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Vehicle fleet challenges

5 January 2022

Vehicle fleet challenges

One aspect of operations that hirers will need to manage carefully throughout 2022 and perhaps longer is their vehicle fleets. 

The well-publicised supply disruptions, caused by factors ranging from the vigorous construction bounce-back to a shortage of printed circuit boards for electronic equipment, has resulted in much longer lead-times. 

“We ordered 29 vehicles many months ago and we’ve only had one delivered so far,” the frustrated director of one multi-depot hirer told me recently. “These include small service vans and pickups, to dropsides and HGVs. 

“In fact, we want to expand one of our divisions and we need more HGVs, but we are being quoted 2023 delivery dates. So those plans are on hold until we can get them.” 

As a result, current vehicles are being kept in service for longer but as time goes on more and more will come around for planned replacement, which could create a significant backlog. 

“And when you are able to get one delivered, before it goes into the fleet it has to be fitted out with any bespoke equipment like winches and loading ramps, so that adds to to the delay. 

“We have to remain positive. The fact that we need vehicles shows that demand is strong so we must be thankful for that. But it’s another management challenge in these unprecedented times.” 

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