Fleetserve links up
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• From late autumn this year, a national Fleetserve network serving heavy goods vehicles will be available to all National Tyres customers — almost two years ahead of schedule of original plans. This has been made possible through advanced Linkline technology from British Telecom.
The national network consists of 26 fully operational super-size branches, for faster service, supplemented by 21 existing NTS Comprehensive sites equipped with Linkline installation.
A Linkline service provides an 0800 phone number which allows customers to make free calls. At the moment each Fleetserve branch has its own number.
Until a few months ago Britain was divided into eight zones for the purpose of 0800 numbers. Now they have been divided into 39 Link areas. From this mid-October individual numbers will be replaced with one national number — 0800 889988.
When driver calls this number it is automatically re-routed to the nearest Fleetserve branch, so that a Fleetserve truck — average five per branch — can be sent out, either from that branch or if the truck's on the road, through the two-way radio.
By 1990 the company plans to have 60 fully operational Fleetserve branches, serving commercial vehicles only.
Because National Tyres is independent of any one manufacturer, it says, it can stock and fit any brand. It has more than 400 National Tyres branches serving car fleets; 260 of these also serve heavy goods vehicles.
For car fleets and the private motorist, National Tyres is establishing a chain of National Auto centres to provide fastfit and after-care service; replacement parts and MoT facilities will be provided at fixed "menu" prices.
The first Fleetserve branch, at Trafford Park, Manchester, has been in operation since June 1987.