Fork Lift Truck Used For Company Vehicle

Wednesday, 26. May 2010

Now here’s a funny story! There has been a lot of criticism over the way that companies encourage their staff to use their own car (known as the grey fleet) for business use. There are many health and safety implications but the criticism has been aimed at companies that don’t vet the vehicles that are being used and are taking a cavalier attitude towards the environment and the way that they are happy for their employees to drive very environmentally unfriendly cars in exchange for the Authorised Milage Allowance Payments (AMAP). According to leasing company Arval they found that one grey fleet driver claimed for 900 miles on a quad bike, another claimed his 40pence per mile whilst driving a Ferrari 360 Spyder that kicks out 440g/km of CO2’s and manages 14mpg whilst at the other end one driver claimed business mileage on an Austin 7 with virtually non of the modern safety features fitted. But best of all was the driver who claimed business mileage for driving a Jungheinrich forklift truck. Amazing. In an effort to reduce fuel costs and CO2 emissions St Edmundsbury Borough Council has applied a 7 step approach before expecting drivers to use their own cars. Only when all seven steps have been ruled out as not being appropriate or cost effective can an employee use his own vehicle. The seven steps are: video conferencing, public transport, car share, lease car, pool car and spot hire followed by own car. Even then the Authority must pre-approve the vehicle. By Graham Hill