventualities
• Fuel management policies
• Fleet compliance in meeting relevant driver and vehicle legislation including driver education and occupational road risk management policies
• Grey fleet management
• Accident management

The launch of Fleet Managers’ Friend has been welcomed by road safety charity Brake, which promotes best practice in the fleet sector. Richard Coteau, the organisation’s senior corporate fundraiser, said: ‘The development of a no win no fee fleet review service, being delivered by a very experienced team of specialists can only be good news for operators throughout the UK. At-work drivers are some of the most at risk on our roads, and the delivery of good operational practices is crucial in helping to reduce the number of road crashes they are involved in.’

For more information visit www.fleetmanagersfriend.com