The results have now been released, and the findings showed that 64% have stated that fuel-efficient tyres are key to the sustainability solution. This equates to 2/3 of the number of respondents in the survey. Fuel-efficient tyres were the second most important solution, with Telematics solutions able to produce and monitor the fuel consumption coming in as the top piece of kit needed to achieve sustainability.
UK Fleet Operators
Focusing on the responses from UK-based fleet operators, 98% responded that sustainability was a very important issue for their business. 69% of those who had a fleet with over 500 vehicles said sustainability was the most important issue. 60% of those with vehicles numbering 10 or less also agreed. The general manager of Commercial UK&I, Goodyear, Kate Norton, said, “Fuel-efficient tyres are a significant cost saver for fleets. As we endure this period of high energy prices, it’s no surprise that fleets are continuing to practise greater attention to detail when it comes to tyres and other material differences that can really help boost fleet efficiency.”
Legislation Being Recognised
In 2021 the responses from many fleet operators suggested that they did not have a particularly comprehensive knowledge of current environmental legislation in their own countries. This has vastly improved, and now 91% have said they fully understand current and upcoming legislation that applies to their sector. Having this knowledge goes further than just complying with government laws; it puts the operators in a very strong strategic position and aligns them with the efforts of the government to improve the sustainability of the industry.
Some Issues Remain
Overall the results of the survey painted a very positive picture, but there are still a few issues that need to be tackled. One of these is the fact that the cost is fairly prohibitive for those with small athletes. 60% said upfront costs cannot possibly justify any future return on their investment, making it a significant barrier when it comes to many of the solutions. 72% of survey respondents, no matter what size of the fleet they had, said that financial incentives had a big part to play as they could not deny the encouragement these gave businesses to improve their sustainability. Fleets, like everyone, are feeling the impact of a higher cost of living and the current economic environment.
Modern Solutions are Expensive
Continuing on the finance side of things, the fact that many tools to improve sustainability are complex and require installation keeps them out of reach for many companies. However, overall, Kate Norton said that the results of the survey were very positive, and she was encouraged by the responses and the effort that the fleet operators have demonstrated