Driving Tips | Fleetcare

Car Batteries – Tips and information

The car battery brings about a very odd thought pattern in the human mind. Thought of intensely, almost mythically, when its going wrong, yet completely forgotten and taken for granted the second it starts to work again. Why do we have such a strange relationship with this “it’s heavier than it looks” essential car component? After looking online I think I have the answer; we simply know little or nothing about it.... Read More

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Walk, ride, drive: Safety tips for interacting with other road users

Posted: 18/04/2013 By: Kirsten Brent - Marketing Assistant
Comments: (1)
Categories: | Driving Tips | Occupational Health & Safety

The roads are home to a wide variety of people and vehicles – pedestrians, cyclists, cars, trucks, motorcycles – the list goes on. With so many users vying for space on the roads, it is no wonder that some drivers get confused and overwhelmed by rules and etiquette when dealing with other road users. To avoid this uncertainty leading to road rage or accidents, it is important to be aware of how to share the road with... Read More

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6 Strategies to Cut Your Fleet Management Costs Right Now

Posted: 28/03/2013 By: Kirsten Brent - Marketing Assistant
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Fleet Management

As fuel costs rise and the economy continues to stumble, managing a fleet becomes more difficult. Many businesses must now operate with a reduced fleet management budget, and many need to find creative ways to be profitable and ensure the long-term health of the operation. With that in mind, we consider six strategies that have helped achieve that success. 1. Find Inefficiencies in Actual Costs Budget reduction does not necessarily... Read More

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What maketh a road?

In parts they are as wide as a football pitch and they cover the country in a seemingly endless network, but ask most how they are made and you’re greeted with blank stares. Like most areas, knowing more about roads, their variety and their composition can help you as a driver to manage your own experience on the roads. This is especially true when it comes to smaller and unsealed country roads. This week we looked at all things... Read More

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The know how guides – Changing a wheel

Posted: 15/02/2013 By: Maintenance department and Rory Deegan
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Fleet Management | Occupational Health & Safety

For many a flat tyre is an absolute nightmare, just the thought of pulling to the side of the road on a wet and windy day is enough to make most grimace. For the experienced hand the whole thing can be done in under 5 minutes, however for the novice it can be intimidating enough to ruin an entire day. While many feel confident and secure about changing a wheel, there are many who feel worried that one simple mistake could cause a... Read More

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Car security explored

With the exception of the 2011/12 financial year, car thefts have been falling for the past 10 years. Like the dramatic falls in car related fatalities, huge improvementshave been seen in thearea but as long as cars are still being stolen and unrecoved there is still room for improvement. With all that in mind we thought we would go through some of the important features which may help in your efforts to protect your car. What are the... Read More

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Are you distracting your own drivers?

Posted: 11/01/2013 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Executive
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Driving Tips | Fleet Management | Occupational Health & Safety

On my way home from the airport recently I took a shuttle bus to the city centre. While the trip was relatively uneventful, it did give me a major insight into how some commercial drivers (in this case a bus driver) are being distracted by their work. My driver, while very friendly and helpful, was constantly distracted by an array of pick up rosters, questions and comments from his radio and at one stage a full scale mobile phone call... Read More

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Vehicle colour choice – impacts on depreciation and visibility

Posted: 30/11/2012 By: Kirsten Brent - Marketing Assistant
Comments: (1)
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Driving Tips | Occupational Health & Safety

Choosing a colour for your new car is one of the most exciting aspects of buying a vehicle. Everyone has a different method when choosing their car’s colour – do you pick your favourite colour, or be practical and choose a common shade? This article focusses on the latter, as colour selection can actually affect your vehicle and safety in ways that may not be initially obvious. Depreciation Most people don’t often... Read More

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Summertime sadness – Heat related car problems

Posted: 23/11/2012 By: Rory Deegan – Online Marketing Executive
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Occupational Health & Safety

Ah the summertime, a time when we sing lyrics like “when the living is easy”, “when the weather is high” and “Time to sit back and unwind”. Well, that’s all well and good, but what about those heat related vehicle problems, do we have a song for that? Sadly there is very little demand for a songs compelling us to check our tyres and cooling system, so we suppose a blog post will have to do.... Read More

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Tips on driver training and education

