Summary
Tailoring our service to reflect the complexity of the business and its operational requirements enables us to ensure the vehicles are maintained efficiently with minimal downtime.

About WCF Fuels
WCF Fuels is one of the largest independent fuel distributors in the UK, providing fuel to domestic, industrial and agricultural users, as well as franchised filling stations. The Fuels Division operates from 15 locations from Perth to Peterborough, and distributes gasoil, kerosene, DERV and petrol throughout northern England and southern Scotland via its fleet of 44 tankers.

The Business Challenge
WCF Fuels have 2 key objectives from their fleet:

Minimal compliance risk - Fuel tanker operators must comply with stringent requirements imposed by the carriage of dangerous goods regulations. Management of the fleet requires particularly rigorous procedures that will ensure vehicles are operated safely.

Operational Efficiency - vehicles have to be serviced, maintained and inspected with minimal downtime. Delivery time schedules are extremely tight, and if a vehicle is off the road for any reason, it can put extra pressure on the entire system. This means that servicing has to be done within very short timeframes.

" Our ability to understand the complexities of the industry and the operational requirements of the vehicles underpins our ability to run a fleet of highly specialised vehicles for WCF." says Alan Mountain, key accounts manager. "We have worked hard to ensure we understand the legislative environment of the fuel distribution business so that we can address all the health and safety priorities and ensure the tankers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The tankers are complex vehicles with multiple compartments and it is not always the chassis that needs attention - it can be the highly sophisticated discharge system. We have assembled a team of engineers who understand the vehicles and have the knowledge to pinpoint problems and overcome them."

How we helped

Reviewed our supplier network:
"The fuel distribution business is a complex operation and the vehicles are highly specialised. Some chassis require specialist alterations to make them ADR compliant, whilst building the tanker body and discharge system is a specialist skill in its own right. Identifying the suppliers was not the issue - making sure we had developing the right working relationships with suppliers who could respond to the demanding specification vehicles and our brief was the challenge." Said Alan.
Co-ordinated multiple suppliers within an efficient build programme:
Our experience of project managing suppliers to a very tight specification with strict service and quality standards allows us to ensure all of the health and safety issues are addressed.
Applied Strict Quality Control:
Given the nature of the business operation, there is no room for failure of any component within the vehicle, so we have to be sure that we get the build right first time" said Alan. "And we have applied this to our service, maintenance and repair suppliers to ensure we had the right suppliers in place to maintain the vehicles locally to minimise downtime.
Created bespoke servicing and maintenance schedules:
The vehicles have to be safe, compliant and available when required - synchronising servicing, inspection and taking a proactive approach to maintenance ensures that they are.  
Provided online vehicle information 24/7:
Our unique online vehicle management system, Capital Control, will provide you with instant, password protected access to your fleet - from initial order status through to maintenance and service scheduling and history. Because it gives you instant updates on the status and whereabouts of your vehicles, even the most complex of commercial fleet operations to stay efficient and compliant.

Hitachi Capital Commercial Vehicle Services currently supplies 6 tankers to WCF Fuels and manages the build of each vehicle through to delivery.
What our customer says
 "Hitachi Capital approached the contract with real enthusiasm and are committed to delivering the service we need, when we need it." says Barry West, Business Manager of WCF Fuels Cumbria.

"The cornerstone of the relationship is transparency and Capital Control makes management information instantly available to both companies. It provides WCF with quick answers to any fleet query and this helps us provide the best level of service to our customers."

"I have been very impressed with their commitment and quality of service. They are very thorough about completing follow-up actions from meetings, and they offer a very personal approach - before the vehicles were delivered, Hitachi Capital's regional engineer called in to introduce himself to us, just so we could put a face to a name," says Barry. "There is always someone there, should we need anything and they show real attention to detail.

"Our account manager is in regular contact to make sure we are happy with the service we are getting. They are extremely diligent and have a great attitude. Without doubt, Hitachi Capital is the most experienced leasing company I have come across - I have not seen anything remotely comparable from any of its competitors."

Our People Working With Your People

Driving Your Fleet Costs Down
Managing our suppliers effectively

Minimising Your Downtime
Using local suppliers to reduce off road time
Synchronising service, inspection and maintenance events

Minimising Your Compliance risk
Creating bespoke service, inspection and maintenance regimes for vehicles

Supporting Your Business
Understanding a stringent requirements of a specialist customer
Co-ordinating multiple suppliers within an efficient build programme