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Author: Clare Merrylees

Prohire supports Crisis and Cash for Kids this Christmas

Crisis and Cash for Kids
Posted on by Clare Merrylees

Prohire, a national provider of sustainable commercial vehicle hire and fleet management solutions, will be donating vehicles to support the vital work of two charities over the festive season, Cash for Kids and Crisis.

Progreen, Prohire’s alternative fuels division, is supplying an electric vehicle to Cash for Kids Greater Manchester in support of its Mission Christmas campaign to ensure that every child receives a Christmas present. The Ford E-Transit will be making deliveries to organisations and service providers who support over 37,000 children and young people in Greater Manchester who are at risk of waking up to no presents on Christmas morning. Prohire staff and customers have also been donating gifts to the appeal.

The company’s depot in Tunbridge Wells will provide two refrigerated vans to help Crisis, the UK’s national charity for people experiencing homelessness, to transport food from its warehouse to centres across London. Crisis at Christmas will be providing hot food, warmth, companionship and access to vital healthcare and housing advice to over 6,000 people experiencing rough sleeping or living in insecure, unsuitable accommodation, such as hostels and B&Bs. 

Commenting on the donation, Alice Midgley, Resources Manager at Crisis, said: “”On behalf of everyone here at Crisis, I’d like to express our immense gratitude to Prohire for its wonderful support. Our Crisis at Christmas centres rely on the generosity of community minded companies like Prohire to help safely transport and provide tasty, nutritious hot meals to thousands of people experiencing homelessness throughout the festive season. We truly couldn’t do it without them.”

Jay Edwards, managing director of Prohire, said: “We’re delighted to help these two amazing charities to carry out their essential work over the festive period. Cash for Kids’ Mission Christmas campaign is so inspiring and we’re happy to play even a small part in making sure that every child receives a present. We’re also proud to support the work that Crisis does in providing homeless people with care and shelter over the Christmas period.”

To donate a gift or give online for Cash for Kids’ Mission Christmas campaign visit: https://cashforkids.org.uk/mission.

To donate to Crisis at Christmas and help someone start a life beyond homelessness visit:  https://www.crisis.org.uk/get-involved/donate-to-crisis-at-christmas/.

Prohire invests £5 million in Rental Fleet

Prohire fleet
Posted on by Clare Merrylees

Prohire, a leading provider of sustainable commercial vehicle hire and fleet management solutions, is investing £5 million in 70 new vehicles to refresh its 400-strong Proflex national rental fleet.

The investment in the latest specification equipment from DAF, Iveco and Mercedes Benz comprises all key asset classes from 3.5 tonne integral vans to 7.5 and 18 tonne dry freight. Alongside 18 tonne and 26 tonne single and multi-temperature refrigerated vehicles.

The new additions, which represent a 17.5 per cent replenishment of Prohire’s rental fleet, will join the full range of light and heavy commercial vehicles available, including commercial vans, rigids, tractors units, trailers, alternative fuel vehicles and double deck trailers.

John Robinson, chief commercial officer at Prohire said: “We’re dedicated to operating a modern, highly specified, diverse rental fleet to support the flexible fleet requirements of our customers. This investment shows our commitment to supporting customers and fleet operators throughout the UK and is a precursor for future rental fleet procurement.

“In line with our ESG commitments, these latest specification vehicles are more fuel efficient, and we have also added more electric vehicles into our rental fleet in line with our commitment to lead the charge as the UK’s most trusted provider of sustainable vehicle hire. This allows customers to try EVs in the short term to ensure they meet their needs before making a longer-term commitment.”

The new vehicles have been fitted with Geotab telematics which provide remote fault diagnosis, tracking, accident detention and driver behaviour analysis. The telematics also allow Prohire, and its alternative fuels division Progreen, to monitor the vehicles, deliver optimum performance, prevent critical failure, and report on CO2 savings.

The rental fleet is available to customers nationwide via its depots in Stoke-on-Trent and Tunbridge Wells. Each vehicle comes with 24/7 support 365 days a year and can be provided on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

Ashley Bourne, Prohire’s depot operations manager in Tunbridge Wells, said: “Flexibility is at the heart of our rental offering, allowing our customers to vary fleet mix to meet peak demand. It’s essential in supporting the needs of our lease customers in the short, medium and long term through the provision of a wide range of vehicle specifications.”

Prohire’s depot operations manager in Stoke-on-Trent, Jonathon Cook, added: “Rental is crucial to our service offering. As the fleet partner of choice for our customers, our rental fleet underpins the high level of service that our customers expect from us.”

Prohire appoints Dean Bailey as Operations Director

image of dean bailey
Posted on by Clare Merrylees

Prohire, a leading provider of commercial vehicle hire and fleet management solutions, has further strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Dean Bailey as operations director.

