Fleets should plan ahead in 2022 to help beat the impact of vehicle and parts shortages, including for orders, rentals and servicing and repairs.

Forward planning is now a necessity to keep fleets on the road, according to Arval

As the fall-out of the semiconductor shortages and the pandemic continues, Arval UK is advising that a forward-looking approach can help keep fleets on the road.

Commercial director Paul Hyne said: “The impact of the pandemic is here to stay for the foreseeable future – and our industry needs to change to stay ahead of the situation.”

He added: “The pandemic and semiconductor shortages have placed our industry in a position where forward planning is a necessity rather than a nice-to-have and we want to help our customers through this period.”

The fleet and mobility company said its dedicated teams in operations, procurement and customer services are working collaboratively to help customers, including through securing volumes of new vehicles and helping businesses remain mobile while servicing and repairs are underway.

Hyne continued: “We’re working tirelessly behind the scenes using our strong relationships with manufacturers and supply partners to make sure that our customers’ vehicle orders, and service, maintenance and repair needs are met.

“We’re working with manufacturers to secure bulk orders of vehicle stock, so if we know a customer needs a particular type of vehicle or there are a number coming up for a service, MOT or repair, we will proactively work with our supply chain to ensure that there is limited downtime or that a rental vehicle is available where possible.”

Hyne also said that manufacturers are prioritising electric vehicle orders – good news for fleets, with the favourable Benefit-in-Kind rates today.

“We’d urge customers, if they know they need larger numbers of a particular type of EV or they’re keen to transition to a particular electric van, to let us know in advance and we’ll forward order them where possible, as we know there’s such a need right now,” he stated.