One thing that all NSHA members have in common is the fundamental need to keep an eye on costs. A member has a commercial business to run and anything affecting the bottom line must be monitored, controlled and minimised.
Time spent on shopping around for value, unfortunately, can wipe out any savings. Fuel is the obvious example. The nearest forecourt might not be the cheapest, but it is rarely worth hunting around for a better deal — which may not even exist. In an ideal world, you would always know where to find the cheapest diesel. Even better, you would be able to buy at a discount. Best of all would be to refuel cheaply but delay payment, enjoying interest-free credit.
Hauliers and other high-mileage users have enjoyed these benefits and more, through fuel cards, for years. Now, NSHA members can enjoy the same benefits, through the wide fuel card range offered by its partner, The Fuelcard People. If you can pass a routine credit check, you qualify for a fuel card. So, how can it save you money?
It works like this. You apply for a fuel card, requesting enough cards for all your drivers. Each comes with a guide to the sites where it is valid — 1,400 or more filling stations nationwide in some cases. You are then notified every Friday, by email or fax, of your fixed national price for the coming week. This is normally 3p to 4p below national average pump prices, or as much as 10p per litre below motorway prices.
A driver needing fuel finds the nearest site in the guide, refuels, then presents the fuel card. That is all there is to it. A single weekly invoice covering all of your vehicles is paid automatically by direct debit, with the interval between refuelling and payment giving up to a fortnight of free credit. You receive reports customised to meet your needs and have 24/7 Internet access to account information, with a dedicated account manager to answer telephone queries.
Apart from the obvious fuel cost reductions, there also indirect savings from reduced administration: a single invoice replaces piles of receipts. More importantly, you gain close monitoring and control of fuel expenditure. Security matters and your fuel card, only valid for authorised purchases and restricted to the driver or the vehicle, is useless to a thief.
Another advantage comes from being invoiced directly, rather than reimbursing drivers. The European 6th Directive allows you to reclaim VAT on fuel bought within the EU, but only if you have been invoiced directly for it. Reclaiming it can be easy — and, remember, one of the reasons that the NSHA has chosen to work with The Fuelcard People is its attitude to customer service. When you have a query, you do not queue for an anonymous call centre operative. Dedicated account management means always talking to the same person, who knows your business.
Fuel cards are not all the same, so The Fuelcard People will help you find the right one. Unlike most suppliers, who offer just one or two fuel cards, they do not have to steer you towards something unsuitable.
You will need an idea of your monthly fuel expenditure — ask whoever reconciles all those receipts. It usually comprises several relatively small bills, allowing fuel to be lost among overall costs and not reported as a single cost item. Most skip operator spend more than they realise. It will also matter if you have vehicles running on petrol, in addition to your trucks. Most members will usually refuel locally, so a network focused on motorway refuelling may not be ideal. It could be perfect, though, for a member operating across a wide area.
The more you can tell The Fuelcard People about your fuel usage, the more precisely they can help you to find a card to match your circumstances. To take advantage of all the service, savings and security benefits, you have to make the first move. That means calling The Fuelcard People on 0871 598 0230, then completing a simple application form. The sooner you make the call, the sooner you can start to benefit.
