Vincent St Claire MD Fleet Assist

Fleet Assist has expanded its LCV SMR capabilities by setting up a nationwide network of 900 Premier Van Centres capable of servicing and maintaining vans and chassis cabs of up to 4.25 tonnes gross vehicle weight (GVW).

The network was set up to accommodate the anticipated growth of new electric vans plated at 4.25 tonnes GVW being onboarded by fleets.

Each garage with EV Premier Van Centre status has the premises, equipment, and technicians in place to service and maintain larger LCVs, in particular those with hybrid and electric power units.

It enables the Fleet Assist team to assign the right garage to undertake SMR on larger vans to ensure its leasing and rental customers’ LCVs are serviced and MOT’d in a timely fashion to reduce vehicle downtime.

Fleet Assist said the launch cemented its place as the UK’s most comprehensive fully managed national franchised independent and fast fit garage network with more than 5,200 garages, complemented by a mobile offering.

“The additional weight of electric LCVs has meant the government has extended the Gross Vehicle Weight from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes that can be driven legally on a Category B car licence for five years,” explained Vincent St Claire (pictured), Fleet Assist’s MD.

“This is great news for operators as electric van payloads have increased, but for garages it means having vehicle lifts in their workshops capable of accommodating the heavier vehicles. Many dealers will simply not be equipped to handle these vans which is where our EV Premier Van Centre network comes into its own. It avoids misdirection of SMR work to garages unprepared for heavy weight LCVs."

Alongside its Premier Van Network, Fleet Assist is continuing focus on getting its garage network ‘EV ready’ with 82% (4,228 garages) now capable of servicing electric vehicles.

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