Mercedes-Benz is more willing than most manufacturers to stand behind its vehicles after they’re sold.
Not only does the firm offer free, lifetime Mobilovan breakdown cover on all vans serviced within its dealer network, but it’s also willing to provide fixed-cost service contracts for older vehicles.
A Loomis Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cash van during a delivery
Cash-in-transit specialist Loomis added 105 Sprinter cash vans to its fleet last year as part of an acquisition deal. They had previously been serviced by a third-party repair firm, not by franchised Mercedes dealers.
Despite this, Loomis’ fleet management partner, Contract Vehicles Limited, was still able to negotiate an eight-year Mercedes-Benz servicing, repair and maintenance contract for the new vans, including MobiloVan roadside assistance.
One of Loomis’ Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans being serviced at a Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Loomis Technical Services Manager Howard Oakley observed:
“No other manufacturer to my knowledge — and certainly not the other, mainstream van supplier that we’ve also used in the past — would commit to a comprehensive repair and maintenance contract for such an extended period.
“The fact that Mercedes-Benz is prepared to do so demonstrates the great faith it has in the reliability and durability of its products, a confidence which our own experience of operating its vans for over 25 years has proved to be well placed.”
Loomis plays a key role in managing the flow of cash in society, providing solutions that save money, protect from fraud and attack, and assist customers to analyse cash flow. As well as managing and replenishing ATM machines, it supports businesses with coin collection and delivery services.
Mr Oakley said:
“Mercedes-Benz vehicles are exceptionally reliable, which is vital given the nature of our work. Meanwhile, the manufacturer’s repair and maintenance contracts provide all-important security and peace of mind, predictable costs being invaluable when it comes to budgeting.
“Our vehicles are looked after by factory-trained technicians fitting only Mercedes-Benz GenuineParts. The fact that so many Mercedes-Benz workshops operate on a 24/7 basis is also important in helping us to restrict downtime to an absolute minimum. It’s imperative that we keep our vans on the road and if we were limited to 9-5 on weekdays and Saturday mornings it just wouldn’t work because, of course, we can’t simply go out and rent a replacement.”
Leeds-based CVL manages some 23,000 vehicles, many of which wear Mercedes-Benz three-pointed stars. Chief Executive Doug Smith commented:
“We are one of the biggest customers for Mercedes-Benz repair and maintenance contracts, and this allows us to negotiate highly competitive prices on behalf of the operators we represent.
In addition to the total of 505 Sprinters operated by Loomis, Mercedes-Benz also supplies all but a handful of the operator’s 250 trucks. Most of its Sprinters are converted 3.5-tonne panel vans although the line-up also includes a substantial number of box-bodied 5.0-tonne chassis cabs. The Sprinters are specified with varying grades of security protection, reflecting their different roles.
Loomis and CVL have been working together since 1998.