n I operate 196 vehicles—about 10 per
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cent are cars, 20 per cent in the 5to 7-ton class (kept for 10 years) and the remainder consist of light vehicles ranging from Minivans up to 5-tonners. All the maintenance and repairs with the exception of accident work are undertaken by mystaff and my problem is this: How many fitters should be employed? I have been advised that four fitters—one for every 50 vehicles —would be adequate. 1 question this, and would appreciate your comments.
AIt would appear that the advice you re
ceived came from someone who does not know very much about running a transport fleet as four fitters for 195 vehicles is ludicrously low if anything more than routine services are to be undertaken.
There is a large proportion of lighter vehicles but work on these will not be proportionate to their size. Members of our staff who have had experience in controlling transport fleets consider that a proportion of one fitter for every 16 vehicles would be nearer the mark, particularly as the mechanical condition of vehicles is soon going to become more important with the advent of annual tests for the heavier models.