So says Bedford-based BBS Fleet Logistics (BBS), which specialises in providing support and logistical services for leasing companies and large national fleets and has seen a huge 700% increase in its logistics business over the last 24 months.

The increase comes as the company moves away from its more traditionally based crash repair business to a more logistics-based service, which now represents 75% of the company’s operations.

BBS provides support and logistical services to some of the UK’s largest leasing companies and independent, national fleets, and works closely with sister company and fleet management specialist, Ampthill-based IFC Fleet Services.

The company offers a comprehensive fleet logistics service including vehicle movement, storage and, where necessary, refurbishment.

It is this side of the business which has grown most rapidly and includes the company’s specialism of providing fleet operators with “re-home” services for the reallocation of in-life vehicles. This applies typically when an employee in a large organisation moves within the business, leaving behind their company car to be reallocated to the next incumbent.

At the fleet client’s instruction, BBS Fleet Logistics collects the car, refurbishes it to the prescribed standard, stores it in a secure compound if required and then delivers it, in accordance with the client’s deadline, to the new driver.

To cope with the additional demand from fleet customers, BBS has increased the number of full time valeters by 75%, while vehicle storage has almost doubled in volume. Vehicle servicing has grown to now represent 12% of the business.

This growth in business activity has meant that BBS now has different requirements for its business premises and is looking for additional storage capacity to cope with the increased demand.

Managing director Colin Cripps commented: ‘Our customers are now primarily fleet operators and leasing companies, rather than insurance companies and their agents, and increasingly our specialism is the “re-homing” or reallocation of in-life vehicles.

‘For these we offer a one stop service from collection to inspection, repair where appropriate, storage and re-delivery.

‘The growth in this activity has meant a rather different requirement from our premises so we are looking into additional storage capacity, as well as the purchase of further vehicle transporters to assist with batch deliveries,’ he said.