Vanarama advises tradespeople to secure the most expensive tool in their box

May 22, 2012 - PRLog -- Over *£5.8 million is paid each day by the British insurance industry on claims made against commercial vehicle insurance.  With this in mind vanarama.co.uk is advising van owners to protect their vehicle and its contents by kitting it out properly when they take out their van lease.

“A van is not just a means of getting from A to B; for many small business owners it acts as an office on wheels, an advertising bill-board, a well-equipped workshop and a stockroom too.  A theft from your van or damage to your load is not just an inconvenient pain, but it can have a knock-on effect on your business – if you arrive on site and find the tools to do the job are stolen or broken you will not just lose time, but possibly credibility and therefore customers as well,” says Andy Alderson, managing director of vanarama.co.uk.  Plenty can be done to a van to help prevent these losses and inconveniences though:

Tracking device: To protect what is probably the most expensive tool in your businesses, it is worth fitting a tracker, which uses GPS (Global Positioning Technology) to plot a vehicle’s location.   As well as providing vital information if your van is stolen, many trackers now include the technology to monitor fuel consumption by journey which means you can save on fuel by adjusting travelling patterns.
Alarms and Immobilisers – Although immobilisers have been a mandatory requirement on all new vans since 1998, if a choice is given, it is always worth upgrading to the most secure devices possible.
Securing your fuel and catalytic converter– rising fuel prices combined with deep economic recession has meant that fuel theft has risen by **55% in just five years.   Catalytic converters too, are increasingly being targeted by thieves because of the value of the precious metals they contain. Specifying top-notch fuel tank alarm systems and catalytic converter theft deterrent systems will help to prevent you from becoming a target of this type of crime.
Ply-lining – your van is an asset.  Protect its’ residual value from dents and damage by getting it ply-lined or using a ply-lining kit.
Roofbars and Rails – you need to think about how you are going to use these.  If most of your heavy materials are delivered to site direct from a supplier then you might just need to have a front and rear bar.  If you tend to carry a lot or materials yourself, then a more sophisticated system is needed.  Always remember, your van is another part of your business and health and safety rules apply here too. Any accidents to you or your team could be costly.
Racking – The racking on your van needs to withstand the day to day abuse it gets from a typical tradesman!  The right van racking doesn’t just help keep your load secure, by having your tools and equipment stored in an organised way you avoid downtime too.
Pipe Carriers – available in different lengths help get the kit to site without it getting marked, or leaving unsightly scratches on your van.

“Most small businesses can’t afford the luxury of a mixed fleet of vehicles.  Their van has to carry out a multitude of tasks and is often the single most important asset of their business.  By putting time into researching the accessories available for their van and getting the specification right when they take out their lease, it’s easy to assure the smoothest ride possible over the lease period,” concludes Vanarama’s Andy Alderson.



*In the year 2010-11 855,000 commercial vehicle insurance claims were made, £5.8 million was paid each day in claim payments - Source ABI UK Insurance Industry key facts report Sept 2011.
**Source Metropolitan Police - Theft from motor vehicle offences, where the property is fuel.  Calendar years 2007 – 2011.