Cutting Fuel Card Costs for Public Sector Fleets A
Understanding the benefits of RM1027 Organisations spanning the breadth of public services in the UK are able to secure considerable savings as a result of the Fuel Cards and Associated Services framework agreement (RM1027). The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) is an executive agency of the Cabinet Office and is the government department responsible for the management and oversight of all public sector framework agreements. RM1027 provides a simple and secure method for public sector fleets to manage their fuel expenses in a way that is both efficient for the taxpayer and helps to reduce paperwork. It also provides an economy of scale for fleet operators, although smaller organisations with just a few vehicles can also make considerable savings and see significant benefits by signing up to take part. The framework agreement offers an easy method of monitoring a fleet s fuel costs and making payments. At the same time, it enables the provision of detailed information on driver behaviour, vehicle usage and areas of likely efficiency improvement. It is a measure open to all public sector organisations and supports the government s austerity and green agendas. CCS offers its support for all framework users in terms of advice and guidance on how to get the most out of RM1027, on contract management, in the creation or expansion of fuel card services and when looking to drive increased competition among suppliers. Organisations keen to embrace the benefits of the CCS Fuel Cards and Associated Services framework agreement can do so in one of two ways: Via direct award following an internal assessment of bid offers, or By conducting a further competition (carried out using the further competition pack from CCS). 2
Customers will then enter into a new call-off contract with their chosen supplier, with individual terms and conditions to be agreed among the parties. The last (and arguably most important) aspect of fleet fuel card provision under RM1027 that public sector bodies need to be aware of is that not all UK fuel card providers are CCS suppliers, and not all CCS suppliers offer the same level of service. As a CCS supplier, here at The Fuelcard People, we are proud to present ourselves as the best solution for all public service providers seeking to reduce fuel costs and to streamline their operations to help minimise the day-to-day hassle of fleet management. 3
It makes sense to change Considerable public and political will surrounds the need for public sector organisations to tighten their belts, especially during what will now be a sustained period of austerity for the whole of the UK. Departmental savings are being pushed for across the board, with cuts of more than 4.5 billion in spending to be implemented in 2015 alone. New stricter measures to control excessive spending and widespread efficiency savings are being carried out at all levels of local and national government, and it therefore makes sense for fleet managers to play their part in these necessary changes. Balancing the books has been a popular phrase among government officials for some time, but now more than ever it appears pressure is mounting to ensure the future of the UK economy is placed on a more sustainable footing. Private sector businesses across the nation have embraced the use of fuel cards for many years, with the associated benefits of doing so in many cases helping to keep their operations profitable and running as efficiently as possible. cards are myriad and are not simply limited to reducing overall costs. Fuel cards remove the need for drivers to carry cash, helping to make transactions easier for all involved. They ensure that all expenditure is accounted for without the need for drivers to collect and keep hold of receipts every time they fill up, while the fact they do not need to carry money or credit cards on their person to make payments is also safer and more secure. Furthermore, fuel cards ensure organisations are able to easily track fuel consumption across their fleets and give access to cheaper wholesale prices for operators keen to get the best deals when filling up. By taking the hassle out of refuelling and tracking expenditure, public sector bodies signing up to fuel card agreements can also benefit from reduced fleet management overheads. Invoices are fully itemised and are generated on a regular basis, meaning that the process of collecting information and making payments can be less time-consuming for staff and, as a result, less costly. This is especially true when compared to the processes involved in correlating driver receipts and matching these to accounts records - a task that can be completely eliminated when signing up to an RM1027 agreement. Switching to the use of fuel cards is therefore a sensible step for public sector fleet managers keen to play their part in helping to reduce their department s costs in the years ahead. But it is not just the bottom line that can benefit from making this change; indeed, the advantages of fuel 4
