Iceland’s 1000th Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Four years ago, supermarket Iceland decided to switch its entire delivery van fleet to Mercedes-Benz Sprinters. The frozen food specialist has just taken delivery of its 1,000th van and is within a few months of reaching its 100% target.

The attractions of the Sprinter to heavy duty users are well documented. Its reputation for durability and reliability are especially valuable. But unfortunately even the best vans are at risk of damage and unscheduled downtime due to driver error and avoidable collisions.

For example, in 2013, more than 30% of Iceland’s Sprinter vans had a non-start incident due to a flat battery within six months of delivery. The cause was usually a simple error like leaving an interior light switched on.

Management also had concerns about the level of minor damage caused by low-speed incidents.

After approaching Mercedes about these concerns, it turned out that Sprinters can be fitted with optional Parametric Special Modules (PSMs) at the factory. These are electronic units that can be used to access and control various performance parameters.

The PSM system appears to be surprisingly flexible. Iceland’s Sprinter vans are now delivered with PSM modules which apply a number of settings to the vans, including:

• Activate hazards when reversing
• Limit forward and reverse speed
• Monitor battery voltage
• Switch off interior lights automatically if they’re left on

The difference has been impressive. Since the PSM programme was introduced, flat battery incidents have fallen to just 5% of the Sprinter fleet.

Although some drivers may bemoan the Big Brother tendencies of such technology, it’s ability to cut costs and improve safety is invaluable for busy transport operations.