Babcock awarded new £41 million fleet-management contract

Company to provide five-year fleet managed service for Lafarge Tarmac’s heavy mobile equipment

LAFARGE Tarmac have awarded Babcock International Group a £41 million five-year contract (with a five-year extension option) to provide a fleet managed service for their heavy mobile equipment (HME) across the UK.

This new contract follows an open tender process run by Lafarge Tarmac to secure the best solution for their requirements. Babcock’s independence coupled with ALCAMiE, their proven approach to optimizing fleets, was key to this – ensuring that Lafarge Tarmac will benefit from an innovative asset-management partner that will help to improve efficiency and service for the company’s customers while allowing the business to fully focus on its core operations.

The agreement covers more than 400 assets across 189 sites and is in addition to the existing fleet-management arrangement currently in operation, awarded to Babcock in 2011.

Babcock will work closely with Lafarge Tarmac to procure the right equipment at the most competitive price, securing better warranty terms and continuing to advise on and source new market products and equipment – regardless of manufacturer or supplier.

The contract sets service level guarantees, based around availability, that underpin Babcock’s performance in managing Lafarge Tarmac’s HME. The one-stop-shop service, delivered through Babcock’s 24/7 managed service centre, also offers the optional supply of additional services such as the procurement and management of ground-engaging tools and tyres.

Martin Riley, managing director of Lafarge Tarmac’s Aggregates & Asphalt division, said: ‘We selected Babcock as our fleet-management partner because they share our ethos of excellence, customer service and delivering market-leading solutions.

‘This new contract will enable us to ensure we have the right equipment on hand to meet growing demand from customers, to help them deliver their projects as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. It will also allow us to remain focused on our core business; continuing to develop and innovate our range of sustainable construction solutions and services.’

Keith Holland, director of Babcock’s Mining & Construction division, said: ‘We are delighted to be Lafarge Tarmac’s fleet-management partner of choice and look forward to working together in setting an ever-higher benchmark in HME fleet performance.

‘Across the UK, we now provide support services to three of the top five producers. This is a significant achievement in just over three years, demonstrating that our unique whole-life fleet-management approach is resonating with forward-thinking organizations seeking competitive advantage. As part of this, we are continuing to expand our team of mobile skilled engineers across the UK to ensure our customers remain fully supported.’

Babcock manage close on 30,000 vehicles and more than 176,000 equipment stock lines globally, including contracts to manage Aggregate Industries’ UK fleet and Lafarge’s HME fleets within the UK, US and Canada, as well as their Readymix fleet in western Canada. Babcock’s Mining & Construction team spans the UK, north Europe, Brazil, North America and Australia as the organization looks to new territories to deliver its proven capability in managing fleets.