Johnsons Fleet Services has been named best fleet dealer at the Fleet News Awards, with judges recognising its rapid expansion, operational investment and customer performance.
The business has grown significantly since its acquisition by Athenaeum International Holdings last September.
That deal enabled it to combine with the earlier purchase of Brayleys, creating a 79-site, 21-brand platform designed to strengthen national fleet coverage.
Fleet News explained why Johnsons won the top award: “A fleet-specific interactive CRM, launched in November, has introduced a paperless workflow that allows customers to access live order banks and communicate via integrated chat. The system has improved transparency and accelerated communication and issue resolution.
“Operational capacity has also been expanded. A new seven-acre storage compound and an extension to the fleet preparation centre, opened in January, have increased daily throughput and integrated Brayleys’ fleet operations to reduce lead times.”
Further gains are expected this year with the opening of a new substation at the group’s fleet PDI facility, which will support EV preparation and provide dependable charging capacity as volumes increase.
Bi-weekly EV education events
To support fleet electrification, the business is running bi-weekly EV education events in the north west, reaching around 600 customers.
These sessions focus on aligning vehicle choice with real-world fleet policies and total cost of ownership, helping to reduce transition challenges.
A standalone commercial vehicle preparation centre, staffed by CV specialists, is due to go live in April. The facility is expected to improve upfit quality and reduce time-to-work for SME and corporate van fleets.
The Fleet News Award judges added: “The group has also adapted its sales approach, with growth in salary sacrifice schemes, particularly for plug-in hybrids, supported by trained advisers and funding partnerships.
“Local business development managers have increased face-to-face engagement with SME customers to simplify compliance and drive new business.”
Customer experience initiatives include brand-trained delivery drivers, digital video handovers and an optional retail-style collection process, with public charging familiarisation sessions designed to support EV adoption.
Service performance remains a focus, with scheduled work typically booked within three to five days and unplanned repairs triaged within 24 hours to minimise downtime.
Sustainability measures have also been introduced, including reducing waste from branded plates and mats, optimising power distribution for EV charging and offering customers the option to plant a tree instead of receiving a post-service wash.
The combined impact of these initiatives is reflected in customer metrics, with the business reporting 100% corporate retention, 99.5% of drivers rating their experience 10 out of 10 since 2023, and consistent five-star Google reviews during 2025.