Posted: 09/11/2012 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Executive
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Fleet Management | Financial Tips | Occupational Health & Safety

Right, so let’s get one thing straight right from the start. This is not an article about learning how to drive or learning how to drive in a new type vehicle like a motorbike or a heavy goods vehicle. This is an article all about education and training courses you may want to think about to get the most value from your fleet and fleet drivers. Equipping drivers with additional driving skills can mean the difference between cars... Read More

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Animals and the road - Avoiding the worst case

Posted: 02/11/2012 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Executive
Comments: (1)
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Driving Tips | Environmental News

“I had to swerve a little, there was a squirrel in the middle of the road” that was my response to a nervous driving test instructor who looked clearly shaken by the experience. “You know you shouldn’t swerve to miss an animal of that size” was his eventual reply. Needless to say I failed the test. From that day to this I’ve noticed that the information in the area is not always clear and advice on... Read More

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The Modest Odometer

So it sits there, glaring back at us, pleading with us to explore it, understand it and get some usefrom it. We, on the other hand, ignore it and move on with our daily lives. “It” is the vehicle odometer figure which we, on most occasions, routinely ignore. For the most part ignoring the many seemingly random figures it presents is normal. However occasionally there is something to be learned from the figures under our... Read More

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The top selling cars under the microscope - fuel economy

This Olympic season we were all introduced to something new. This year’s Olympicmedal table got looked at through many new lenses, including medals per head of population, medals per funding dollar and so on. This got us thinking; perhaps we should take a deeper look at the usual top selling vehicles with a little more depth? With this in mind we decided to take the top 30 selling vehicles and make a list of the 10 least fuel... Read More

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Thinking points - The company pool cars

“Pool cars are amazing, they can don’t need oil, maintenance or even cleaning”. Those were the tongue in cheek words of one of Fleetcare’s account managers. For the most part businesses pool cars (fleet cars which can be used by all authorised company drivers) get a raw deal. In many cases they don’t get the care and attention they need and at resale time businesses can lose thousands. Like many company... Read More

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Driving and behavioural change

Just this week French car maker Peugeot was hauled over the coals by the Advertising Standards Board. What was their offence? Could it be scantily clad ladies, perhaps some questionable claims about fuel efficiency or maybe it was some underestimation on the car price? Surprising as it may seem, their only offence was a hand being waved outside the vehicle in their recent advert for the 4008 SUV (pictured). Many will think this is a... Read More

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Drink driving laws - The new landscape

"Alcohol is currently a factor in almost a third of crashes in which people are killed and seriously injured on Western Australian roads,'' those were the words of WA Police and Road Safety Minister, Liza Harvey. The minister delivered the frankly shocking statistic in an interview where she went on to explain the new crackdown on drink driving in the Wildflower State. The crackdown, which mainly rotates around the confiscating of... Read More

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The road trip checklist

Posted: 03/08/2012 By: Fleetcare Government Department and Rory Deegan
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Technology | GPS tracking | Occupational Health & Safety

Ah, the road trip. We’ve all had one, hated one, loved one or just had one we simply could not avoid. In Australia, like in the US, the long haul car trip is an institution with its own traditions and unique culture. Done well, it can be an enjoyable way to see the Australian bush and countryside. Done poorly and you’ll be at the mercy of the emergency services. With this in mind we took to creating a road trip checklist to... Read More

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Accident repairs and insurance - A helpful guide

Posted: 27/07/2012 By: Lauren Heerey and the Fleetcare Accident Management Department
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Financial Tips | Occupational Health & Safety | Leasing

It’s the guide nobody wants to see. Along with our guide on write offs this one on how to bring your car back to full health is one you don’t want to end up using. Be that as it may, guides are a massive help should the unfortunate event come to pass. Having a guide can act as a stabilising force at a very unnerving time. The timeline While the timeline may change depending on the circumstances, it is important to be aware... Read More

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Blending in too well - Ethanol in Australia

Another week, another fuel article. We could be criticised for going into so much depth about one topic if it weren’t for the increasing public demand for alternatives to the petrol status quo. This week we turned our attention to ethanol. Whilst ethanol is an alternative to regular petrol, it does not fit into a like for like comparison like LPG or diesel do. This is because the fuel can be blended with other fuels (most notably... Read More

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Extra! Extra! Our top ten optional vehicle extras

Ah the extras. From the inflatable aeroplane pillow to the marble counter top, they allow us to personalise and adapt to the world around us. They can be for safety, comfort or just for show. Whatever their purpose they play a big part in our lives and nowhere is this more evident than in the much discussed vehicle market. Vehicle extras have come a long way over the years, especially when you consider staples like seatbelts and airbags... Read More

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The high octane debate, what petrol are you?

