Holman has driven off with the What Van? Fleet Management Company award for 2025 as a consequence of the extraordinary progress it says it has made over the last 12 months. It has generated over £100m in service, maintenance and repair savings for its customers, it states.
It claims to be able to get vehicles that have had to go into a workshop for repairs back on the road 40% faster than its competitors, at an average of 2.84 days compared with seven days. The latter is the industry norm, says Holman.
For a fleet of 200 this translates to an annual £150,000-plus saving Holman contends as a consequence of the reduction in downtime. This assumes that a quarter of the fleet experiences some downtime annually at an average cost of £700 for each incident.
It has a downtime control team made up of experienced technicians who are adept at identifying alternative fixes and solutions. They speed up repairs but without sacrificing quality, says the company.
“They work closely with approved suppliers, ensure the use of OEM-quality parts at reduced costs, and prevent unnecessary work,” says a spokesman. “This has contributed to a £37m saving in mechanical repairs alone.”
Holman’s flexible financing solutions delivering thousands of pounds of savings have helped transition 26% of vehicles supplied on lease to battery-electric models, it reveals. The transition has been accompanied by guidance addressing areas such as home charging and driver training.
The stance it adopts allows clients to benefit in full from any incentives to go electric that may be available while achieving their sustainability targets.
Some 25,000 drivers have been enrolled in its Riskmaster risk management programme. The detailed risk profiles the programme creates enable businesses to identify hazardous driving habits, deliver targeted training, and reduce the number of accidents they suffer.
The last 12 months saw more than 7,500 online skills assessments completed along with over 62,000 licence checks, ensuring driver compliance and keeping the firm’s clients legal. Holman’s aim is to nurture a culture of safety in fleets, helping businesses protect their drivers and ensure they return home safely each night while keeping costs under control.
Holman’s approach to vehicle disposal has resulted in £833,500 worth of remarketing profits being returned to its customers, it reports. Many other leasing companies retain these profits, it asserts.Holman helps clients de-fleet vehicles at the right time, it explains, maximising their second-hand value.
It uses data-driven insights to guide decisions on whether to repair, maintain or replace. In some cases replacement cycles can be stretched to as long as eight years without any significant issues, the company points out.
As a consequence clients can continue to derive value from their existing fleet while benefiting from cost savings from the extended lease, typically saving 50% on leases extended by six to eight months, Holman contends.
In 2023 Holman signed one of the biggest fleet management deals ever, inking a seven-year agreement to look after BT Group’s 37,000 vans, trucks and specialist vehicles along with plant and ancillary equipment. The contract covers everything from service, maintenance and repair to glass replacement.
Says BT Group’s chief procurement officer, Cyril Pourat: “We’ve chosen a fleet partner with a network of over 400 locations and able to provide an efficient service to our engineers. As we move the majority of our fleet to zero-emission vehicles by 2030 the change will ensure we can continue to give the best service possible to our customers across the UK, from Shetland to the Scilly Isles.”
Highly Commended: Runyourfleet
Runyourfleet helps businesses of any size manage their vehicles more efficiently. As well as saving clients time and money, the company does all it can to ensure they remain compliant with duty-of-care regulations.
It uses a subscription model which allows operators to choose the level of fleet management service they require along with a range of optional add-ons. This can go all the way up to complete outsourcing, including breakdown cover, full maintenance control, accident management and telematics.
It boasts one of the UK’s largest rental vehicle supply networks and can organise fleet funding. Contract hire, contract purchase, and finance lease schemes are all available, and it can arrange for vehicles to be supplied on short leases if required.
Over 32,000 vehicles are managed by Runyourfleet and it can offer discounts of up to 50% on workshop labour and 20% on replacement parts.
