ISO accreditation awarded to fleet management company Johannesburg. Eqstra Fleet Management (EFM), a leading player in the field of outsourced fleet management solutions, is now a fully accredited ISO 9001 company. ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised standard for an organisation's internal quality management. It refers to the way in which an organisation ensures customer satisfaction and complies with industry regulations in eight specific areas.

These include aligning customer needs with company objectives; communicating a clear vision of the company’s goals, targets and shared values; supplying staff with resources and opportunities to enhance their competence; managing company activities and resources as a process that increases efficiency and lowers costs; commitment to continual improvement of the company’s performance; a factual approach to decision making; and maintaining mutually beneficial supplier relationships.

“We have embedded the principles of ISO quality management into our business strategy and we are delighted with this testimony to the effectiveness of our resource management, staff development, systems and processes. It is also a reflection of our commitment to customer-centricity and service excellence,” says Murray Price, Eqstra’s Managing Director. The accreditation is another milestone for a company that has taken the lead in introducing several innovative, value-added products to the passenger and light commercial leasing markets.

These include Alert Driving, a unique online diagnostic tool with which potential hazardous driver behaviour can be pinpointed and corrected, resulting in accident cost reductions of up to 30%; an Accident Management Service that reduces downtime of vehicles by streamlining the repair process while saving on costs; and iProcure, the procurement of leased-based assets at the best prices. The latter is also offered as a standalone service to customers.

EFM’s Turnkey Fleet Solution provides a total outsource system that allows customers to select their specific requirements from a full range of products. Customers are also provided with the convenience of requesting reports, fleet information and feedback via the internet.br> With a fleet of more than 28,000 vehicles under its ownership and management, EFM is committed to continue delivering dynamic fleet solutions to the market. “Our objective is to be a world-class leasing business that provides comprehensive and cost-effective outsourcing solutions to both the Southern African corporate and government sectors,” says Murray Price. Eqstra Fleet Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of Eqstra Holdings, a JSE-listed leasing and capital equipment group. EFM has branches in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania.

Car keys are set to be one of the most sought after items for criminals in 2009, as a new study reveals that 90 per cent of high value car thefts in 2008 involved the use of the original keys to steal the car.

Nine in ten of these thefts also involved the keys being stolen directly from the owner or their home.

The car industry's use of immobilisers and factory-fitted security may be cutting the absolute number of cars stolen, but an analysis of 1.3m policyholders' claims during 2008 by insurers shows that this may have led to an increased risk to individuals and their homes as they become the subjects of car key crime.

According to recent figures, 81 per cent of all high value car theft occurred as a result of criminals acquiring stolen car keys through burglaries from the policyholders' homes, car jackings or assaults. The remaining nine per cent involved either the theft of keys from gym lockers, 'owner close by' thefts where cars are stolen with the keys in the ignition but the owner is close by (i.e. petrol stations and newsagents) or the unauthorised taking of keys by family members.

TIPS TO AVOID CAR KEY THEFT:

• Never leave your keys in the ignition when buying petrol, opening the boot or popping into a shop - An opportunistic thief can easily drive an unlocked car away so long as the keys are there.
  
• Never hang up your jacket with the car keys in it - Keep them on your person and out of view at all times - whether you're at work or in a public place.
• Be careful with your car keys at the gym: Thieves have been known to follow car owners into a gym and then target their locker. Hand them to a member of staff, use a gym with CCTV, or just keep them with you at all times rather than in your locker. Consider a neck chain, put them in a zipped pocket, or buy a waterproof case for them if you're using the swimming pool.
• During winter months, never leave a car engine running to 'defrost' it - This is one of the most common causes of car theft using the original keys.
  • If you have a garage - use it - Consider clearing out your garage to use for your vehicle rather than storage space to draw less attention to your car from passing thieves.
• Bolster your home security measures - With more car keys being stolen as a result of break-ins, consider reviewing your home security to include: a burglar alarm, window locks, a bolted-down domestic safe, and light timers.
• Drive with your doors locked - to reduce your risk of being a victim of a car jacking incident, keep all of your doors locked when driving your vehicle - especially when in slow moving traffic or town driving.
• Carry your car keys securely - Don't carry your car keys in a trouser pocket. Use a zipped jacket pocket or a neck chain. If using a handbag, put keys on an inside key clip if possible, zip or fasten your bag securely at all times, and a carry it close to your body using a diagonal strap if possible.

Automotive Resources International (ARI), a leading global fleet solutions provider specializing in complex car and truck fleets, announces the retirement of President Bill McKee from ARI effective July 31, 2010.

McKee started at ARI in 1992 as executive vice president and became president in 1998. During his tenure, ARI grew rapidly and is now ranked number two in the industry in fleet size and number one in customer service. McKee initiated ARI’s formal strategic planning program, and today, it serves as a roadmap for future growth.

“Bill has laid the foundation on which ARI will continue to build,” commented Mindy Holman, president and CEO, Holman Enterprises, parent company of ARI, “His leadership, keen business sense and tactical capabilities will be sorely missed.”

McKee will assume the role of CEO as of January 1, 2010 through his retirement date.

Holman also announced the promotion of Carl Ortell to president effective January 1, 2010. Ortell started his career with Holman Enterprises as an internal auditor in June 1986. He transferred to ARI in 1987 and has served in numerous operations and financial positions, most recently as executive vice president and COO.

“Carl has been the architect of our global expansion and a major influence in the development of ARI’s management team,” commented Holman.

In his new role, Ortell will assume responsibility for all ARI operations throughout North America and Europe.