So we’ve all been there, staring blankly at the pump and thinking to ourselves “91 or 95?”. Despite how confusing this may look the explanation is relatively simple. The higher the number, the higher the level of octane. Most petrol engines can accept all types of petrol, however more and more manufactures are recommending specific types. It’s also worth pointing out that there are other specialist petrol fuels... Read More

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Road safety initiatives in the spotlight - Western Australia

Posted: 15/06/2012 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Driving Tips | Financial Tips | Occupational Health & Safety

“This is a very, very long ad, is it even an ad?” that was the response of a friend of mine to the recent Enjoy the ride ad from Road Safety WA. So is there real value in these adverts and the road safety initiatives behind them? Do they deliver on their spend? It has long been established that finding out what has been causing the gradual decrease in road fatalities is close to impossible. Everyone from the vehicle... Read More

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Ten things you might not have known about ANCAP

Have you ever seen those little stars at the bottom of a car review? Ok, so you know what they are, and you know they're from ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program)but have you any idea of the ins and outs of how cars are tested? While many will have seen the super slow-mo collisions, not many will have heard some of the intricate details of the tests. This week we look for ten of the most interesting elements behind these... Read More

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Breaking in a new vehicle - A quick guide

Posted: 25/05/2012 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Fleet Management | Financial Tips | Occupational Health & Safety

You’re in your new car. Your finance has cleared and you're ready to go. All of a sudden the dealer’s mechanic makes the “wind your windows down” signal. Prepare yourself, he or she is about to potentially take all the fun out of your first 1000km. As annoying or overcautious as this advice may seem, the mechanic is doing you a huge favour. Poor care during the first thousand or so kilometres can have a real... Read More

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Vehicle recalls – The need to know guide

"This can result in the electrical system malfunctioning, the vehicle failing to start and, in some cases, charring or fire,". Those were the words of BMW on their most recent recall of around 1.3 million vehicles. While this latest recall is not the largest ormost dangerous on record it does give us a chance to discuss the subject. Indeed it's this very subject which gives car designers and fleet managers unending nightmares the world... Read More

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The other problems with speeding

“Almost 50 trucks with tampered speed limiters have been netted in three separate operations and NSW police say it's a 'systemic issue' for the industry.” That was the opening paragraph of an article from the Herald Sun on the recent tampered limiters truck fiasco. While it’s uncommon for fleet cars to have speed inhibitors, the story still makes uncomfortable reading for all fleet managers. This week we take a look at... Read More

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Australia’s top ten most fuel efficient vehicles

You’ve been there before, staring at the pumps with the price going higher and higher all the while thinking to yourself; “wasn’t I here just yesterday”? Just this week warnings have rippled all around Australia on the subject of fuel prices. In this environment the statistic of litres per 100km has been getting a lot more air time at the water cooler. With this, and a healthy curiosity towards the subject, we... Read More

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Comments:

Duncan said on 26/Mar/2012 10:36 AM

The main reason that people con't buy these fuel efficient cars is cost. If you work out the price to own / run the car for 3 years (a common time period these days) then you still have not even broken even on overall cost compared to a similar "non-green" car. I'd love to be proven wrong and things may have changed since I worked it all out late last year but extra cost has to be worth while. I am looking forward to it looking better next time we buy a car. Dnx

Craig said on 03/Apr/2012 10:01 AM

Hi, Toyota about to release another prius, called prius c which will start from $23,990. The electric cars should be compared with Oz electricity prices in mind, but if owner has solar cells, this will be cheaper. Some of these cars in list are manual versions, not prefered by some drivers. Oz petrol buyer behaviour is such that we will cross the road/do a u turn to save a few cents at another bowser. The BIG cars in Oz are now $30-40K. I can see why diesel SUVs are popular. My daily commute is shared with mostly single occupant cars. The market is there for an organised car pooling scheme, and buyers wanting new $15-25K cars with low fuel use. I'm seeing more i20s, Mazda2s, Yaris, Fiestas, Polos, etc . Melbourne prices over $1.50/litre this week. Perhaps couples/famillies will adopt the one big & one little car 'policy' or we hire big cars when we need one.......but nothing new in that. I would like to see a complete list of cars less than 7litres/100kms. cheers

