The 10th March, 2008, saw the UK fleet industry’s equivalent to the Oscars – the annual Fleet News Awards presentation evening. The turnout was strong despite the blustery conditions and all the major van manufacturers had been shortlisted for awards, so anticipation was high.

In the van section, the winners of the Manufacturers awards were:

Best Small Van: Volkswagen Caddy

Best Medium Van: Ford Transit

Best Large Van: Mercedes Sprinter

No real surprises here – the latest incarnation of the Mercedes Sprinter has retained its position as the large van of choice for courier fleets and anyone who values a high quality, prestige van. Ford’s Transit offers the perfect range of size and spec options for the middle of the market, and the VW Caddy has made strong inroads into the popularity of the Transit Connect at the small end of the market.

With these results in mind, it’s no surprise that many van hire fleets continue to purchase Transits, Sprinters and Caddies – popular and reliable choices with good resale values.