What it means to work with The Fuelcard People A complete service package is offered to all customers signing up to join the RM1027 CCS framework agreement with The Fuelcard People. Here are the top ten benefits that fuel card users can expect to receive when working with us: Unlike some of our competitors, we offer a wide range of commercial rate fuel cards that do not incur transaction fees. By eliminating such fees, organisations could save thousands of pounds each year. Increased flexibility for drivers and fleet operators is achieved as a result of the many individual brands of fuel card we can offer to our clients - each with their own unique perks and bonuses. All accounts with The Fuelcard People have their own dedicated management team to help field any queries, tackle issues with card management (orders/cancellations), help with reporting, to provide site updates on usability, and much more. We offer free reporting and a breakdown of card usage to more easily track spending for all individual cards and accounts. Online and around-theclock access to the account, meaning our customers have 24/7 control and can see up-to-date figures on usage at the click of a mouse. Flexible invoicing and payment terms to suit individual clients needs. All invoices are fully itemised and comply with the EU 6th Directive for VAT reclamation. Card Protect - a zero-liability insurance policy for all our public sector fuel card accounts. This comprehensive level of cover helps to provide peace of mind that issues like card fraud will not be a problem (something not all our competitors can guarantee). Free price notifications to mobile phone, laptop or fax for commercial fuel card users - ensuring drivers and fleet managers are always up to date regarding where to find the best deals when filling up. Convenience for our customers; more than 7,000 service stations nationwide accept cards offered by The Fuelcard People (including major supermarket chains and more than 70 per cent of all motorway services). Direct payment access through our ebilling system, which allows clients to receive invoices and statements direct to their email address in secure PDF format as soon as they are produced. 5
But it is not simply in the realms of cost-saving and convenience that The Fuelcard People can help public sector bodies to improve their fleet operations, as help to reduce emissions is also at hand. Our unique emissions counting service, CO2Count, provides our customers with the necessary tools to better track their levels of vehicle emissions and to make positive changes towards a lower environmental impact. Meanwhile, our MileageCount product helps clients to tackle issues like reducing overall fleet mileage, cutting whole-life vehicle running costs and minimising off-road downtime. We hope you now agree that when it comes to securing the most farreaching benefits for your organisation and meeting the considerable challenges of ever-greater efficiency, better value for the taxpayer and securing a greener future for us all, The Fuelcard People really are head and shoulders above the rest. So make that change and begin the process of signing up for lower fleet and fuel costs, enhanced green credentials, smoother accounts handling, less daily hassle and much more, today. 6
The Fuelcard People Public Sector Fuel Cards Team, Unit 15, The White Barn, Manor Farm, Manor Road, Wantage, Oxfordshire OX12 8NE Telephone: 0844 808 2349 Website: www.publicsector-fuelsavings.co.uk The Fuelcard People is a trading name of Fuel Card Services Ltd Sources: Fuel Cards and Associated Services, Crown Commercial Service, <http://ccs-agreements.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/contracts/rm1027> Crown Commercial Services - Framework RM1027 - Fuel Cards and Associated Services, The Fuelcard People, <http://www. publicsector-fuelsavings.co.uk/rm1027-fuel-cards-associated-services/> About Crown Commercial Service, The Fuelcard People, <http://www.publicsector-fuelsavings.co.uk/crown-commercial-service/> Welcome to Fuel Card Services - Corporate Pages, Fuelcard Services, <http://www.fuelcardservices.com/corporate/> Chancellor announces 4.5 billion of measures to bring down debt, 4th June 2015, HM Treasury, <https://www.gov.uk/ government/news/chancellor-announces-4-billion-of-measures-to-bring-down-debt> Top tips for fuel efficiency, Fleet Fuel Efficiency, <http://fleet-fuel-efficiency.eu/en/fuel-calculator/top-tips-for-fuel-efficiency/> Company fuel card benefits guide, ApprovedIndex.co.uk, <http://www.approvedindex.co.uk/a/fuelcards/company-fuel-cards/> Fuel Cards - The Advantages to your Business, Incisive Business, <http://www.incisivebusiness.com/useful-information/fuelcard-information/fuel-cards---the-benefits> Public Sector Service, The Fuelcard People, <http://www.publicsector-fuelsavings.co.uk/service/> The Green Journey - The route to a sustainable world, The Fuelcard People, <http://www.publicsector-fuelsavings.co.uk/green-journey> A