Alan said on 05/Apr/2012 2:38 AM

Duncan is on the money. This is little more than a novelty comment. Any fleet manager worth his money would be talking about whole of life cost. If these vehicles have a higher premium cost, higher maintenance cost, excessive downtime because of maintenance issues, and consequently a lower resale cost because of the excessive maintenance and downtime much of the fuel savings are lost and they may in fact be a financial trap. As an example I can recall a particular truck model which used less fuel than its competitors and cost about $5000 less, but required a $15,000 engine build at 80,000 km; the manufacturer had to pull it off the market.

Toby said on 07/Aug/2012 11:58 AM

What about the Golf Bluemotion? This one is priced pretty low, and is rated for low fuel consumption. If you tested the fuel consumption to be higher, and excluded it on that basis, maybe that's worth another article.

shayne said on 19/Sep/2012 9:43 AM

If the Gov't would overhaul the registration CTP system so it's fair, then these cars would be a popular choice. I can afford two cars, one for working/holidays etc.- so a mid-large size with towing power. I'd also like a small car for commuting, general running around. What I can't afford is two greenslips, rego and insurance - and, I can only drive one at a time. This is the real problem.

Going green – The next steps to a greener fleet

The 24th of June 2010 was a big day for Australia. Julia Gillard was sworn into office with the help of a handful of independents and, most importantly, the Australian Green Party. Suddenly ambitious green policies become a real prospect. Tax concessions for green fleet managers are currently thin on the ground however in the current political environment this may not remain the case. While the concept of including car drivers in any... Read More

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Route planning - Your directions to lower costs

We all know the feeling, you’re on a road, in the middle of nowhere, with some very poor directions. You’ve been trying to coordinate both your map and your notes, but things are not going well. While satellite navigation systems have eliminated a lot of the problems in this area, it is still relatively easy to get lost. Proper route planning has never been easier but in a strange twist of fate its seems that the skill... Read More

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"Must drive better" - A guide to motivating your fleet drivers

Like any matter of the mind, motivation and its causes is a highly debated and at times confusing subject matter. As a fleet manager motivating drivers and other stakeholders to do the right thing, or avoid the wrong thing can be a real challenge. Providing the carrot can be difficult now that costs are tight and constantly using the stick becomes meaningless once it’s overused. So what are fleet managers to do? Motivate to do... Read More

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A drivers guide to mobile phone use

Everything used to be so simple; a driver would set out on his or her journey and promise to call the office or house for further instructions or updates when they had reached their destination. With the possible exception of worrying about where to find a pay phone, drivers had very little to think about when it came to phones within their vehicles. Oh how things have changed. From the retro car phone to the modern day smart phone, in... Read More

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Buying second hand cars for Novated Leases

Posted: 19/01/2012 By: Fleetcare Novated Lease Team and Rory Deegan
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Technology | Novated Lease

“Please, no tyre kickers!”. This hostile and largely meaningless warning adorns thousands of vehicle classified adverts online and offline all across Australia. The Australian second hand car market is as vibrant as ever before and the sellers remain unpredictable and varied. From private sellers to second hand car dealers to weekend warriors it seems that everyone has a stake in the second hand car industry.So to help... Read More

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Holiday driving, a non-crash course

Beach parties, Santa hats, work holidays and the highest number of road fatalities for any 5 day period in the entire year, welcome to the Christmas holidays. While most of us enjoy our annual rituals and customs which come with the festive season, our high Christmas road deaths have, in our recent history, become something of an inevitability. The figures have decreased and the messages of caution are slowly but surely being listened... Read More

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Preparing for the worst – Planning for accidents

“I just froze, I had no idea of what to do. In my panic I scanned my thoughts for any piece of advice I had ever received about dealing with a car crash, but I couldn’t think of anything”. Those are the words of a shaken Adelaide resident who was involved in a minor vehicle collision earlier this year. The unfortunate fact is that very few people are in fact prepared for the worst and even fewer have a fool proof... Read More