A trained technician with almost 40 years’ fleet industry experience, Dean brings a wealth of knowledge to the business having held senior operational leadership roles at Ryder and, more recently, Hexagon Leasing.

Dean will have overall board responsibility for the maintenance of Prohire’s fleet, which includes vehicles from its alternative fuels division Progreen. Tasked with the ongoing development of Prohire’s service, maintenance and repair (SMR) network, Dean’s management remit encompasses the company’s Vehicle Maintenance Units (VMUs) in Stoke-on-Trent and Tunbridge Wells, as well as its fleet of mobile technicians which services customers nationwide. Dean will also be responsible for fleet engineering and all aspects of fleet compliance.

Speaking about his new role, Dean said: “I’m genuinely excited about joining Prohire, a company with a wide-ranging fleet, touching every part of the industry and serving a diverse range of customers. I’ve been in this industry for almost 40 years and it’s great to come to a company that’s thinking outside the box, proactively pushing the boundaries of service delivery and going the extra mile to support customers.

“I’m looking forward to what the future brings, especially in the area of alternative fuels, which Prohire has embraced through Progreen.”

Jay Edwards, managing director of Prohire, said: “Dean is a commercial vehicle contract hire industry veteran with a vast amount of experience. His knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to Prohire as we move forwards and continue to optimise our service delivery, and I’m delighted to welcome him to the team.”   

 

Prohire supports Truline in transitioning its 500-strong fleet to alternative fuels

Electric van line up
Posted on by Clare Merrylees

Truline is a specialist B2B parcel carrier offering managed supply chain solutions for UK businesses. Prohire has worked with Truline since 2008 and now manages three-quarters of the company’s 500-strong fleet. This includes 13 new fuel-efficient DAF New Generation XF’s which are each delivering 25% savings and reduction in CO2.

Prohire’s alternative fuels division, Progreen is supporting Truline in the ongoing transition of its fleet to meet the Net Zero deadline. This includes recommending and supplying the latest alternative fuel technologies combined with the correct infrastructure to power those vehicles, plus associated driver training.

Truline is the transport and delivery logistics part of the Banner and Vow businesses, all of which are part of the EVO Group of companies.

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Challenges

Truline, which delivers over a million parcels UK-wide every month, is in the process of transitioning its 500-strong fleet to high-performing, reliable, zero-emission alternative fuels.

The company operates a wide range of asset classes including 3.5 tonne and 7.5 tonne vans, 16 tonne and 18 tonne trucks and 44 tonne tractor units, the majority of which are latest Euro 6 specification. These vehicles continue to be as efficient as possible whilst the company identifies the right high-performing, reliable, zero-emission alternative fuel for each vehicle class.

The infrastructure to support the vehicles is equally important, and Truline operates from 22 locations across the UK, with further expansion planned.

Driver training is also essential to avoid range anxiety when switching to an alternative fuel.

Image of tractor unit

Solution

Prohire and Progreen are working in partnership with Truline on the long-term planning of its fleet configuration in the run up to 2030. Truline is committed to cutting its carbon emissions to help the UK reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and plans to cease procuring new diesel vehicles by 2030.

Truline’s strategy to achieve this aim is two-fold. The most fuel-efficient diesel vehicles will be secured through Prohire whilst the transition takes place, and whilst suitable vehicles in all asset classes are developed by manufacturers. At the same time, Truline will work with Progreen on a rolling programme to replace existing diesel vehicles in asset classes where high-performing EVs are already available.

Prohire has provided Truline with 13 fuel-efficient DAF New Generation XF’s, each delivering 25% savings and reduction in CO2 emissions. The vehicles are fitted with the latest safety equipment and DBS camera systems to reduce Truline’s road risk and increase fleet uptime. An additional 36 new, fuel-efficient, 7.5 tonne, 12 tonne and 18 tonne diesel vehicles are on order.

Progreen has supplied a large number of EVs for Truline, both Maxus EDeliver9 panel vans with 72KW batteries and Ford e-transit, 425 L3 H2s with 68KW batteries. These have been supplied on full contract hire with maintenance and accident management.

Progreen provides Truline with lease flexibility to enable it to update its fleet as new technologies become available, replacing diesel with whichever alternative fuel is right for its requirements. Prohire supports Truline in trialling new generation vehicles as they become available. .

Truline has been using Geotab telematics, supplied by Prohire, to capture real-time data on the
vehicles’ performance as well as driver behaviour, ensuring the most efficient and cost-effective
use possible.

Prohire and Progreen are also supporting Truline with the provision of chargers for their EVs, including surveying existing and new sites to get the right number of chargers installed.

