Category Archives: Vans In Business

News and information relating to the use and function of vans by UK businesses.

Boiler maker stays loyal to Ford with 230-van Transit Custom order

Leave a reply

New Vaillant Ford Transit Custom vansHeating technology company Vaillant — best known for central heating boilers — is replacing its 230-strong fleet of Ford Transit vans with new Ford Transit Custom models.

The company, based in Belper, Derbyshire, will take delivery of 110 vans this year for Vaillant’s after-sales service engineers to use as a mobile workspace and for component storage.

Load-carrying ability and reliability were cited as two key reasons why Vaillant decided to stick with the blue oval:

“Our vans carry a large number of spares to enable them to maintain a very high first-call success rate,” said Keith Mathers, Vaillant group service director.

“When we are called out, our goal is to fix any problem immediately, which we do in more than 95 per cent of cases. The Transit is ideal for this role because of its high load capacity, and we know it to be exceptionally reliable in service.”

The Transit Custom is one of the most-decorated models in the Ford commercial vehicles range, having collected 15 awards in the last 12 months including International Van of the Year 2013, Auto Express Van of the Year, VansA2Z Small Panel Van 2014, What Van? Van of the Year 2014 and Fleet World Van Manufacturer of the Year.

The Transit Custom is powered by an advanced 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine with three power levels: 100PS/310Nm, 125PS/350Nm and 155PS/385Nm.

Two wheelbase options are also available and Vaillant appears to have opted for thei high-roof model, which is not yet a common sight on UK roads but does offer significant improvement in load-carrying ability and improved ergonomics for Vaillant’s engineers, who may have to work in the rear of the vehicle.

Telecoms courier calls Mercedes for new Sprinters

2 Replies
100+ Logistics Mercedes-Benz Sprinters

Two of 100+ Logistics new Mercedes-Benz Sprinters

Derby-based mobile phone industry supplier 100+ Logistics has celebrated its tenth anniversary in style, by investing in a new fleet of fuel-efficient Mercedes-Benz Vans.

The firm had previously operated hired and leased Sprinters but decided to make the switch to outright ownership earlier this year.

For his first purchase, 100+ proprietor Barrie Tullett opted for six Sprinter 313 CDIs. Three are Long-bodied vans, the others were supplied as chassis cabs to which Alloy Bodies, of Manchester, fitted Luton boxes.

For added peace of mind, Mr Tullett also took out Mercedes-Benz Service Care contracts under which Mertrux will carry out all routine maintenance for a highly competitive, fixed fee.

Founded by Mr Tullett in April 2004, 100+ Logistics has grown steadily and now operates 20 vans, has a staff of 27 and an annual turnover in excess of £1 million. The company works exclusively for mobile telecoms engineering contractors, its vehicles making nationwide deliveries of equipment ranging from amplifiers and antennae, to cabling and cabinets, to sites where transmission stations are being installed or upgraded.

Mr Tullett says:

“Of course, other vans have their strengths but none can match a Sprinter as an overall package. Our vans cover anything from 60,000 to 80,000 miles per year, and we have to be on site early in the morning so the engineers can start work, even if it’s as far away as Inverness or St Austell.

“This means reliability is paramount and in this respect experience has proved the Mercedes-Benz to be the best vehicle on the market – we’ve been running rented Sprinters since day one. What’s more, it offers excellent performance, is comfortable, driver-friendly and loaded with standard safety systems, and conveys a smart, professional image.”

Since taking delivery of his new vans Mr Tullett has returned to Mertrux with an order for seven more: five will be Sprinters – three Lutons, a panel van and a dropsider – while the other two will be from the Citan range launched last year. The Citan is the smallest van yet to wear the three-pointed star of Mercedes-Benz and 100+ Logistics will take advantage of its outstanding fuel economy – official tests have returned up to 65.7 mpg – on deliveries of smaller consignments.

British Gas orders 100 Nissan e-NV200 electric vans following winter trial

2 Replies
Nissan e-NV200 British Gas trial van

One of the Nissan e-NV200 electric vans trialled by British Gas over the last winter.

It’s all going to plan for Nissan: the e-NV 200 electric van has come through a series of well-publicised long-term operational trials with flying colours and has now received a 100-van order from trial partner British Gas, ahead of the e-NV200’s official launch in June.