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Fleet Manager Series - Outsourcing, the big question

Posted: 09/12/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Fleet Management | GPS tracking

Anyone involved in managing a fleet of any size knows it’s a difficult and at times thankless task. Managing everything from fuel to FBT (fringe benefit tax) reporting it can seem that the work itself conspires to inexplicably build up at the most inconvenient and conflicting of times. With all this im mind we decided that this week we would write an article especially to help the small fleet manager (this is generally under 50... Read More

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Volkswagen fight for number 1 spot

It was 11.09am on a hot Perth morning at the VW drive day, my palms were sweaty and my heart was pounding, I was facing my first ever slalom time trial and I was nervous. As it turns out I posted an average speed and my trial went off without incident but that was just an aside. In the time waiting for my run at the course I had learned just how exciting VW and its future really is. VW progress In the past few years VW has been... Read More

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Fleet Manager Series - The tyre article

Posted: 11/11/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: (2)
Categories: | Driving Tips | Technology | Fleet Management | Financial Tips

“Ok today we’re going to talk to you about tyres, the presentation is 40 minutes long and we have tea, coffee and pastries for you guys”. Those were the words of a supplier of ours who was showing us his company’s new tyre range. I remember thinking that 40 minutes was a hell of a lot of time to talk about tyres, I mean how much can be said about black rubber circles? How wrong I was. I left the meeting convinced... Read More

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Fleet Manager Series - 5 numbers every fleet manager needs to know

Posted: 21/10/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: (1)
Categories: | Driving Tips | Fleet Management | Financial Tips

Like every area of business, key numbers and success measurements are critical in fleet management. For our friend the salesperson, success measurements are usually straightforward and promotions are gained on the back of big numbers, but how does the fleet manager measure his or her successes? This week I look at 5 key measurements which should be front of mind with all fleet managers who are looking to move their fleet forward towards... Read More

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Fleet Manager Series - 6 surprising facts about road accidents

Misplaced focus is a dangerous thing, from not concentrating on the road to focusing too much on one aspect of cost control, it’s generally only in retrospect when you realise the error of your ways. Cost control in fleet management can be a classic example of this, while some fleet managers fixate on cutting the fuel costs a single collision can wipe out all these savings with the push of a pedal. With this in mind I reveal some... Read More

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Venturing into the unknown - Tips on driving overseas

Posted: 07/10/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Occupational Health & Safety

“The only problem with Spain is all these foreign drivers” Those were the words of a naïve tourist (the “foreigners” he was refering to were the local Spanish) reporting on his Spanish holiday in an obscure 1980’s documentary. Whilst some may chuckle at his clear lack of perspective it must be noted that for many, driving abroad can be a harrowing and deeply alarming sensation and without adequate... Read More

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Better things to do - Everything you need to know about driver distraction

Posted: 29/09/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordintor
Comments: (1)
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Driving Tips

“Distracted drivers are dangerous drivers.” Those are the words of the most up to date driver awareness advertising campaign beaming its way into our living rooms. As factually correct as this statement may be, it can be argued that statements like this, along with shocking images of crashes etc, may not be enough to equip drivers with the tools they need to avoid in-car distraction. This week I explore the subject of driver... Read More

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What's involved in a vehicle service?

Posted: 04/08/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: (2)
Categories: | Driving Tips | Financial Tips | Novated Lease

Like most, I personally find car services are like stepping into the unknown. The idea of leaving your car in the hands of a stranger can seem counter intuitive and without knowing what’s happening it can also feel little worrying. What’s being done, what parts are being replaced, what exactly should I expect once the service has been completed? With all of this confusion in mind I set out to find out what was involved in... Read More

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Fleet cost reduction for the long haul

Posted: 24/06/2011 By: Rory Deegan - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Fleet Management | Financial Tips | GPS tracking

In a perfect world, goods and services would be bought or sold with scant regard for costs and people could glory in the comfort of purchases and consumption. Unfortuantely we do not live in that world. With Greece in crisis, the US broke and the global economy still a little bruised, “Austerity measures” has transformed the way we think about cost control. With these trends and the new culture of business cutbacks in mind... Read More

