News – Page 28
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Microsoft trials mileage reports to monitor fleet CO2
Microsoft is trialling mileage reporting devices in company cars in a bid to educate its drivers about the number of miles they drive and the amount of carbon emissions they create.The move will also give the software company an idea of the amount of damage its 4,000-strong fleet does to ...
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Corporate Manslaughter Act receives royal assent
The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act has received royal assent.From 6 April 2008, organisations whose gross corporate failures in health and safety lead to the death of individuals will face prosecution for manslaughter and an unlimited fine.Proving corporate fault rather than identifying an individual for blame, as was previously ...
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Government welcomes input over King Review of low-carbon cars
The government has opened a consultation around the King Review of low-carbon cars, which is looking at how road transport emissions can be cut over the next 25 years.The consultation period is set to close on 20 August, following which an announcement on the legislative change around low-carbon cars and ...
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Concern over car phone use
More than two-thirds (70%) of business drivers still admit to making calls while on the road, despite the extension of the Road Safety Act 2006 in February, which increased the penalty for those caught using a mobile phone while driving.Perhaps more alarmingly 7% of business drivers still refuse to use ...
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Traffic offences rise for company car drivers
Traffic offences such as jumping red lights or yellow box junction violations among company car drivers have risen by an average of 28% in the first quarter of 2007, according to LeasePlan's Quarterly driver survey. Speeding and bus lane violations have also both increased by 7%. Parking fines, however, have ...
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ALD extends its carbon offsetting offerings
ALD Automotive has extended its carbon offsetting initiative to enable individual drivers to make donations to the Woodland Trust. Previously, drivers could only do so if their employer had signed up to the Carbon Offset initiative. Drivers can make monthly donations to the charity through direct debit with the amount ...
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Firms put greener action plans on car travel in place
More employers are moving to environmentally-friendly company car schemes, including Morrison, which is increasing the choice of green models, and Xerox, which is matching up staff who travel on the same routes to lift share.Support services group Morrison intends to broaden the choice of manufacturers in its contract hire scheme ...
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Advisory fuel rates on the rise
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is to increase the advisory fuel rates for company car drivers from August 1 so that they fall in line with rises in fuel costs.The move means that employers will now be able to reimburse drivers in large petrol 2000cc company cars that pay for ...
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Barclays fleet records its lowest carbon emissions
Barclays has recorded its lowest monthly average CO2 emissions for its company car scheme.This month, it has recorded a level of 155 grams of CO2 per kilometre.The company has been measuring its drivers’ emissions since March 2005, and last December made changes to its company car policy by introducing financial ...
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Cars and fleet - definition - All employee car ownership plan (AECOP)
An all employee car ownership plan (AECOP) allows all employees who are not entitled to a company car of any description to purchase a vehicle at a discounted rate. An all employee car ownership plan usually favours larger companies which have a strong buying power with car manufacturers.Both McDonald's and ...
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Cars and fleet - definition - Personal contract plan
A personal contract plan (PCP) is a type of employee car ownership scheme that allows an employer either wholly or partially to sacrifice the responsibility for the company car and offers employees the opportunity to have a vehicle under similar conditions to the company car. Under a personal contract plan, ...
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Cars and fleet - definition - Employee car ownership scheme
As the cash alternative to contract car hire and outright purchase, an employee car ownership scheme allows an employee to spend a certain amount of cash, determined by their employer, on a car of their choice through monthly payments.The employee signs a contract with a car leasing company to purchase ...
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Cars and fleet - definition - Outright purchase
This is when an organisation actually buys the company car, usually in bulk for discounted deals, and loans it to employees. In this instance, employers are responsible for the administration and will also have to ensure, subject to employee contracts, that the car is adequately maintained, fit for purpose and ...
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Cars and fleet - definition - Contract hire
Contract hire is where a company hires a car from a car leasing company for a determined period of time and for an agreed monthly cost, and the car leasing company deals with the fleet administration.Contract hire leasing schemes are often thought to remove the responsibility of running the fleet ...
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Ikea to switch UK fleet to lower emission hybrids
Ikea is to move its entire UK company car fleet to low emission hybrid vehicles as part of its bid to cut carbon emissions.In the first phase of its hybrid vehicle initiative, Ikea UK, part of the Swedish home furnishings company, will buy up to 50 Honda Civic Hybrid cars, ...
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One Stop Stores makes move towards green cars
Retailer One Stop Stores hopes to move two-thirds of its company car drivers into low-emission vehicles within 12 months.To encourage staff to make this move, it has offered its 160 contract hire drivers a far greater choice of low-emission cars.It is also making sure that staff are aware of the ...
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HMRC consultation open on Amaps
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published an open letter asking for comment on three possible changes to the current structure of Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (Amaps).In looking at possible ways that the current structure of Amaps might be changed, HMRC indicates it will be looking at: an option for ...
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Small fleets unconcerned by green issues
Employers with fleets of less than 100 company cars do not see environmental issues as a key concern.instead, some of their key issues include: driver licence checking; making employees aware of the smoking ban; risk management issues; keeping on top of fleet administration and reducing overall vehicle operating costs. Environmental ...
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More than half of organisations are unprepared for proposed manslaughter bill
Just over half (51%) of organisations are not prepared for the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill, yet over a third (38%) think that it will affect them when it comes into force. The Bill is due to come into effect from 1 July.A further 48% that are aware of ...
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Hybrid vehicles can reduce company's tax load
Company car tax is increasingly based on green credentials, so hybrid vehicles can lighten an organisation’s tax load, says Jenny KeefeWhile Leonardo DiCaprio is frequently snapped driving around LA in his eco-friendly Toyota Prius, hybrid cars are still a rare sight in UK car parks. Yet picking a hybrid can ...