As far as I’m aware, anybody booking self drive vehicles through the white fleet system needs to have an FMT600 and the correct licence category to be insured and legal. I would never drive vehicles that I’m not licensed for, but how accurate does the vehicle type have to be on the FMT600?
On my FMT600, I have several categories of Vehicle. Some are more specific than others - for example, one type is listed as “cars - all types”, whilst another is listed as “LDV van, 9 seats”.
If, for example, I asked for a SWB Landrover (also specified on my FMT600) to use on a fieldcraft exercise, and when I arrived at Wing HQ to pick it up, it’s a Nissan Nevaro, am I insured to drive it? If it was a civillian hire, there would be no issues, but as it not listed on my FMT600, what would happen if I drove it? I could argue that it falls under “cars - all types”, but it has more in common with the 4x4 Landrover.
And what about the LDV van? Obviously they don’t make them anymore, so I would most likely get a transit. Both types are similar, but does specifying the manufacturer make driving other makes negate the insurance? And what would happen if I ask for a “LDV Van, 9 seats”, and I get a bog standard 3 seat van?
My gut feeling is that if it doesn’t match the FMT600 exactly, then it’s best not to risk it - but then that’s probably because I’m not sure how the system works.
I would ring your issuing MT office and ask them since it’s their rule book? Would be MUCH safer than asking a bunch of randomers who don’t work in MT and could give you a wrong answer.
MOD Land rovers are more of a grey area than regular cars. Even though the Nevaro is a 4x4, I would assume it would come under the category of “cars”, unless it has been modified in some way. Land rovers and land rover derived vehicles can come in different shapes and sizes, some of which even require a different licence entitlement, which I assume would be the reason that you would have types of land rover on your FMT600.
Generally not too specific, so any car, any van any 4x4 (land rover, Hilux, etc) - although watch out for ‘half and half’ vans as apparently some of the smaller ones are considered cars and some are considered vans.
Insurance isn’t an issue however, if they’ve let you drive it (and you’re licensed, as in your civvy licence shows the correct vehicle category) then you’ll be covered. The FMT600 is basically an internal MoD document telling MT what they’re allowing you to drive.
I think your main problem would be the use. A while ago the MOD decreed that any Land Rover used “off road” could only be driven by someone who had completed a service off road driving course. At the time it had the potential to cause quite a problem because an airfield was technically off road and there was a move to re-equip the VGSs with some other vehicle.
I think the airfield bit was resolved, but I expect that MT might not want their Land Rovers used in the mud.
Most of the white fleet vehicles I’ve driven are hired through my wing HQ. I spoke to the staff there yesterday afternoon, and their take on the issue is that if it isn’t specified on my FMT600, then I must not drive it. So, for example, if I asked for a 9 seat LDV van, and got a regular LDV van, then I can’t use it (even if it is a comparable model - same MAM, wheelbase etc).
Forgive my ignorance, but if the FMT600 isn’t linked to the insurance policy, and doesn’t allow extra vehicle types not on my civvy license to be driven, then what’s the point in having them for white fleet?
I can understand the point in having them as a record of training for special vehicles, like the Panther or Mastiff, but not for white fleet! I could have 2 identical vehicles, supplied by the same hire company, but with one hired through the white fleet system, and one hired personally, and not be able to drive the white fleet one because someone didn’t write it on a little pink piece of cardboard!
Plus, the system isn’t exactly bombproof… My original FMT600 was issued by an RAF camp that no longer exists. I took that one to our new parent station, and the MT bod just transcribed the contents over, putting in “transferred” in the signature area. I’m fairly certain that if I wrote in a whole bunch of vehicles that I’m legally able to drive, no one would be able to prove that they weren’t on my original 600! Not that I would ever do that, obviously!
I did try to call them yesterday. Must have called them on a tea break, as nobody answered!
I’m happy to abide by what WHQ say. My WHQ are generally quite good - if they don’t know the answer to your question, they will call other to find out, so I’m reasonably confident they are correct. Besides, they are the ones who book the white fleet vehicles, so if that is their decision, then it doesn’t matter what MT say!
I’ve seen this too, but despite removing the pink form, all the same requirements remain!
You still need:
To have a current UK Matrix test
To annually sign MT orders
To produce your civi licence
To (dependent on local SOs) go for a familiarisation half day/full day
Which is ludicrous, because all the same requirements remain but in removing the pink slip from people you remove all their proof that they’ve done the necessary prerequisites…!
^ this what has caused all the headache for people booking fleet. It makes zero sense. It makes zero cost savings (negligible bit of card). The MoD imposing a silly rule with little consultation to the wider users.
