Scania GB is working with its customers who have been forced to park-up trucks during the COVID-19 crisis.
“We have written to operators who use Scania Finance, and advised them that we are here to help them where possible,” explained Scania GB MD Martin Hay. “We can look to reschedule financing agreements if that helps, and we are also looking at potential ways to reschedule R&M agreements if they are parking vehicles up.”
But Hay said there is no “silver bullet”, explaining that it is vital that Scania understands each operator’s needs and requirements, to determine how it can best help. He also stressed the importance of operators taking full advantage of the various lifelines offered by the government. “Several government initiatives have been launched, such as business interruption loans and retention schemes, and people also need to take full advantage of these,” he said.
Hay told Commercial Motor that its workshops are currently all open, and he praised the flexibility of the staff who are volunteering to swap shifts and locations, filling in for colleagues who are self-isolating. “There are a lot of unsung heroes in this business,” he said.
One area that Scania did initially encounter some problems was with parts supplies, which proved to be “a challenge from a logistics perspective”, causing some delays. But he said this has since been rectified, and confirmed an uninterrupted supply from the European parts centre. “Operating without parts is a bit like playing football without a ball,” he said. “We fully understand how important they are, and what role they play in helping us to keep the UK moving.”
