Commercial Fleet Management - Building Long Term Relationships
sgfleet’s relationship with National Foods Limited, one of Australia’s largest food and beverage companies, with brands such as Pura, Dairy Farmers, Moove, Yoplait and Berri, dates back to 1997.
As a specialist in the heavy commercial fleet market place sgfleet manages a fleet of specialised heavy commercial vehicles across three states for National Foods. “The administration and management of a heavy vehicle fleet is not where our expertise lies,” says Michael Read, General Manager Group Finance, National Foods. “We have some very specialised needs and sgfleet’s experience means we can confidently hand over this non core part of our business to them. In some areas it further suits us to use sgfleet more from a straight leasing and advisory capacity”
sgfleet’s Commercial Division has over 11 years experience in the commercial fleet management business. With over 30% if its 70,000 strong fleet in the heavy commercial asset category, sgfleet are well qualified to offer world class commercial fleet management solutions.
What can only be described as a long term strategic relationship between sgfleet and National Foods began during a critical expansion phase for National Foods.
In the late 1990’s National Foods were in expansion mode and there was a need to outsource non core activities. This resulted in sgfleet (then NAB Commercial Fleet) being awarded the management of the Victorian metropolitan based Pura Milk refrigerated truck distribution fleet under a three year fleet management agreement. This was followed in 2001, by the delivery of a fleet of prime movers and tankers to their Western Australian farm collection business. Both these agreements remain in place today, with sgfleet partnering with National Foods to manage a systematic replacement program for these vehicles.
Over the next decade sgfleet continued to provide commercial vehicle solutions to National Foods with the delivery of; a prime mover to King Island in Bass Straight to assist with production of the world class King Island cheeses, a fleet of refrigerated rigid trucks to South Australia, and specialised refrigerated trailers used in supermarket delivers to Western Australia
But sgfleet’s relationship extends well beyond vehicle delivery. “We rely on sgfleet to manage among other things, vehicle registration, a 24 hour emergency breakdown service, a comprehensive maintenance program and vehicle disposal with no residual value risk to us,” says Mr Read. “They are very flexible and generally have a solution that meets our needs.”
In 2005 sgfleet worked closely with National Foods staff at the Preston depot in Victoria to develop a specialised, multi purpose vehicle for the carting and delivery of milk. “sgfleet worked with us every step of the way on this complex fleet replacement project,” says Mr Read. “The refrigerated trucks needed to be designed to incorporate OH&S features, be suitable to cope with smaller milk bar deliveries as well as supermarket loading docks, include a temperature control system and be able cope with a diminishing load while keeping a legal load over each axle.”
According to Mr Read, sgfleet’s product offering is one of their strengths. “Their maintenance program includes repair authorisation, bill vetting and payment administration. And their fully maintained operating lease facility means that we enjoy the benefits of off balance sheet funding, zero residual risk as well as the ability to keep the cost of running our fleet to a minimum.”
“As the focus on cost savings becomes a priority for many Australian business, we have looked to sgfleet to help us deliver savings” says Mr Read.
“National Foods’, like sgfleet have a vision to be a leader in the markets in which they compete,” says David Threlfall, sgfleet General Manager Commercial Division. “So our collaboration was bound to be a success.”
For more information contact:
Carolyn Taylor
(02) 9494 1000
ctaylor@sgfleet.com
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