Transport managers, operators and one-man-bands always cite cost and downtime; something that becomes irrelevant when they hand back the vehicle to its rental, finance house or lease company owner.
But they have to foot the bill when damage falls outside of the agreed British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and Manheim Auctions Fair Wear and Tear guide standards; so is there be a quick and easy solution to maintaining your fleet’s good looks without getting stung at disposal time?
Commercial Motor travelled to Manheim Inspection Services, just off the M6 toll road, to see Dent Wizard perform swift cosmetic surgery on scratched and dented vans and trucks.
Traditionally the service has been aimed at the car industry but now it is expanding the operation because the marketplace only has small independents covering given areas. No one does it en masse.
The plus points are clear; the service is mobile reducing downtime and its menu pricing [instead of charging man hours] cuts cost. Dent Wizard has one-man inspection teams covering the UK performing quotes using a handheld [similar to a Blackberry] that is linked directly to the office. A quote is minutes away, and picture images are also downloaded with to help assess the damage back at the office for the Dent Wizard team.
We watched as they damaged there own van, and then set about restoring it to its former glory; it took half the cost and time of what would have required a trip to the workshop. To see the results read CM on 1 February 2007.