Through its training academy, Procademy, Prohire have also provided additional training which has helped drivers to overcome range anxiety. Truline has seen a welcome by-product of the training which is calmer drivers as hard acceleration, and other stressful behaviours are avoided.

 

 

line up of tractor units

Results

  • Significant number of EVs on order
  • Reduced CO2 emissions by a quarter with 44 tonne DAF XFs
  • Telematics have positively influenced driver behaviour
  • Progreen and Truline are working together on long-term plan to hit Net Zero deadline

Prohire is a hugely trusted partner for Truline and we work together to understand what are the benefits of alternative fuels for both companies. Progreen keep us ahead of the curve when it comes to new product and making sure we secure the right vehicles for us, in line with our Net Zero and sustainability strategy.

The industry has faced, and is facing, many challenges but Prohire continues to really make a difference and push us forwards. They are there for us in terms of longevity and range of vehicles. We have huge confidence in both Prohire and Progreen and everything they’ve said they’ll deliver on has been delivered.

We trust them and I would 100% recommend Prohire.

Steve Turner, Truline’s Head of Fleeet
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Prohire appoints Susan Shardlow as Chief Financial Officer

Susan banner
Posted on by Clare Merrylees

With 30 years’ experience working for both corporate and private equity-backed organisations, Susan will play a key role in Prohire’s growth strategy. A qualified accountant, Susan has a broad range of experience leading traditional finance functions and transformational projects, particularly in companies providing the rental and leasing of assets in the construction, utilities and recycling systems sectors

Most recently, Susan held the role of interim CFO at Taziker, a multi-discipline specialist contractor, providing protective coatings, structural refurbishments and strengthening throughout the UK. Susan is a non-executive director for Hanley Economic Building Society and was a board member and chair of audit for the Staffordshire Housing Group for over nine years.

Susan Shardlow, CFO at Prohire, said: “Prohire is a growing business with an exciting future, and I’m delighted to join the team on a permanent basis. Prohire puts the customer at the heart of everything it does and is committed to continuous improvement, a culture which is proudly supported by the finance function.

“I applaud Prohire’s commitment to sustainability for its customers as well as within its own business through its ESG strategy. I’m looking forward to helping Prohire, and its EV and alternative fuels division Progreen, continue to scale through a structured approach which adds value to every area of the business.”   

Jay Edwards, managing director at Prohire, said: “Susan brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Prohire, particularly financial and operational expertise gained at private equity-backed companies with ambitious growth objectives. I’m delighted that she has become a permanent member of the team as we continue in our mission to lead the charge in sustainable vehicle hire.”

In 2021, Prohire launched its sustainable vehicle hire and alternative fuels division Progreen to support its customers in achieving their Net Zero ambitions by decarbonising fleets via the deployment of high-performing, reliable, zero-emission vehicle technology. By the end of March 2024, 26 percent of new vehicles deployed by Prohire featured an alternative technology.  

 

Prohire supports Restore Harrow Green’s ESG strategy with bespoke EV builds

Harrow Green Vehicles
Posted on by Clare Merrylees

Prohire has worked with leading business relocation company Restore Harrow Green since 2019. From an initial four vehicles, Prohire now supplies over 50% of Restore Harrow Green’s 100-strong fleet, including a variety of bespoke and specialist vehicles. Headquartered in London, Restore Harrow Green has ten sites nationwide.

Prohire is supporting Restore Harrow Green in its EV transition and ESG strategy. A critical pillar of the Restore Group’s ESG strategy is a commitment to become a Net Zero organisation by 2035, and as part of that Prohire is currently building a world first, bespoke 19 tonne HGV EV for Restore Harrow Green.

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Challenges

As experts in business relocation, specialist life science and heritage moves, Restore Harrow Green requires bespoke vehicles fitted with specialist equipment. Going directly to the manufacturer or to a body builder has, in the past, proved time consuming and lacking in customer service support

Wanting to progress its transition to EV and develop its ESG strategy, Restore Harrow Green needed a lease partner who would allow flexibility as the range of EVs expanded and charging capabilities improved. A trusted partner who would work with the team to get the business the right vehicles, on the right terms, for them.

Restore Harrow Green started working with Prohire in 2019, when Prohire was successful in tendering for four 3.5 tonne crew buses to add to the business relocation company’s fleet. From that day, Prohire has grown its relationship with Restore Harrow Green as a trusted lease supplier able to help the company achieve its business and ESG objectives.

van on charge

Solution

Prohire now supplies over 50% of Restore Harrow Green’s 100-strong fleet, growing from an initial four vehicles to over 50, 11 of which are EVs. Vehicles supplied include 3.5 tonne crew buses, Maxus EDeliver9 Minibuses, Ford Connect vans, 3.5 tonne Luton box vans and HGVs ranging from 7.5 tonnes to 18 tonnes, all of which are fitted with Geotab to maximise efficiency.

