Firms worried about environmental impact of fleets

As many as 90% of companies listed environmental considerations as having the "greatest impact" on fleet policy over the next 12 months. The percentage was just 57% in autumn 2005, according to GE Commercial Finance Fleet Services, which carried out the research.

The study also showed that only 39% had an environmental fleet solution in place. A further 11% said that one was being implemented, 32% that one was under consideration and 14% said they were aware of the problem but no action was planned.

The survey of nearly 700 companies revealed that of issues affecting transport in general this year, 79% mentioned the environment compared to 62% a year ago.

Also, 75% of firms now included environmental impact as a factor when constructing a fleet policy, compared to 50% in autumn 2005. The biggest concern for companies with car fleets over the next 12 months was fuel prices.

Stern impact

Rich Green, managing director at GE Fleet Services, said: "The Government's Stern report (on climate change) has had quite an impact in fleet circles.

"While the industry has talked about green issues for more than a decade, we could finally be at the tipping point where widespread, considered and effective action is taken."

He added: "Companies know that they have to take action and have some degree of expertise but are unsure of their next step. What form that action takes is so far unclear.

"Certainly, the survey's finding that 40% of fleets have effective green measures in place looks very high to us although these respondents clearly believe that they have some form of environmental solution that is producing results."

Status symbol?

Further research by the company also showed that employees were now far more likely to get a company car on the basis of need and driving ability than of status within the firm.

A year ago, as many as 52% of company cars were offered on status, but latest figures show this has fallen to 39%. A year ago, a car's fitness for purpose was listed as the main factor by 13% of companies - a figure that has now risen to 19%.

Also, the choice of cars was now more likely to rest on how well a vehicle has done in European crash tests.

Rich Green commented: "There are subtle but clear changes in the vehicles being offered to employees. As organisations move to bring employees back into mainstream company car provision, they are offering vehicle choices that are highly motivational but much more controlled than in the past.

"These are often practical choices based on good duty of care practice. For example, an inexperienced driver is far less likely to find themselves behind the wheel of a higher-performance car than in the past and much more likely to be given some form of specialist training before they are allocated a vehicle at all."