1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148 
FOR AWD LANG SYNE
Page 118
Page 119
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• When looking at contract maintenance and extended warranty schemes, check the fine print. Some operators fail to look carefully at the shortcomings of contract maintenance schemes, which are often fraught with clauses limiting cover to chassis-cabs only with all repairs other than "fair wear and tear" excluded.
Truck manufacturer AWD decided that it was time to find a contract maintenance company that knew what it was talking about and which would help AWD provide a comprehensive after-sales service. "We looked at four other companies, but without doubt the most thorough and professional outfit that we came across was Contract Care Plan," says AWD's UK sales director Vic Wright.
AWD wants to be seen as a company that cares. It is in a very competitive market and sets great store by its personal approach to customers. Being able to help keep the operator out of mechanical trouble is part of the caring image that AWD wants to promote. "In our Bedford days," says Wright, "we were the first manufacturer to take an aggressive position in helping our own dealers into these areas of the market. Confidence in the product is a key issue — and we could think of no better expression of our confidence in the product than to offer extended warranty, contract maintenance programmes and leasing."
This means that when the customer buys a vehicle the costs are known if a contract maintenance programme is taken out. "Contract Care Plan's costing is very competitive and allows us to show our confidence in the product and we want to make it easy for the customer to buy," says Wright. "Many people ask us why AWD succeeds where GM as Bedford did not. Perhaps one reason is the back-up and long-term support of the vehicle's operation and tangible evidence of our confidence."
• After-care packages
At this early stage, Wright does not claim that the after-care packages have boosted sales, but he does say that dealers who have used that approach have done a significant amount of business with it. "We want to sell the product on its merits — we do not want to get into the high discounting business, but because of our extended warranty programme and because of the contract maintenance rates, we know that the overall cost of operation of the vehicle is very competitive," he says, stressing that the packages are aimed at keeping the local distributor competitive with his own customers, rather than taking on the major national companies.
Contract Care Plan, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Car Care Plan, is based in Leeds and offers operators financial control of truck costs, with a fixed monthly payment taking care of all servicing and normal repair bills — and there is no "fair wear and tear" clause to worry about.
Like most of the contract maintenance firms, Contract Care works through franchised dealers, and the services that it offers are similar to other schemes, but replacement tyres, punctures and call-out for tyres are all included in the standard package, as are glass, windscreen and batteries. Trailers, bodywork and ancillary equipment can also be included.
The AWD scheme ensures that all the routine maintenance, safety inspections and repairs are carried out only by AWD distributors using genuine AWD parts. Department of Transport testing and tachograph recalibration is included.
In the event of a breakdown there is a Freefone number to summon assistance (provided by National Breakdown Recovery) and a replacement vehicle facility is also included in the package.
Contract Care Plan director and general manager, Robin Ashwell says: "Fleet users are particularly interested in the contract maintenance package, and the most popular range for this is between three and four years: mainly because the finance package is 36 to 48 months. Our philosophy is to offer the customer an allembracing deal and then if the operator wants to exclude something, that can be arranged.
"We cover anything from car-derived vans to 38-tonners: even tippers, including power take-offs and tipping gear. But we are quite fussy about how the vehicle is used," he warns. Car Care Plan, which looks after the warranty side, has more than 100 qualified consultants.
Three warranty plans are available. Every new AWD truck is backed by an unlimited-mileage 12-month warranty and a further 12-months' cover for driveline parts. There are three other packages: 0 Plan 1, AWD extended warranty enables operators to upgrade their cover for the second year. This costs £260. 0 Plan 2, costs between £500 and 21,000, depending on the vehicle. It offers an extension of the comprehensive warranty to the third and fourth years. Used with Plan 1, this offers four years' cover on parts and labour for all aspects of the vehicle.
0 Plan 3, offers an extension of the standard second year driveline-only cover for the third and fourth years. It costs between 2300 and 2590, depending on the vehicle warranty period.
Cover extends to most of Western Europe and a warranty is transferable. A video of the scheme is available from Car Care Plan, Bramley District Centre, Leeds LS13 2EJ, phone (0532) 562133. I nexpected mechanical fail ure. It can happen at any time and cause havoc to carefully planned budgets. Fortunately, there's a way to protect against the disastrous impact of unforeseen expenditure. A Commercial Care Plan warranty.
Real protection for your business.
While a Commercial Care Plan warranty won't prevent mechanical failure, it will certainly protect your vehicle and your business against the adverse effects of high repair bills. Take a good look at the repair costs you could be faced with. Then look at the cost of our warranties. You'll quickly see why our service ranks as No. 1. And why more and more operators opt for this reliable form of built-in protection.
Commercial Care Plan. It's a highly professional warranty service set up and run specifically for the commercial transport industry. It provides you with real control over your budgets. It enables you to plan ahead with confidence. In short, it makes sound commercial and business sense.
Full protection for your vehicles.
If you're looking for an effective, professional service tailored to match your business requirements, contact Commercial Care Plan. Our warranties can provide full cover on parts and labour repair costs, and more. You can also benefit from contributions towards replacement vehicle hire, recovery costs, continental cover and full warranty transfer if required.
Together it adds up to a wise investment. And real peace of mind.
Given today's increasingly competitive business climate, it's not worth the risk of running your business withodt the comprehensive protection and support that Commercial Care Plan has to offer.
Tod out how your busmess CRR beneN from Commercml Care Plan. S!mpty ti/In ttus coupon and send d off today in an envelope to the FREEPOST address below no stamp needed.