Prohire is supporting Restore Harrow Green in its transition to EVs as part of its commitment to become a Net Zero organisation by 2035. This includes supplying the latest EVs and unique bespoke builds.

As the mileage per charge of EVs has increased, Prohire has provided Restore Harrow Green with lease flexibility to enable it to update its fleet. From the early EVs in 2019 which had a range of 79 miles, Restore Harrow Green has now upgraded to 3.5 tonne vehicles with a range of 190–200 miles with Prohire’s support.

In the latest of its bespoke vehicles for Restore Harrow Green, Prohire is managing the build of the company’s first 19 tonne electric truck. Working with this unique, worlds first build, is set to include an 8-person crew cab, powered inverters coming straight from the battery and a tail lift operated by solar power.

The 19 tonne has a 260KW electric motor which is powered by a 282KW battery pack providing a range of up to 175 miles with a combined charging system. The vehicle features onboard charging which means it can be connected to an AC 3 phase electrical supply for overnight charging. Over a 5-year lease term, 26,000 tonnes of C02 Emissions will be saved per vehicle

 

Results

  • Prohire now supplies over 50% of Restore Harrow Green’s 100-strong fleet
  • Prohire is supporting Restore Harrow Green in its EV transition and ESG strategy
  • All vehicles supplied are fitted with Geotab to maximise efficiency
  • Prohire is managing the build of Restore Harrow Green’s 19 tonne electric truck, a world first

Prohire cares. They want to help us do what’s right for our business, working with us to deliver for our customers. They are passionate about understanding our business and working with us, as a result our fleet is growing fast with Prohire.

The team are very proactive in dealing with any issues and it’s not just head office, our account manager engages with our ten sites to get things right for them. Unlike other companies, Prohire makes sure we’re looked after. It’s not just service, they have competitive pricing too.

When it comes to bespoke builds, Prohire really shines. They like to work with a customer to build a vehicle and spec it so it’s right. It’s not just like going to a body builder and getting the standard vehicle, Prohire’s operations team gets involved and supports us. They do everything they can to get it
built and get the right vehicle for our business, from loaning us vehicles to test, to the final delivery of our fleet.

 

Dan Smith, Restore Harrow Green’s National Fleet Manager
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Progreen delivers Fairfax Meadow’s first electric vehicles

Posted on by Clare Merrylees

Fairfax Meadow, Catering Butcher of the Year 2023, has taken delivery of its first electric vehicles from Progreen, the sustainable vehicle hire and alternative fuels division of Prohire, the leading provider of commercial vehicle hire and fleet management solutions.

Delivered as the UK’s biggest foodservice catering butcher celebrates its 50th anniversary, the two Ford e-Transit refrigerated vans will operate within London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), delivering meat to Fairfax Meadow customers in the capital including Browns Restaurants (Mitchells & Butlers), Drake & Morgan, Ivy Collection and Gordon Ramsay.

The bespoke vans, which have been designed and managed through the production process by ProGreen, are part of Fairfax Meadow’s sustainability strategy. The state-of-the-art electric vehicles, which have been supplied on long term contract hire, including full repair and management, feature a Solomon Insulated body and a refrigeration system from GAH capable of dealing with both chilled and frozen meat products.

The vehicles have been fitted with an entirely new on-brand cab and body livery designed by the marketing team at Fairfax Meadow.

Progreen has fitted Geotab telematics to both vehicles which will enable Fairfax Meadow to monitor driver behaviour and report on CO2 savings. The systems will also allow Progreen to provide remote fault diagnosis, tracking and accident detention to ensure optimum performance. Full driver training will be provided by Prohire training academy, ProCademy.

Penny Tomlinson, managing director of Fairfax Meadow, said: “From the outset, Prohire stood out as a knowledgeable and enthusiastic EV fleet supplier and, with their support, we’ve taken our first steps on the EV journey as part of our sustainability plan. The new EVs are an important part of future proofing our business, from an environmental, cost management and customer perspective.”

Michelle Miles, head of ProGreen said: “We’ve worked closely with Fairfax Meadow every step of the way, to make sure these first electric vehicles hit every aspect of their brief. Supporting a company in realising its sustainability strategy through the provision of electric vehicles is a real privilege and I’m proud of the solution we’ve delivered.

“What a way for a company to celebrate its 50th year with such a fantastic innovation. We look forward to continuing to support Fairfax Meadow in its transition to alternative fuels in the years to come.”

Following full site surveys at Fairfax Meadow’s London depot, Progreen also managed the installation of the charging infrastructure for the electric vehicles by MER UK.