The best way for continued business success is to plan for the unexpected. Preparing for any eventuality, whether it is looking to upcoming events, investing in contingency plans or simply booking dates into your diary, is essential for any fleet operator.
At this time of year, we're working closely with our clients to help you with your strategic plans. There's lots to look forward to over the next 12 months, so there's no time like the present when it comes to forward thinking.
As road transport consultants, we're sharing some of our key insights to make it easier for you to plan your year, map out your budgets and reduce your stress levels.
So, before we embark on a new year, let's explore some key trends and events that may impact your transportation business.
The economic landscape remains uncertain.
As much as we wish we had a crystal ball, there's still no way of knowing how much the economic landscape may change over the next 12 months.
But there are some things that we can guarantee.
Inflation
While inflation rates may have stabilised, bus and coach companies should still closely monitor their costs and adjust their pricing strategies accordingly.
Each year, we're constantly talking about the need to renegotiate contracts. You don't want to find that you're stuck in outdated contracts, which are causing you to lose money.
We advise looking closely at any time-specific contracts. If you have any long-term contracts coming to an end in the next 12 months, you must factor in time to negotiate or build in new client acquisition into your key priorities.
If you're not sure which contracts you can renegotiate or how to manage the communication with your clients, talk to us. Our role as transport consultants is to guide you through the process and work with your clients to maintain profitability.
Fuel Prices
It's almost certain that fuel prices will remain volatile. You may want to start exploring what alternative options are available. For example, investing in EV transportation may help you reduce fuel costs while mitigating any potential clean air zone fees.
We suspect that it won't be long before passengers begin to expect bus and coach companies to provide sustainable transportation.
Of course, we're well aware that a transition to EV will require significant investment.
However, we can talk to you about your options and how you can minimise your fuel costs in the meantime.
Supply Chains
There is a risk that ongoing supply chain disruptions might persist, impacting the availability of parts, vehicles, and other resources.
Our advice is to pay close attention to any parts that you may need and factor in longer lead times so you don't get caught out.
Regulatory updates to be aware of
Driver CPC training
There are still many unknowns about the changes to driver CPC training. Earlier this year, the previous Conservative government announced plans to potentially change the requirements so it's more flexible for drivers who wish to only drive in the UK.
The plan, which hadn't yet received parliamentary approval, was to differentiate between an international driver CPC and a national driver CPC. However, it is currently unknown whether these changes will still take place.
In the meantime, we suggest that you carry on as usual. As soon as we know anything different, we'll let you know.
Our recommendation as transport consultants is to continue to check that your drivers are up to date with their CPC hours. As part of your 2025 planning, we always recommend planning any required training as early as possible so you can book dates that suit you with minimal disruption.
To help you on your way, why not check out our latest training dates?
Clean Air Zones
Before planning any journey, make sure you check the official government website to see if there are any CAZs on the route. You don't want to risk any fines caused by failing to pay the fees.
To simplify the process, you can create an online account. This will allow you to manage multiple vehicles and set up payment charges for each vehicle within your fleet.
Technology Trends that could aid efficiencies
We briefly mentioned the growing public support for EV buses and coaches. There are considerable benefits to transitioning your fleet, and this is something that we can offer advice and guidance on.
However, we anticipate that most technology trends will involve the growing use of AI and automation in the digitisation of administrative tasks. Many new digital tools can aid your fleet management, support your proactive maintenance, improve your supply chain management, and enhance your customer communications.
We can help you navigate these new tools and explain how these can continue to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
Our road transportation consultancy services will help you navigate 2025.
With our support and help, we can aid your 2025 preparations in three key areas -
Training and Development.
We will ensure that your drivers are up-to-date with the latest regulations and industry best practices. As part of this, our team will also identify any additional training workshops that your administrative and support staff may need.
Operational Efficiency.
Together, we can optimise your operations to improve profitability and reduce costs. We can identify where you can make clear savings, help you renegotiate contracts and identify potential areas of business growth.
Strategic Planning.
We can develop a robust plan to address your operational challenges and identify any opportunities that may emerge in 2025. With our holistic insights, we can support you and give you the tools you need to thrive.
To find out how we can help you, please get in touch.
Comments