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Kwik-Fit Fleet eyes van growth

Date: Monday, May 28, 2012

The firm said there are currently 1.6 million LCVs on the road operated by business fleets and it expects this to grow as the home-delivery market expands thanks to the boom in internet shopping. It aims to increase its share of the market by providing a range of premium, mid and budget-priced tyres to cover the top 80% of the LCV parc.
It is also installing specialist LCV equipment into its 800 UK centres and providing additional training for staff.
The firm claimed it could accommodate vehicles ranging from high-roof, long-wheelbase models to car-derived vans.
The “tooling up” of the centres to deal with vans includes bringing in six-tonne trolley jacks, five-tonne axle stands, wheel clocks, extension bars and tyre cages.
Neil Kidd, business development manager for service maintenance and repair and MoT at Kwik-Fit Fleet said: “We will ensure centres are fully stocked with an expanded tyre choice and that staff have access to the very latest technical information so they have the capability to work on all types of vans.”
Kwik-Fit plans to cash in on a van market that, according to the Department for Transport, has increased by a million vehicles to 3.25 million since 2000.
It calculates that almost half these vans are run by public and private sector fleets with the rest privately owned by sole traders and small businesses.
Kidd said: “There is a major opportunity for Kwik-Fit Fleet to capitalise on the growing market.”
He added the firm would also offer a nationwide service to contract hire and leasing firms expanding their LCV divisions.

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