Rok plc
Key contact: David Oliver, National Procurement Leader
Fleet profile: 1,194 car allowance drivers; 1,739 LCV drivers
Business: Property repair and maintenance specialist
Location: Crawley with 60 offices across the UK

Rok plc completed a Green Fleet Review at the end of 2008 which contributed to the company’s strategy to reduce CO2 emissions by a target of 30 per cent over the next 3 years. At the time of the review, the company were operating a fleet of 1,739 light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and had 1,194 car allowance drivers.

They have been able to capitalise on a number of “quick wins” which have had immediate impact in both cutting carbon and saving money, namely:
• Downsizing LCVs to improve mpg and cut CO2 emissions
• Fitting speed limiters to all new LCVs
• Providing top tips to drivers on how to save fuel
• Changing the car allowance policy to reward staff who choose low emission models
• Linking a new fuel reimbursement policy to average mpg and pump prices

National Procurement Leader, David Oliver, who is responsible for the fleet says: “The Energy Saving Trust has led Rok into new areas of thinking and helped validate our approach and strategy. I see our partnership as the start of an ongoing relationship because we have been introduced to new methodology and processes that provide transparency to decision-making.”

It is too early to quantify them exactly, but savings in both CO2 emissions and finances should be significant and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Vehicle downsizing
Rok has an almost exclusively diesel Ford fleet operating on a five-year/70,000 mile replacement cycle.

By providing information on available models together with illustrations of fuel and rental cost benefits achievable by downsizing, the company are encouraging their decision makers to consider whether replacing vehicles on a like for like basis is necessary, or whether a smaller van would be equally fit for purpose.
 
As a result, Rok are already experiencing an increase in orders for smaller vans, for example, Transits being replaced with Transit Connects and, in the future, expects the new low emission Fiesta Econectic van to feature as a choice.

Cut your speed – cut your costs
Driving within the speed limit reduces fuel consumption and costs. All new vans delivered are fitted with speed limiters set at 62 mph. This represents the start of a focused occupational road risk management strategy linked to the company’s smarter driving ethos.

Smarter driving
Van drivers will soon be going through a risk assessment programme that will also  ncourage them to drive more fuel efficiently. All have been given the Energy Saving Trust’s top tips for saving fuel. As a result, tyre tread and pressure levels are checke regularly and, to increase fuel economy, roof ladders and racks have been removed from the standard specification. A requirement for these has to be demonstrated before they can be fitted. More emphasis is now placed on internal stowage of materials and tools. VOSA information on gross vehicle axle weights and possible fines for breaches has been distributed.

“Safety and environmentally-friendly driving go hand-in-hand and help deliver fuel savings and reduce fleet CO2 emissions. By making drivers aware of these issues and how they can contribute by, for example, removing unnecessary weight from vans, cost savings are being made while their safety is increasing.” David Oliver, National Procurement Leader, Rok plc.

Bigger allowances for greener cars
A new car allowance system has been introduced that provides financial rewards for choosing a low emission vehicle. Staff have been given information on the choice of vehicles and those who run a car emitting less than 120 g/km receive a 20 per cent increase in their graded allowance. A 10 per cent increase is available to those who choose vehicles with emissions between 120 – 150 g/km.

More than 200 people are already benefiting from the extra allowance and the figure is  expected to grow rapidly as it influences their car purchase decision. Given the ever increasing range of low emission models becoming available, Rok will look to further reduce the emission thresholds over the coming years.

Don’t reward drivers for doing more miles
Aligned to the revised car allowance strategy is a new fuel reimbursement policy
that links average mpg across the car allowance fleet with quarterly pump prices. Mr Oliver explained: “The previous system provided most drivers with additional reimbursement to the actual cost of the fuel and was out of step with improvements in the average mpg of new cars. The new system is beneficial to employees who drive cars above the average mpg threshold.”

Driver buy-in
Employee communication is vital to achieving cultural change. Mr Oliver said: “The fleet  management solutions we have introduced bring benefits to both the business and our employees, but people need to understand the reasons for the change.”

Staff conferences, presentations, intranet communications and online Q&A sessions have all been essential in promoting the changes to the people who are most affected.

What’s next
In less than five months, much has already been achieved by Rok to deliver benefits
to both the business and drivers by ‘greening’ its transport operations. But, the company has more initiatives in the pipeline:
• Reviewing the LCV market with CO2 emissions at the heart of the decision criteria
• Introducing LCV maintenance inspections and spot checks on weight and loading
• Using the company intranet site to provide offices nationwide with updates on fuel economy improvements and CO2 reductions
• Reducing ‘grey’ fleet use among employees who don’t qualify for a car allowance, with the possible introduction of pool cars and short term hire cars for journeys over a certain mileage
• Encouraging greater staff use of Rok’s travel management company to highlight alternatives to car travel such as use of public transport, especially rail

Source: Energy Saving Trust