A new affinity partnership has been announced by software company Fleetcheck and 1st Choice Insurance.

The two companies are working together to identify fleets that are managing risk well and producing good results, something that can be tracked through Fleetcheck’s software.

1st Choice is a specialist fleet broker which represents a panel of the UK’s largest and most experienced fleet insurers.

Fleetcheck managing director Peter Golding said: “The objective of working with our affinity partners is normally to help our software client base access better services and rates than their current supplier but with 1st Choice, a key part of the arrangement is to help fleets better understand their risk profile.

“Most fleets have seen an increasing cost of claim, based on factors that are largely out of their control such as general inflation and rising cost of vehicle repairs, but much can be done to mitigate premium increases through advice on how insurers perceive risk.

“Effective strategies for reducing insurance costs can range from enhanced safety measures and changes in your fleet composition through to improved driver retention rates and enforced driving standards, all of which can be achieved with the help of our software.”

1st Choice managing director Callum Watkins said: “The insurers with which we work are looking for fleets that represent a lower than usual risk. They want to build a client base of businesses that are controlling their risk successfully through a defined and effective strategy.

“The fact that a business is a Fleetcheck customer and has sufficient interest in risk to buy software in order to manage it is a good sign for insurers, but the crux is being able to produce information that shows how well this is working.

“Of course, this won’t feed through into premiums immediately but we are generally able to offer rebates to fleets in year one based on their performance and also help them to contain costs over the longer term as we build a picture of their risk through data.

“Over time, we hope to build a joint client base with Fleetcheck that is recognised as a high quality ‘book’ of fleets by insurers, and who will receive preferential treatment as a result.”