Mid-Devon District Council (MDDC) and Exeter City Council (ECC) awarded the contract following a tender process; SFS is now managing a combined fleet of 210 vehicles, providing maintenance services as well as supplying new vehicles.
“Previously we purchased our vehicles outright and outsourced the maintenance from a number of suppliers,” says Stuart Noyce, MDDC’s group manager for street scene and open spaces.
“The contract with SFS is not only better value for money but much simpler. We have a fixed price with no unexpected costs, which is much better for budgeting, and one point of contact for maintenance.”
Simon Hill, ECC’s service lead for fleet, adds: “During this tender process we compared the costs of contract hire alongside our existing method of fleet procurement. The results showed that by contract hiring the vehicles with SFS we will make a saving over the lifetime of the vehicles and also speed up the replacement of older parts of the fleet with newer, lower-emission vehicles from year one of the contract.”
SFS is providing a range of vehicles including RCVs, recycling vehicles, sweepers, hookloaders, tippers, vans, cars, telehandlers and grounds maintenance equipment.
The new fleet will also include some electric vans and cars, and the refuse vehicles will be fitted with the latest safety features including reverse radars, cyclist safety equipment and camera systems. The first new vehicles will go into service in September.
SFS has appointed local suppliers to provide maintenance services: Trucksmith and Masons Kings for MDDC, and SHB Hire and Masons Kings for the ECC contract.