Fleet
Expert Fleet Management Solutions for Your Business
At Merchant West Fleet, we offer expert fleet management solutions tailored to your unique business needs. Our approach begins with a thorough understanding of your business model, industry, and vehicle operating conditions. By assessing your existing fleet mix and vehicle management policies, we identify any operational pain points and inefficiencies. With this comprehensive insight, we design a customised fleet management strategy that addresses your specific requirements and supports your long-term objectives.
Our Fleet Management & Leasing Options
We understand that each business can have unique needs when it comes to operating a fleet of vehicles. With the continuous technological advances to vehicles over a long period of time, and embedded products provided by the respective OEM’s, i.e. Service and Maintenance Plans, we have created the necessary flexibility for customers to choose options where leasing vehicles is concerned.
Our three Leasing Options are designed to include the absolute basic services customers normally require and you decide if additional services are required to meet your unique business and vehicle operating objectives at any time during the period.
Full Maintenance Lease
Our no-nonsense product that keeps your business mobile with minimum fuss.
You don’t want your cash tied up in vehicles and at the same time you want to optimise the management of your fleet.
You are wary of the risks associated with unexpected maintenance expenses and you want a consistent monthly fleet cost that you can budget for.
Operating Lease
Optimise your cash flow & control costs associated with the management of your fleet.
Our Operating Lease will provide you with an efficient usage based contract where you manage the costs of maintenance and tyres or outsource this function to us to ensure costs incurred are appropriate. This option includes a maintenance authorisation desk plus an invoice scrutiny service before providing you with a consolidated maintenance invoice at month end.
Dynamic Lease
Leasing that offers ownership and flexible usage options.
This is our ‘Lease to Own’ solution that gives you the option to purchase the vehicle at the end of the lease at the stipulated purchase option price but you are under no obligation to do so. This contract can be restructured at any time to adjust the purchase option price and the usage parameters or to include / exclude the optional services.
Key Components of Fleet Management
Fleet management is a multifaceted process that goes beyond day-to-day vehicle oversight. It involves strategic decisions around vehicle selection, lifecycle management, cost control, and driver analytics to ensure both efficiency and safety. By managing key components—such as procurement, funding, tracking, and compliance—businesses can streamline their operations, reduce costs, and improve overall performance. A strong focus on environmental sustainability and operational transparency is also essential for achieving long-term success.
Benefits of Leasing for Fleet Management
Leasing offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional vehicle financing, with lower payments that help optimise cash flow. Unlike fixed-term loans, leasing aligns with predicted vehicle usage, offering greater flexibility and the ability to include maintenance, tyres, and insurance in a single transaction. With ownership retained by the lessor, fleet customers avoid the risks of vehicle ownership and reduce the administrative burden. Leasing also brings significant cost savings across the vehicle’s lifecycle through proactive fleet management, from procurement to maintenance and usage.
Leasing Options vs Bank Finance
Customers are often faced with the dilemma when choosing whether to lease vehicles or to finance vehicles through a loan agreement with the bank.
Leasing fleet vehicles is ideal if the customer prefers lower monthly payments (improved cashflow), replacing vehicles at optimal points (kilometer/period), and requires all vehicle operating costs managed through a single monthly transaction. Whilst leasing does have mileage limitations, and if not managed, can become a very expensive option, however leasing does provide the necessary flexibility to align contracts to the actual mileage travelled.
Financing vehicles (instalment sale) is better if the customer prefers vehicle ownership at the end of the loan period and thereafter ‘sweat the assets’, can financially manage the higher monthly payments and increased maintenance costs. Customers often fall into the trap of financing over the longest term, to ensure the lowest instalment, without considering the mileage to be travelled over the term i.e. customers doing high mileage will incur high maintenance costs long before the vehicle is paid up.
Why Choose Us?
Get in touch today and let our fleet specialists craft a tailored solution that drives your business forward—hassle-free and cost-effective!
Fleet
Frequently Asked Questions
Fleet management encompasses the strategies and technologies employed by businesses to oversee their commercial vehicle fleets. This broad field includes essential tasks such as maintaining vehicles, managing fuel usage, ensuring driver safety, and planning logistics.
The primary aim of fleet management is to enhance operational efficiency, lower costs, and boost overall performance. This often involves utilising various tools and technologies, including software, GPS tracking, telematics, and other advanced systems that offer real-time data. These insights are crucial for optimizing fleet operations and achieving better outcomes. Discover all you need to know about fleet management here.
Leasing helps preserve capital by avoiding large upfront costs, offers predictable monthly expenses, and provides flexibility to adjust your fleet as needed. It also ensures access to newer vehicles, reduces maintenance costs, and offers potential tax benefits.
Fleet managers are responsible for overseeing the daily operations and upkeep of a company’s vehicle fleet. Their role involves selecting and monitoring vehicles, ensuring they are used efficiently, routing them effectively, and maintaining them properly.
Additionally, fleet managers handle driver management, control fleet-related expenses, and ensure compliance with legal regulations.
To enhance efficiency and effectiveness, fleet managers often utilise vehicle telematics systems integrated with fleet management software and hardware.
The process of finding the right fleet management solution typically includes identifying your business needs, understanding the features offered by different suppliers, confirming IT requirements, and establishing service expectations.
Leasing requires lower initial outlay compared to buying, which improves cash flow and allows you to invest more in your core business.
Many lease agreements include maintenance packages, covering routine servicing and repairs, which reduces your management burden and unexpected costs.
Lease payments are often considered operating expenses and may be tax-deductible, providing potential tax benefits.
Yes, leasing allows you to drive newer vehicles more frequently, ensuring access to the latest technology and safety features.
Leasing simplifies asset management and reduces the risk of vehicle depreciation, making it easier to adjust your fleet based on business needs.
At the end of your lease, you have the option to either return the vehicle to us, or to purchase the vehicle at a market-related value. If your actual mileage is below the contract mileage, you also have the option to further extend the lease, reducing costs even further.
