Sapphire Vehicle Services – already one of Britain’s most successful independent commercial vehicle repairers – has extended the range of solutions it offers to customers by launching a fleet management division.
Sapphire Fleet Services is the Derbyshire-based group’s newest brand, designed to take away the headaches of running delivery vehicles and allow operators to concentrate on what they do best.
“For many companies, owning and operating a fleet is not their core business,” explains Sapphire’s Head of Fleet Services, Paul West.
“Those who make or build products need to get their goods to their customers, for example – but their expertise tends to be in manufacturing not distribution.
“By allowing Sapphire Fleet Services to take over the management of their entire delivery operation, they can rest easy in the knowledge that not only are their vehicles being deployed with optimum efficiency and safety, they are also guaranteed to be legally compliant.”
The idea for a fleet management service came about after Sapphire was approached by one of its existing customers – which runs a line-up of trucks to provide traffic management and other services to utility contractors.
“We were already looking after the repair and maintenance of the vehicles, but the customer asked whether we would consider taking over management of its fleet,” says Paul. “With our expertise, experience and national network of facilities, it was clear we were ideally positioned to offer a high-quality, cost-effective and hassle-free solution not just to this business but to others too.”
Other customers quickly came on board and Sapphire is now in discussion with more operators – and offering its fleet management services to others.
“Every customer is different and their needs vary from case to case,” says Paul. “The Sapphire advantage is that we are big enough to take on the management of any fleet, but small enough to offer packages tailored to the individual needs of each particular operation.”
Sapphire Fleet Services can take over responsibility for maintaining trucks or vans of any size, configuration or brand, including all service planning and MOT scheduling, vehicle inspections and DVSA tests, as well as looking after account management, reporting of Key Performance Indicators, Road Fund Licence renewals, and even taking on existing drivers and support staff via TUPE – Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) – regulations.
Sapphire Vehicle Services is already a familiar name to many of the UK’s leading transport operators – it maintains upwards of 28,000 trucks and vans for its clients, in dedicated Vehicle Maintenance Units and independent all-makes workshops across the country. These offer inspection, maintenance and repair of all trucks, vans and trailers, including MoT preparation, and have mobile service vans equipped to undertake roadside repairs as well as technicians specifically trained to work on electric vehicles. All are open 24 hours a day.
Through its parent company, Northern Ireland-based Ballyvesey Holdings, Sapphire can also provide customers with vehicles on contract hire, lease or spot rental, as well as vehicle disposal services.
“There are literally tens of thousands of trucks and vans out on the roads, which are kept running smoothly by Sapphire workshops,” asserts Paul. “So even customers who have never heard of us can have complete confidence in our exemplary standards of support.
“By adding a full fleet management service to the packages we offer, Sapphire is becoming a true one-stop shop for everything truck and van operators need.”
Sapphire Vehicle Services operates 19 busy and successful vehicle maintenance units across Britain. Other divisions of parent company Ballyvesey Holdings work across related sectors including transport and logistics, truck sales and aftersales support, trailer manufacturing, transport industry services, construction equipment sales and property development.
