Johnsons Fleet Services has been named best fleet dealer on the Fleet News Awards, with judges recognising its rapid expansion, operational investment and customer performance.
The business has grown significantly since its acquisition by Athenaeum International Holdings last September.
That deal enabled it to mix with the sooner purchase of Brayleys, making a 79-site, 21-brand platform designed to strengthen national fleet coverage.
Fleet News explained why Johnsons won the highest award: “A fleet-specific interactive CRM, launched in November, has introduced a paperless workflow that permits customers to access live order banks and communicate via integrated chat. The system has improved transparency and accelerated communication and issue resolution.
“Operational capability has also been expanded. A brand new seven-acre storage compound and an extension to the fleet preparation centre, opened in January, have increased each day throughput and integrated Brayleys’ fleet operations to cut back lead times.”
Further gains are expected this 12 months with the opening of a brand new substation on the group’s fleet PDI facility, which is able to support EV preparation and supply dependable charging capability as volumes increase.
Bi-weekly EV education events
To support fleet electrification, the business is running bi-weekly EV education events within the north west, reaching around 600 customers.
These sessions concentrate on aligning vehicle selection with real-world fleet policies and total cost of ownership, helping to cut back transition challenges.
A standalone business vehicle preparation centre, staffed by CV specialists, is on account of go live in April. The ability is anticipated to enhance upfit quality and reduce time-to-work for SME and company van fleets.
The Fleet News Award judges added: “The group has also adapted its sales approach, with growth in salary sacrifice schemes, particularly for plug-in hybrids, supported by trained advisers and funding partnerships.
“Local business development managers have increased face-to-face engagement with SME customers to simplify compliance and drive recent business.”
Customer experience initiatives include brand-trained delivery drivers, digital video handovers and an optional retail-style collection process, with public charging familiarisation sessions designed to support EV adoption.
Service performance stays a spotlight, with scheduled work typically booked inside three to 5 days and unplanned repairs triaged inside 24 hours to minimise downtime.
Sustainability measures have also been introduced, including reducing waste from branded plates and mats, optimising power distribution for EV charging and offering customers the choice to plant a tree as a substitute of receiving a post-service wash.
The combined impact of those initiatives is reflected in customer metrics, with the business reporting 100% corporate retention, 99.5% of drivers rating their experience 10 out of 10 since 2023, and consistent five-star Google reviews during 2025.
This Article First Appeared At www.am-online.com