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GPS and Fleet Management

Since the American military released its first satellites in the “Block 1” launches back in 1979 the world of navigation has been forever altered. Long ago drivers relied on maps, intuition and local knowledge to get to customers and deliveries. Today when we peer into a police car or taxi we will see an entire dashboard of navigation and communication devices. Global positioning systems have changed the way we navigate,... Read More

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Getting the most out of Fuel Cards

The humble fuel card has, for many Australian businesses, replaced company credit cards and cash in an effort to allow accounts departments generate a clearer picture of how much fuel is costing their respective businesses. Fuel cards simply add up all the fuel purchases made by a business and charge monthly through a standard invoice. While most businesses are content with the standard benefits (discounts, reduced administrative cost,... Read More

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Safety tips for Easter road trips

Posted: 20/04/2011 By: Laura Taylor - Marketing Assistant
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Occupational Health & Safety

Easter is fast approaching and is the time of year that families travel far and wide to spend the long weekend together. In preparation for this busy time on the roads, we’ve put together some tips to ensure that you and your family have the safest Easter possible. Prepare your vehicle Conduct a 5 point safety check on tyres, brakes, suspension, lights and restraints. Check your tyre pressure when your tyres are cold, as... Read More

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Safety vs Cost Control

Posted: 25/02/2011 By: John Hutchison - Online Marketing Coordinator
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Fleet Management | Occupational Health & Safety

A question which is often avoided by car buyers, which is more important –keeping costs lowor safety? Many people want to appear as if safety is their highest priority, however more often than not, they will often choose a vehiclebased on low whole of life costs rather thanthe safety features. This is also a vital question for companies who own a fleet of vehicles. Businesses have the obligation of providing staff with a safe... Read More

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Top 5 bad habits your drivers have

Posted: 19/01/2011 By: Cindy Anthony - Marketing Assistant
Comments: (1)
Categories: | Driving Tips | Fleet Management | Financial Tips

Many of us see ourselves as good drivers - whether we’ve had our licence for 2 days or 2 decades. However, it can be said with confidence that we are all guilty of not driving with the best interests of our vehicles in mind. Small everyday things such as not using the parking brake, etc, are some of the causes in reducing the longevity of a vehicle. While bad habits can often be made light of, they are bad news for fleet owners... Read More

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5 vehicle checks to complete post flooding

Posted: 13/01/2011 By: Cindy Anthony - Marketing Assistant
Comments: none
Categories: | Automotive Industry News | Driving Tips | Government News

As the flood waters in Queensland slowly fall, Australia is left with the devastating aftermath. The unexpected flooding savaged people’s livelihoods from communities and created ghost towns in its place. For the people affected by this natural disaster, all of us at Fleetcare have you in our thoughts and prayers. If you managed to salvage your vehicle in the immediate aftermath there is still bound to be flood damage. However,... Read More

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Top tyre tips for festive road tripping

Posted: 21/12/2010 By: Cindy Anthony - Marketing Assistant
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips

‘Tis the season to be jolly - not to be stuck on the side of the road! This time of year, country roads are full of vehicles filled with people travelling to visit family, friends, or maybe just a good ol’ road-trip for the Christmas season. Most people are sensible enough check their car engine (oil, water etc) in preparation for the upcoming winter trips. However, one thing which is almost always overlooked is a car's... Read More

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Does your fleet really need premium?

Posted: 17/12/2010 By: Cindy Anthony - Marketing Assistant
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Fleet Management

It’s in middle of the day and you’re craving something sweet. Chocolate cake or a brownie? The cake sounds much more delectable than the brownie, but at the end of the day they both consist of the same product that will satisfy your craving. Chocolate. The same goes for when your car becomes a bit hungry. Amid the vast range of car-snacks comes the hard decision of which to choose. Premium or regular? We all know the cost... Read More

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Is your fleet in need of a security upgrade?

Posted: 09/12/2010 By: Cindy Anthony - Marketing Assistant
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Fleet Management | Financial Tips | GPS tracking

Imagine the inconvenience if one of the most active vehicles in your fleet was stolen, or broken into – causing irreparable damage and your driver to be off the road indefinitely or at least until you come up with an alternative.I suppose vehicle security should have been right up there with safety andperformance from the beginning but hindsight is a great gift isn't it?!However, being a person quick on your feet you decide on a... Read More

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Not Another Green Article!

