Caring for our LCVs and company cars
Light Commercial Vehicles and company cars play an undeniable part in supporting individual and collective economies across Europe. Every day, thousands of vans, pick-ups and cars ply their trade, making deliveries, transporting goods and conveying drivers and passengers to their next place of work. Despite this, their importance is often overlooked. While safety and efficiency are of paramount importance to all road users, cars and vans don’t always face the same high levels of scrutiny as trucks.
Although heavily laden, long-haul journeys aren’t typically the domain of LCVs and company cars. Where trucks are often found covering the miles on motorways, LCVs are making the critical ‘last mile’ deliveries in urban and rural areas. The stop-start traffic of towns and cities and varying road conditions put additional wear on the brakes and suspension. Despite not covering as many daily miles as HGVs, LCVs out and about in the community are likely to be on the road for the majority of the day, which is a recipe for wear and tear.
The COVID-19 pandemic, too, has magnified these issues. In the UK, restrictions implemented during the first wave of the virus saw the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency extend the expiry dates of mandatory safety tests by six months. Though the organisation was keen to emphasise that it was drivers’ legal responsibility to ensure their vehicle was in roadworthy condition, it meant that owners and operators had to take on a higher degree of trust.
Building awareness and action around greater LCV and car maintenance needs will undoubtedly be brought about by enhanced regulation. There are, however, some simple day-to-day checks that technicians, fleet managers and owner-drivers can undertake to help reduce the risk to themselves and other road users. Tyre checks, route planning, securing loads, monitoring and topping up fluids and light tests should all be actioned frequently to maximise safety and efficiency.
Using a premium performance engine lubricant, such as Texaco Havoline ProDS, can boost overall efficiency and reliability. Each Texaco Havoline ProDS lubricant is designed to meet the specifications of major car and van manufacturers and can help to improve fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions by reducing friction losses in the engine. Texaco Havoline’s Deposit Shield technology also reduces the build-up of harmful deposits, which helps to cut competent wear and extend the engine’s life. Operators can also use Techron, patented fuel system cleaners that helps fight the build-up of deposits in the fuel intake system.
Trucks aren’t the only workhorses out on the roads. Look beyond the hustle and bustle of the motorway and you’ll find a fleet of cars and vans working hard to meet our every need. Perhaps it’s time they gain the attention they deserve.
