Yorkshire-based commercial insurance broker, McCarron Coates, has developed a bespoke insurance solution for all the dedicated van operators driving Britain’s economy in a compliant, professional way.
The Leeds-based insurance brokerage has worked with insurer QBE to create a bespoke policy for the leading organisation in UK logistics, the FTA. This is now exclusively available to van drivers participating in the FTA’s ‘Van Excellence’ scheme as current members, or as new entrants taking out membership with the policy’s assistance.
The policy cannot be found elsewhere and offers UK van drivers every incentive to embrace the Van Excellence scheme and improve their risk. It will cover any size of fleet wishing to put drivers through the training and auditing of best practice conducted by Van Excellence trainers and inspectors, from fleets with just a few vans, to those with thousands.
The insurance package offers the policyholder a benefit of their choice. It can pay for the cost of the first year’s membership of Van Excellence on the policyholder’s behalf, or for the cost of a half-day’s training from the FTA, or a Van Excellence audit, or a complimentary year’s subscription to the Guide to Van Excellence.
This added-value reflects an appreciation of the risk management benefits of a Van Excellence code of best practice focusing on three areas: vehicle, driver and operation, which can significantly change the safety culture within a business with a van fleet, or in a haulage operation in which vans have traditionally not been regarded in the same light as HGVs when it comes to risk management and driver training.
Additionally, the cover includes access to a free telematics App, with extensive reporting functionality regarding both drivers and vehicles, and 90-day access to CheckedSafe App which assists with the legal responsibility of carrying out daily vehicle checks on all commercial vehicles, prior to their use.
Ian McCarron says: “This policy has been designed and written specifically for fleet managers and SMEs who recognise the need to instil best practice within the drivers who act as ambassadors for their brand on the road. It tailors its premiums and cover to a scenario in which a business is striving to achieve or maintain the Van Excellence standard and, therefore, managing its risk as a consequence of that.”
Paul Coates adds: “The premiums we are offering are fiercely competitive and the package is full of added-value benefits which can help a fleet display, or continue to display, a logo that police, DVSA inspectors and others know is meaningful and not won without a commitment to high standards.”
McCarron Coates is one of the north’s most respected commercial insurance brokers and transport sector insurance specialists. It has started to work with some of Britain’s biggest transport sector fleets and continue to supply on-point broking advice to other clients with which they have had long associations.