Posted: 27/08/2010 By: Cliona Kenneally - Marketing Communications Manager
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Environmental News

Before you think “oh no, not another blog about green driving”, we’re not here to introduce a new age, super energy efficient, bio fuelled, electricity powered, emission free,hovercraft/car/green machine. We’re just reminding our readers thatyou don’t need to run out and buy a Prius, Leaf or Tesla to easeyour environmental conscience. There are a lot of everyday old school practices that are the most... Read More

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Mobile Apps Changing the Way We Drive

Posted: 13/08/2010 By: Laura Taylor - Marketing Assistant
Comments: (1)
Categories: | Driving Tips | Technology

Ever seen Kitt from KnightRider in action and wished you had a car like that? It might have seemed like a fantasy 20 years ago, but with technology these days it seems a car like this might not be too far off! The capability of the mobile phone is ever increasing, and now they can impact the way you use your car. With their downloadable applications you can now drive safer, reduce your carbon footprint and even find where you parked... Read More

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5 Simple Steps to Stop Fuel Cards from Declining

Posted: 11/06/2010 By: Whitney Perret - Client Services Officer
Comments: none
Categories: | Driving Tips | Fleet Management

There is nothing more annoying than having a fuel card declined. As a driver reaching in to your own pocket to pay for fuel can be extremely inconvenient. Not to mention the lengthy reimbursement process where drivers are left out of pocket and the loss of the fuel card discount.If you’re in charge of your company’s fleet implement these five simple steps & avoid those fuel card dramas. They might seem obvious but they... Read More

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Vehicle Maintenance 101

Posted: 20/05/2010 By: Peter Shelley - Head of Maintenance at Fleetcare
Comments: (1)
Categories: | Driving Tips

Basic car maintenance is not beyond the average driver. Most likely the best bit of help you can get when carrying out some basic checks is still in the same place as when you first got the car - in the glove box! You should find the drivers handbook there and this will give you all the information you need to know specifically about your vehicle. Even if you personally don't plan on carrying out any maintenance on your vehicle have a... Read More

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5 Ways Small Business Can Benefit from Outsourcing Their Fleet Management

Posted: 15/04/2010 By: Bowan Spanbroek
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Categories: | Driving Tips | Fleet Management

If your business has over 2 vehicles you could now consider it a fleet and get the benefits that come along with owning a fleet. Over the past decade fleet management companies have uncovered the small business market as a valuable prospect, creating innovative solutions that help small businesses cut down on their overheads and administration time. These days you don’t need 1000+ vehicles to benefit from outsourcing fleet... Read More

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5 Safety Tips for Country Christmas Driving

Posted: 17/12/2009 By: Bowan Spanbroek
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Categories: | Driving Tips

Christmas is a great time of year to venture out into the Australian countryside for a break with the family. So please read these 5 simple tips to ensure you have a safe and happy Christmas trip. Turning off the road. When turning right, across traffic, have your wheels pointed straight ahead rather than right. This way, if hit from behind you will not be knocked into oncoming traffic Road Trains. Impatience with large trucks has... Read More

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Fleet Safety: Are you steering your company towards a productivity iceberg?

Posted: 17/11/2009 By: Bowan Spanbroek
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Categories: | Driving Tips | Technology | Fleet Management

We all know the tragic price families and friends pay because of mobile phone usage on the road. But now there is another cost being identified, the loss in productivity for big business. You could be sailing along fine at the moment but all fleet managers should stop and peer into the distance to avoid a productivity disaster. What does the iceberg look like? Heinrich’s Accident Pyramid proposes that for every 300 unsafe acts,... Read More

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5 Steps to Reduce Your Fleet Emissions

Posted: 21/10/2009 By: Bowan Spanbroek
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Categories: | Driving Tips | Fleet Management

The prospect of saving on operating costs and reducing your carbon footprint is too good to pass up. By implementing these five simple steps you can reduce your fleet overheads while enhancing your company’s environmental image. 1. Measure Your Fleet – Obtain an accurate picture of you current emissions rate. Gaining a clear and accurate picture of your company’s current emission output is obviously the first step in... Read More

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