McNicholas Construction Services is a national service provider, delivering £200m of added value infrastructure services in the utilities, rail and renewable energy markets. With specialist skills in gas, water, communications, power, mechanical and electrical sectors, it provides dynamic solutions to UK blue-chip clients, from traditional contracts through to full partnering agreements.

Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions sources and manages a fleet of 30 commercial vehicels on behalf of McNicholas, ranging from 32 ton trucks through to small vans. However, the majority of vehicles are specialist units, namely 7.5 ton pole erection vehicles and hoists.

The compliance framework for McNicholas’ O-licence is predictably stringent and must satisfy regulatory criteria from the Department of Transport, DVLA and construction & Use. Not only are vehicles regularly inspected – every additional
item of equipment installed on to each vehicle has its own inspection timetable.

In general, apart from an annual MOT, preventative maintenance inspections are required every six weeks, crane inspections three times per year and platform inspections twice a year.

Managing this timetable efficiently is therefore essential if McNicholas is to meet the terms required for its O-licence and ensure vehicles are safe and never unnecessarily off the road.

Capital Control

Through its software programme Capital Control, McNicholas has instant access to vital information on its commercial fleet and can see how Hitachi Capital is managing its fleet on a daily basis.

While letter and email communication are still used, McNicholas now has secure access to up to the minute fleet management information via the internet and the Hitachi Capital website.Forward planning to satisfy compliance inspections is a key part of Hitachi Capital’s role. McNicholas can see which vehicles are due for inspection a month beforehand and the measures Hitachi Capital has already taken to pre-book vehicles for inspection.

This is useful for when McNicholas’ fleet managers are in discussions with garages and other service providers. Mileage rates for vehicles are also listed and McNicholas can control who has access to the site and can grade the degree of
information access accordingly.

Martin Keane, Plant and Transport Manager at McNicholas Construction Services, says: “Through Capital Control we have created a ‘bible’ of charts, dates and action points which means I know for sure when something is happening.

“We need delivery – I never want excuses – and Capital Control means that everyone involved in our fleet management process is aware of their responsibilities.

“In a sense it has duplicated action points for our suppliers and Hitachi Capital because everyone involved in the process is aware of key dates and actions and has accepted that they have a responsibility to instigate them and meet the schedule.