According to figures released today, privately owned vehicles are the number one form of transport used by businesses in Watford. Dubbed the “grey fleet,” these vehicles are exposing employers in Watford to rising costs, safety issues and even potential legal problems.

The figures, from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, show that more than one in three (36 per cent) workers in Watford use their own car for business purposes, making it the most common form of business transport. Forty-one per-cent of employers reported that private vehicles were the primary form of transport used in their business.

The “grey fleet” has presented a growing problem for British business in recent years. Often older and less well maintained than leased or rented vehicles, they represent obvious safety challenges for many companies and require a great deal of time and effort to manage properly.

As the grey fleet has grown, cost and legal implications have also become more pressing. Paying reimbursement for miles done in private vehicles represents a major cost for many employers. Options such as rental or public transport have been revealed as more cost effective for mid to long journeys. Other costs associated with the grey fleet include fines for lack of business insurance or driving unfit vehicles.

Rob Ingram, director of business rental at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, comments: “The grey fleet has been on the radar of employers for some time, but these figures reveal the true extent of the problem. Despite significant effort in many quarters, grey fleet vehicles remain the number one form of business transport in the UK. Its scale has magnified the problem it presents for employers.

“It’s become a culture for large numbers of employees. It’s now second nature for many to use their own cars for work, and employers haven’t been able to force a step change in their attitudes.

“Unless employers look seriously at other options and start moving people out of the grey fleet, businesses will continue to pay the bill for an outdated form of business transport. The cost implications alone should be motivation enough for organisations to take the issue seriously.”