News from Bridgestone: One year since Bridgestone and Ryder implemented their strategic partnership tyre-related breakdowns for Ryder customers have fallen by 28% following the introduction of a range of initiatives aimed at maximising fleet uptime and lowering running costs.
Ryder is Bridgestone’s largest UK commercial fleet customer and the two organisations have been working together for nearly 20 years.
The relationship evolved into a strategic partnership in 2013 with the implementation of a joint framework that aims to reduce tyre wastage through closer collaboration and improved working practices.
The fleet management programme was jointly developed by Ryder and Bridgestone. Under the programme Ryder employees receive specialist training from Bridgestone to enable them to take a more hands-on role in the maintenance and management of tyres.
The programme has a dedicated 24/7 phone line, run and administered by Ryder. If a customer experiences tyre failure, Ryder will manage and monitor the call out and replacement process through Bridgestone’s Truck Point dealer network, which has 355 outlets across the UK. Over the past year Truck Point has achieved industry-leading response times for customer call outs, typically reaching customers within 76 minutes.
To maximise efficiencies and fleet uptime for customers, Ryder and Bridgestone are committed to a process of continuous improvement. This includes on-site coaching and monthly performance reviews to identify and implement service improvements.
Ryder’s Head of Maintenance Strategy, Philip Martin, said, “We are delighted that this partnership is proving so beneficial for our customers. Ryder is committed to a process of continuous improvement in all areas of the business. We will continue to monitor and measure tyre performance to ensure that we are providing the best, most reliable and cost effective service possible.
“Our ongoing relationship with Bridgestone is helping us to raise industry standards and we look forward to building on this joint collaboration.”
Bridgestone’s Fleet Manager, Ian Baker, said, “Bridgestone has spent a great deal of time in developing a more consultative, partnership-based relationship with Ryder and this is where we can see the biggest change in commercial tyre support.
“We provide bespoke training modules for Ryder to share our knowledge at the outset and this is then supplemented by regular dialogue and more formal monthly meetings.
“The word ‘partnership’ is overused in the commercial fleet world but with Ryder this is genuinely the case as we have reduced volume, improved tyre longevity and overall productivity.
“We expect this new way of working to underpin our offering in the future, which is a prospect that genuinely excites us.”
