I COMMERCIAL MOTOR January 31975
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What the hire companies said
WE submitted our main findings to the hire companies concerned and invited them to comment. This is what those who replied said:
AVIS
"There is no excuse for any Avis vehicle to he rented out below our normal high maintenance standard. Many of Britain's leading fleet operators rent with Avis and we pride ourselves on supplying low mileage vehicles, backed by factory-trained mechanics operating from specialized workshops. Our fleet engineers, mechanics and quality controllers welcome the road tests as carried out by Commercial Motor. Even the exception to the rule must be improved upon. That is why we are thei 'Try harder truck people'."
BUDGET
"Referring to the inspection which you had carried out by the Freight Transport Association, on our Hire • Department's van, registration No. WGJ 211M. Thank you for pointing out the findings at that time and may we assure you that they have all been subsequently attended to. You will note that the mileage at the time of inspection was 11,939 and, of course, the 12,000 mile service was due to be carried out within a matter of days."
GODFREY DAVIS
"With reference to your comments on Ford D1010 HLX 706K we have checked our records and find that this vehicle was submitted for the DoE annual test at a mileage of 60,021 miles. This test was passed only 2854 miles before you hired the vehicle. The vehicle also underwent a 10,000 mile service at 60,225 miles and a new speedo head was fitted when the mileage was 61,574.
"We are extremely concerned that these faults could arise so soon after a DoE test and, of course, they have now been rectified.
"Godfrey Davis are extremely conscious of the importance of properly maintained vehicles and while we are convinced that our pre-rental inspection procedures are rigorous and comprehensive, your report gives us a salutary reminder to be ever vigilant of the way these inspections are carried out."
HERTZ
"We at Hertz are naturally very concerned over your findings. Quite independent of your review, a management team from Hertz headquarters has been studying the effectiveness of vehicle management programs.
"As a result of the findings of the management team the truck rental activity has this month instituted a number of steps aimed at up-grading truck maintenance. These steps include:— (a) The use of roving inspectors to make spot checks at various locations to see that maintenance standards are kept.
(b) The senior engineer in the various regions is now responsible for the supervision of maintenance programs to assure that the proper standards are maintained on a regular basis.
(c) Maintenance equipment is being -modernized.
"Thank you for the opportunity of responding to your article which we found most constructive."
KENNINGS
"Whilst we accept the statement of the vehicle inspector, it is unfortunate that there is no opportunitY of examining the vehicle immediately following the inspection, so being able to determine the degree of the faults enumerated.
"All Kenning Car and Van H ire depot staff have clear instructions that vehicles are not to be released for hire without first carrying out a detailed pre-hire check, and all staff are aware of their obligations to ensure that this vehicle inspection is carried out without fail.
"Investigation has revealed that a member of the depot staff failed to carry out his proper duties on this particular occasion, albeit due to a misguided attempt to oblige a customer. In this case, the van was returned later than anticipated, hence causing your representative to wait some time for the vehicle; our employee was anxious to avoid further delay and chose to achieve this by disregarding the specific require ment for a pre-hire check on the vehicle.
"Spot checks are made by management before vehicles are released on hire and as a further safeguard, we have a team of eight vehicle inspectors who visit all depots to inspect our vehicles in• an effort to ensure that Company policy and legal obligations are strictly adhered to. In addition, we have a regular replacement policy for all hire vehicles to ensure that they are not subjected to undue age or mileage.
Unfortunately, whatever safeguards are employed, it is virtually impossible to eradicate human error completely, an example of the vehicle hired to your representative, is regretfully a case in point."
RYDER
"Thank you for your letters regarding your proposed article on van rental. We can appreciate the need for this type of survey and look forward with interest to your article in the near future.
In no way can any rental company defend or justify the hiring of a commercial vehicle with maintenance faults. Thank you for bringing to our attention the findings of the FTA report, and we can assure you that the mechanical problems have been corrected. There are several comments that we would like to bring to your attention however, that may explain some of the reasons for the condition of the vehicles inspected.
"Ryder performs a thorough preventive maintenance inspection on each vehicle (both contract hire and rental) every 4,000 miles or 2 Months, whichever occurs first. We attach a copy of the PM work sheets for your review* You will note that in either the A, B or C PM, the items listed as defects by the FTA would be checked and corrections made by our maintenance staff. For rental vehicles, additional pre-rental checks are made by our fitter staff prior to the rental of a vehicle. These checks, however, would not point out such problems as loose spring shackle pin retaining nut. These items would either be corrected at the time of a preventive maintenance service, or would be brought to our attention by the customer through the use of a 'Vehicle Condition Report'. (copy attached)* The two vehicles that were hired from Ryder for your survey were HMU 960K and CCX 740K. These vehicles had last been PM'd on 23 September and 25 September respectively. As a result they were both coming due for a 'B' preventive service shortly after the FTA inspection of 8 November. In checking our records, both vehicles had 'Vehicle Condition Reports' filed by previous rental customers, however no defects listed on your report were indicated.
"Other comments could be made as to the findings of the FTA. For example, the gear lever mounting on CCX 744 gave the appearance of being crack below the rubber pad, however this h been welded at a previous date and not in fact cracked. In no way do wish to appear defensive for a maintenance item that may ever ex with a Ryder rental vehicle. Again, appreciate your bringing to c attention the results of your stut hopefully, it will result in our compa providing an improved service a better maintained vehicles for c valued rental customers."
c* Enclosed tiirh letter, the worksheets conditiorl report are Us described — Ed.]
TOLERHIRE
"We thank you for your report connection with the proposed article Van Rental.
On receipt of this report, which studied with interest, we irnmediati examined the vehicles in question. was found that in the period of nea two weeks between the FTA inspectic and the receipt of the report, all t faults enumerated had been rectified the normal course of our inspection a maintenance routines, with t exceptions of the following:" Bedford CF I. Heater & dernis mop. Action: Waiting manufacture parts. 5. Door lock. Action: Ditto. Tyre pressures. Action: See furt1 comments.
Bedford TK 3. Silencer welds brokt Action: Re-welded. 4. Wheels fitted air valves were inaccessible. Actic Wheels changed round. 5. Bra bisector lock nut loose. Actic Tightened. 6. Stop lights inoperaa Action: Changed switch. 10. Loc body brackets. Action: Tightened. No BHP marked on Manufactun plate. Action: It was found that this not a requirement when this vehicle u built. It was registered however, MI this had become law and we shall ame this Plate.
"In connection with tyre pressures, have always found this a vexi problem since the requirements of c customers in terms of payload vt considerably. We prefer to adjust 1 tyre pressures to individual requi ments on demand. However, we are the process of inserting a notice in ea cab showing pressures under full lo and drawing the Hirer's notice to 1 effect that an airline and gauage available should he require any cheek lower pressures.
"Your report has been most helpful it has shown that while faults develop quickly and drivers fail report some of them, the more seri( ones were obviously picked up a rectified reasonably quickly due to present inspection and rectificati procedures."