A Gateshead fleet management specialist with nearly three decades of experience in the commercial vehicle sector has launched a new business providing end-to-end fleet management services, having secured a major nationwide contract within weeks of opening.
Northstar Vehicle Management, founded by Gavin Hewitt and based at Blaydon Business Centre, has been appointed by Loomis UK to manage its nationwide fleet of 450 armoured vehicles. Through a phased programme towards full fleet management responsibility, Northstar Vehicle Management will provide comprehensive support across maintenance, tyres, security systems and compliance.
Gavin brings more than 27 years of industry experience to the new venture. He began his career in 1997 with Bell Truck and Van in Birtley as a Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle Service Advisor before progressing through a series of senior management positions, including Aftersales Director and Truck Dealer Principal. He later joined Northside Truck and Van as Aftersales Director before moving into fleet management with MaxAssist.
Having spent his career supporting fleet operators from the supplier side of the industry, Gavin says he is now taking almost three decades of experience to “the customer side” of the industry.
Gavin said: “After serving customers for the past 27 years, I saw a real gap in the marketplace. A lot of the larger fleet management companies have lost that personal touch. Everything is hidden behind video calls and automated systems.
“At Northstar Vehicle Management, we put the customer at the heart of everything through proper customer service, face-to-face communication and hands-on support, while also using bespoke software and AI technology to improve the whole process.
“Our role is to become an extension of the customer’s fleet team, coordinating maintenance and repairs, managing compliance, providing operational oversight and using telematics and performance data to help reduce downtime and improve efficiency. We give operators a single point of contact and complete visibility across their fleet.”
“I set myself a target of managing 1,000 vehicles within the first 12 months, so securing a contract of this size so early on is incredibly rewarding,” Gavin added. “It’s a nationwide contract, from the north of Scotland to the south coast, and we’ll be making sure those vehicles are compliant, roadworthy and operating safely.
“Our focus isn’t simply on arranging vehicle repairs. It’s about understanding each customer’s operation, helping them stay compliant, keeping vehicles on the road and providing the information they need to make better fleet decisions. Every hour a vehicle is off the road impacts the organisation it supports, so minimising downtime is always our priority.”
A spokesperson for Loomis UK said: “Loomis UK selected Northstar Vehicle Management as its fleet management provider due to its industry expertise and extensive knowledge of dealer networks. Their technology-driven, customer-centric approach and structured processes will help ensure our fleet remains safe, compliant and operationally effective across the UK.”
Northstar Vehicle Management offers a comprehensive range of fleet support services, including centralised fleet management, proactive maintenance scheduling, repair coordination, compliance management, digital servicing records, telematics solutions, supplier management and fleet performance reporting, helping organisations maintain operational control while reducing administrative burden.
Drawing on extensive experience gained across commercial vehicle dealerships, aftersales management and independent fleet management, Gavin has built Northstar Vehicle Management around the principles of transparency, responsiveness and customer service. Recognising that every fleet operates differently, the company works closely with customers to tailor its services to their individual operational requirements, providing a proactive approach that helps maximise vehicle uptime, improve compliance and deliver complete visibility across fleet operations.
With systems and processes designed to support fleets of any size, Northstar Vehicle Management plans to continue expanding its North East operation as new contracts are secured, creating further opportunities for local talent.
“We’re proud to be based in Gateshead and want to keep that North East heritage as we grow,” Gavin said. “There’s a huge amount of talent in this region and we want to create opportunities locally.”
Looking to the future of the industry, Gavin believes electric commercial vehicles will play a major role. He said: “The whole sector is changing rapidly towards EV technology, particularly electric trucks, and that’s an area we’re very interested in developing expertise in.”
For further information about Northstar Vehicle Management, visit northstarvm.co.uk, email info@northstarvm.co.uk or call 0191 656 9247
This article is featured in Essential Fleet Manager Magazine Issue 5(2026)
