John F Hunt streamlines fleet maintenance with Allstar ServicePoint


Founded in 1982, John F Hunt is a group of 21 companies and divisions focused on the construction industry, offering everything from specialist engineering to plant hire.
The businesses share a common ethos of delivering professional services on time and to budget, building strong relationships with clients, and minimising environmental impact.
The group operates 400 hundred vehicles (100 cars, 290 vans, and 10 HGVs) distributed across depot and sites throughout the UK. 

The Challenge: Fragmented fleet maintenance

When Hayley Barrow joined as Group Fleet Manager in August 2023, fleet management responsibilities were scattered across multiple people with no centralised oversight. Vehicle ordering, maintenance coordination, and financial approvals were handled inconsistently with the entire operation tracked on a single spreadsheet. 
The lack of defined processes created several critical difficulties. Hayley Barrow described the three main challenges:

-       Ad-hoc maintenance requests. Drivers would call the office after services were completed, expecting immediate payment by credit card. The team had no visibility into which garages were used or what work had been carried out.

-       Missing documentation. Receipts arrived without job cards, making it nearly impossible to maintain accurate service records. Many garages were small independents without email, further complicating communication.

-       Complex internal charging. With 21 group companies, recharges were a constant challenge. A driver from one company might use a credit card from a second company, with costs needing to be allocated to a third. 
“We didn’t know who those garages were or what work they had carried out.” Hayley explained. “I’d receive a receipt and have to push for a job card just to update our maintenance record. It was clear that we needed a new way of doing things.”


The Solutions

Centralised booking and pre-authorisation
After extensive market research, John F Hunt implemented Allstar ServicePoint alongside fleet management software system. Both solutions were introduced gradually, starting with a pilot group of drivers before rolling out across the entire fleet.
ServicePoint transformed the maintenance workflow by putting control in the hands of fleet managers before work began. Hayley now receives a detailed job card listing all required work prior to authorisation, allowing her to:

-       Pre-approve maintenance rather than react to completed work

-       Choose specific services based on vehicle requirements and operational needs

-       Balance cost and downtime by authorising additional work when vehicles are already off the road.

-       Track all bookings through a centralised online portal.
Drivers book their own maintenance through the ServicePoint online portal or by calling the booking hotline for specialist requirements. This gives the fleet team full visibility of where vehicles are being serviced and what work is planned.

 “I can log on and see which bookings are coming up and where they are happening,” said Hayley. “We now have the choice and flexibility to make that decision ourselves rather than just have to pay for everything when it’s already been done.”


The Result: Transformed administration and financial control

Massive reduction in back-office administration. The centralised system eliminated reactive phone calls, missing documentation, and manual record-keeping. All maintenance information now flows through a single platform.

Complete visibility and control. Fleet managers can see all upcoming bookings, track work in progress, and maintain comprehensive service histories without chasing drivers or garages for information.

Simplified internal recharges. The finance team can now process invoices efficiently with all necessary detail included, making it easy to allocate costs correctly across group companies.

Improved vehicle availability. With better planning and flexibility to authorise additional work during scheduled downtime, the team has reduced disruption to operations.

"Having all the information needed in one place has been a game changer for us," said Hayley. "It's not just a matter of the control over expenditure and vehicle availability that we now enjoy, but the massive reduction in back-office administration."

From the fleet manager

“Allstar ServicePoint has worked really well for us. It’s a gem and a genuine find that has just made things so much easier. I’m sure many other fleets could benefit from using it.” – Hayley Barrow, Group Fleet Manager


 

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