Webfleet gives us much better visibility across the fleet. We’re using it to understand driver performance, keep a closer eye on vehicle conditions and get a better picture of what’s happened when incidents occur.

Nella sharpens its fleet management with Webfleet

Nella Cutlery Services, the UK’s leading knife sharpening specialist, has adopted an integrated Webfleet solution combining telematics, driver safety tools and cameras across its fleet of around 120 vans, to improve driver safety and reduce vehicle downtime.

A family-owned business celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, Nella sharpens and supplies professional knives for chefs, butchers and food manufacturers across the UK and Ireland. Its vans are central to the service it provides, so keeping them on the road and its drivers safe is critical.

Webfleet gives us much better visibility across the fleet. We’re using it to understand driver performance, keep a closer eye on vehicle conditions and get a better picture of what’s happened when incidents occur, said Francesco Bondonno, Director of Operations at Nella.

Webfleet’s OptiDrive 360 in-cab driver feedback is helping Nella encourage safer and more efficient driving. The team monitors speeding, harsh braking and driver distraction, while clear reporting makes it easier to identify drivers who could benefit from extra guidance or coaching.

Vehicle data also helps the fleet team spot potential mechanical faults earlier. Alerts about issues such as gearbox or clutch wear allow Nella to act before a fault becomes more serious, supporting a proactive approach to maintenance and keeping vans on the road.

Forward- and driver-facing cameras are streamlining insurance claims. Video footage and crash data are available instantly through the Webfleet interface, giving Nella a clearer view of what happened in an incident, and evidence to support drivers who may have been wrongly accused of dangerous driving.

Webfleet’s CO₂ reporting gives Nella greater visibility of its emissions. The fleet team can identify driving behaviours that increase fuel use and emissions, and use those insights to promote more sustainable driving.

Sustainability is part of Nella’s corporate culture. Alongside knives, the company supplies chopping boards to professional kitchens, which it resurfaces and refurbishes so they can be reused rather than thrown away.

Bondonno said that, although Nella has grown rapidly in recent years, it remains fundamentally a family business that cares about the welfare of every employee, and that the fit with Webfleet was obvious, with both businesses placing a high value on people, service and long-term relationships.

Alex Crane-Robinson, Regional Director UK & Ireland at Webfleet, said connected fleet technology gives operators the information they need to coach drivers, investigate incidents quickly and spot potential vehicle issues earlier, rather than waiting for an accident or a van being taken off the road.

Nella Cutlery Services found the perfect fleet management solution with these components¹:

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