One of the UK’s largest mixed fuel companies has slashed average waiting times by more than 50 per cent for motorists who have misfuelled – with the help of WEBFLEET from TomTom Telematics.
Contact centre agents at City Fuel Services are using the fleet management solution to dispatch mobile fuel technicians to stranded motorists more efficiently. Every technician who is a member of the City Fuel Services’ accredited network is now provided with an in-cab TomTom PRO 5250 – a portable, all-in-one, navigation and tracking unit – that automatically routes them to customers.
“Misfuelling is a common occurrence among drivers, particularly the inadvertent pumping of petrol into diesel tanks, and when it happens it’s vital the fuel system is drained,” said City Fuel Services’ CEO Daniel Cross.
“WEBFLEET has become the glue that holds our network of fuel technicians together, helping us to get motorists back on the road as quickly as possible.
“We are able to see our technicians’ whereabouts and receive accurate ETAs, based on traffic and historic road use data, enabling us to allocate jobs based on who will arrive to customers the quickest, rather than simply who is closest.”
Motorists also receive automatic SMS text messages, alerting them when technicians have been dispatched and linking them to an online map that tracks their journey progress, providing reassurance to the mis-fueller.
City Fuel Services’ deployment of WEBFLEET was supported by TomTom Telematics partner G-Force Communications.
Higher speeding fines come into force
Drivers caught speeding will soon face stricter penalties and much higher fines, based on what they earn.
From April 24, 2017, new rules will come into place in the UK, this will mean offenders could now be charged up to 175% of their weekly income. In the UK, the current mini penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and three penalty points on your licence. The maximum fine is £1,000 or £2,500 for motorway offences.
New guidelines set to come in next month will see those caught driving over 101mph in a 70mph speed limit potentially disqualified for up to 56 days, with a fine of between 125 to 175 per cent of their weekly income.
If you’re caught going between 31 and 40mph in a 30mph zone will will get three penalty points and a fine between 25 to 75 per cent of your weekly income. Many drivers can get away without points and a fine by paying to attend a speed awareness course.
New legislation follows as tougher penalties that have been brought into place for motorists caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel. The penalties have now doubled for those caught, from three points and a £100 fine to six points and a £200 fine.
How much will I be fined if I’m caught speeding?
The new speeding system has been split into three bands, the bands will rate the severity of the offence based on the speed limit. Band A will relate to an offence that is between 1 and 10mph over the speed limit. Offences in the B band are for drivers who are caught from 11 to 21mph over the legal speed limit, a band C offence is above 21mph and above the stated speed limit.
Band A fine is 50% of your weekly wage.
Band B fine is 100% of your weekly wage
Band C fine is 150% of your weekly wage rising up to 175%