There are an estimated 14 million grey fleet vehicles on UK roads being used for business journeys. Regardless of the reason for the journey – whether your employee is driving to a customer meeting half way across the country or driving to the shop to pick up milk during the working day – their private car insurance must cover them for business use.
Our experience at Selenity is that not all employees have the right cover. In helping our customers we’ve discovered a disturbing trend – we’ve found that 21 percent of drivers are failing our insurance checks and may not be eligible to drive for work purposes, that’s one in five motorists.
It’s a shocking set of statistics that points to an issue that business owners shouldn’t be ignoring – their employees are breaking the law, either inadvertently or potentially on purpose.
In our new Grey Fleet Review, Adam Bamford – Expedite Services Manager at HR and Finance specialists Selenity – looks at what processes need to be put in place to demonstrate that you are meeting your duty of care obligations.
You can read Adam’s full article in our Grey Fleet Review 

“It is available in short- and long-wheelbase formats, and as a crew van. A well kitted out cabin with cutting edge technology and lots of storage space is complemented by engines and transmissions that can hold their own with the best in class.
“Clever load options, including the FlexCargo folding passenger seat, allow operators to make full use of the 1.0-tonne payload and load volume of up to 4.4m3.”
The Combo Cargo is based on an all-new architecture and is offered in a selection of variants, including short wheelbase, long wheelbase and crew van. In crew van body style, up to five occupants can be accommodated, while the load is safely stowed behind a partition wall. In addition, the rear bench can be folded down and the partition moved behind the front seats, if required. The Combo Cargo is also clean and cheap to run with low CO2 emissions from 109g/km and fuel economy up to 67.3mpg.
Operators can be sure that the vehicle is not overloaded by pressing the sensor-based overload indicator (optional). A range of innovative technologies and driver assistance systems make driving and manoeuvring easier, including the optional Rear View Camera and IntelliGrip traction control system. The new generation of infotainment system with an eight-inch colour touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ensures outstanding on-board connectivity.
Since its launch, the Combo Cargo has already proved popular among buyers, and was recently voted International Van of the Year 2019 by journalists across 25 European countries.
“We are delighted to add this award to the Combo Cargo’s growing collection of honours – it really does raise the bar in the compact van segment,” said Derek Wilson, Vauxhall’s LCV Director. “Practical, comfortable, economical and packed with all latest driver assistance and connectivity technology, the new Combo Cargo is the small van that helps carry British business.”
The British-built Vauxhall Vivaro was also Highly Commended in the Used Van category.
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Mick George Ltd offers a Zero to Landfill service facilitated through its Materials Recovery Process locations with residual materials diverted away from landfill to RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) outlets, and is accredited to PAS 402 to verify it’s waste data monitoring and reporting.
 
The new vehicles have been provided on 3-year contract hire with a full maintenance package by Refuse Vehicle Solutions Ltd (RVS) from its RediTruck range of ‘off the shelf’ ready for work refuse trucks. The two 26T DAF CF Olympus with BETA trade lifts were supplied liveried, and fitted with the PeoplePanel® side guard protection system and AMCS weighing system.
 
Abigail added: “RVS took only 7 weeks to deliver the vehicles, which is a great response time and much quicker than it would usually take to get the vehicles directly from the manufacturer. The preventative maintenance support package is great too. RVS engineers visit our premises every 6 weeks to inspect and service the vehicles. We work our vehicles hard and deliver an extensive daily service across our operating areas so it’s important they are well looked after to minimise service disruption.”
 
RVS provides a complete solution for refuse vehicle operators, supplying a wide range of refuse vehicles – new, quality used and remanufactured – as well as a host of support services comprising service, breakdown cover, contract hire, short term hire, new and used spare parts, finance and low loader services.
 
For further information about job opportunities at RVS services visit www.RefuseVehicleSolutions.co.uk/careers; Tel 01453 899 131; or email info@rvsl.co.uk
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​Jacqueline O'Donovan has been honoured with yet another award at a prestigious event at Wembley Stadium last Friday. The National Women’s Business Awards are an annual event and held to recognise industrious, hardworking and enterprising Business Women on a national level.
 
Having already picked up the PwC ’UK Private Businesswoman of the Year’ Award and the Building Magazine ‘Female Leadership’ Award as well as the Women’s Economic Forum naming her as their ‘Woman of the Decade in Enterprise and Leadership’, Jacqueline has gone onto win the National Business Women’s Awards ‘Business Woman of the Year’
 
As managing director of O’Donovan Waste Disposal, London’s leading independent waste management company, Jacqueline (who became MD as 19) has grown the company to a multi-award winning business with a turnover of £21m+ and 160 employees.  With a reputation as passionate and driven businesswoman, dedicated to making the family business a resounding success as well as influencing and improving the industry as a whole, she has spent her entire working career devoted to the company her father, Joe, started almost 60 years ago. Jacqueline is passionate about demonstrating excellence in all of the company’s operations and setting industry standards.
 
Jacqueline commented: “I am delighted to win this prestigious award and with our 60th anniversary year just around the corner, this has been an exciting and rewarding time for the company.  I am thrilled that my siblings and I have been able to continue the legacy my dad started all those years ago.”

Daytime running lights on vehicles, which have been required to be fitted on all new European Union cars and small vans since early 2011 to improve road safety, may be causing unintended confusion for other drivers, according to research carried out by the RAC.
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From the Office of the Traffic Commissioner
​Revised criteria applies to existing haulage, bus and coach operators and new applicants.
The 2019 financial standing levels for standard operator licence holders and applicants have been confirmed.
The rates will come into effect on 01 January 2019.
1st vehicle: £8000 (previously £7950)
Each additional vehicle: £4450 (previously £4400)
There will be no change at the current time to the rates of finance which must be available to support a restricted licence or application.