Over the course of four decades Northgate has established itself in the top rank of the UK’s light commercial vehicle suppliers with a fleet of over 50,000 vehicles, 68 branches, and 2,200 employees.
Northgate is renowned for offering innovative, flexible vehicle solutions and excellent customer service.
In the past year, Northgate has introduced a range of new products and services designed to meet the diverse needs of fleet managers, which are focused on service maintenance and reducing vehicle downtime.
Northgate’s long-term vehicle hire gives businesses a flexible alternative to contract hire or ownership, with options going from 12 up to 48 months. Northgate says this gives businesses the security of long-term planning while maintaining adaptability in fleet operations.
Northgate offers everything from standard LCVs to specialist vehicles, such as refrigerated vans and traffic management vehicles. Customers benefit from minimal administration because all vehicles are managed under one agreement.
An example of the company’s innovative approach is its launch of Northgate Cars, which offers a short-term vehicle hire solution to LCV customers, providing them with mobility under a single monthly contract. More than 1,000 cars are already on hire.
Northgate’s vehicle fleet solutions packages deliver a comprehensive set of services that can be built into rental contracts. Fleet administration encompasses risk management, accident management, telematics, fuel cards (which Northgate claims have saved users an average of 9.7p/litre in the last 12 months), and vehicle inspection apps.
Northgate has developed its Drive to Zero programme to help businesses transition to electric vehicles. The company hosts EV roadshows across the UK to enable customers at each event to explore and test-drive a wide range of electric and micromobility vehicles.
The scheme has led to 178 fleets initiating their journey towards electrification. Northgate offers electric vans on rental plus a range of electric micromobility vehicles, which it claims amounts to one of the largest provisions of EVs in the UK. Northgate avoids long lead times for new electric vans by pre-ordering stock, to ensure the vehicles are available when customers need them.
Northgate’s latest flexibility initiative, Micromobility, provides e-Bikes, quadricycles and micro-vehicles for customers to use in areas where traditional LCVs are too large to operate. The vehicles can be rented under standard Northgate terms.
Under a partnership with ChargedEV, Northgate offers in-house consultancy and nationwide installation of charging facilities. Customers receive expert advice and support on regulatory, logistical and cost efficiency when setting up EV charging. The ‘EV charger and bundle’ package, enables customers to rent both an electric van and a charger under a single monthly payment.
Northgate also provides services to reduce downtime, manage risk, and ensure compliance, with vehicle recovery, repairs, and replacement vehicles catered for as standard. Northgate has fitted telematics packages to more than 10,000 LCVs with real-time vehicle tracking and driver behaviour monitoring included, while driver training modules help fleet drivers remain safe and compliant.
Telematics data also assists businesses looking to transition to EVs by helping them identify the vehicles that can be switched immediately and those that require further advancements in EV technology.
Northgate claims its Fleet Management service, which covers every aspect of fleet operations, saves customers both time and money, with fleets saving on average £63,000 a year, it says. Northgate’s Vehicle Inspection app enables drivers to quickly complete inspections and submit results in real time.
Northgate Vehicle Hire remains an industry leader in commercial vehicle rental with its One Road approach allowing customers to access all vehicles and services through a single point of contact.
www.northgatevehiclehire.co.uk
0344 947 1710