The order was announced at the start of the CV Show in Birmingham today, and is part of British Gas’ wider commitment to electrify 10% of its 13,000-strong fleet by 2017. British Gas will receive 50 vans as soon as possible and a further 50 by the end of 2014.

As I have been saying for many years, the logical opportunity for mainstream adoption of electric vans isn’t the private car market, where usage is often inconsistent and unpredictable, it’s the van market — many vans operate on fixed routes and schedules which make range anxiety and charging requirements irrelevant.

British Gas’ winter trial of the e-NV200 was the UK’s largest electric van evaluation to date, and saw 28 e-NV200s cover in excess of 60,000 miles between them, to verify how the vans performed in winter conditions, during typical British Gas home services daily usage patterns. Proof of the trial’s success was that some drivers were reluctant to hand back their vans.

Colin Marriott, general manager, fleet at British Gas said:

“We have been extremely impressed with the performance of the Nissan e-NV200 during our winter trial. The feedback from our engineers speaks for itself, with the majority saying they would be happy to keep the van permanently.

“Taking on 100 of these vehicles on a permanent basis demonstrates our continued commitment to leading the adoption of this technology amongst large vehicle fleets in the UK.  With technology and infrastructure improving all the time, we look forward to expanding this number in the coming years.”

The e-NV200 will be available to purchase from June 2014.

You won’t find one of these vans at your local van hire firm

Leave a reply
Eskimo Express dual compartment van by Paneltex Somers

One of Eskimo Express’ new Paneltex Somers dual compartment conversions — the temperature difference between the two compartments can be up to 50C!

For most van users, a standard panel van, perhaps with some racking or tie-down points, is all that’s necessary, making it relatively easy to source replacements from hire companies and van dealers.

However, some van operators have much more demanding requirements. One example is specialist courier Eskimo Express, which runs a fleet of 20 temperature controlled vehicles and does a lot of work for the pharmaceutical industry, transporting materials all over Europe.

The firm’s latest vans are Citroën  Relay models with high-specification dual compartment bodies that enable the Citroëns to operate at -25°C in one compartment and +25°C in the other. This means it’s now possible for Eskimo Express to use one vehicle for jobs that previously required two.

Of course, building a conversion like this isn’t simple: consider the level of insulation needed to effectively separate two compartments that might have a temperature differential of 50°C.

Chertsey-based Eskimo Express sourced the new vans from Norwich-based refrigerated body manufacturer Paneltex Somers. Each van uses Paneltex’s Flexi-Temp bulkhead system to provide effective separation between the two compartments, and Tony Colato from Eskimo Express says that the firm hasn’t found any other converters which can offer such high quality refrigerated conversions:

“Much of our courier work is specifically for the pharmaceutical industry and we have found that, apart from Paneltex Somers, no other vehicle body manufacturer can manufacture such a high level of refrigerated conversion that is ideally suited to this industry. Our vehicles work extremely hard, on deliveries and collections all over Europe, so the reliability and consistent performance achieved by our refrigerated vehicles is vital to the success of the business.”

The new Citroën  Relay vans are both L3H2 (long wheelbase medium-high roof) models and the Paneltex Somers conversions have been completed to ATP Certification Class C, which is recognised as the gold standard for refrigerated conversions in Europe. The Flexi-Temp bulkhead has can be secured in two positions, allowing the relative sizes of each compartment to be changed, to suit the loads being carried.

Each van has Europe-wide satellite tracking and twin temperature recorders, ensuring that the load’s integrity is never questioned and that clients have full visibility of ‘their’ van’s location at all times.

Definitely not your average van.

Alarm fleet switch to Mercedes-Benz Citan sounds warning for competitors

1 Reply

Abel Alarm Company Mercedes-Benz CitanThe Mercedes-Benz Citan appears to be making solid inroads into the small van sector, eroding the market share of the primarily French companies who formerly dominated this sector, along with the Ford Transit Connect.

Despite being based on the Renault Kangoo — in itself a good van — the Citan seems to have succeeded in capturing the core Mercedes virtues of build quality, reliability, prestige and cost-effectiveness. One of the latest converts to the Citan’s cause is high-end security technology firm, Abel Alarm Company.

The Leicester-based firm, one of the UK’s largest privately owned providers of electronic security systems, purchased its first three Citans from city Dealer Mertrux. All Long-bodied 109 CDI models, they have joined its fleet of 55 light commercial vehicles.

Abel Alarms’ Fleet Administrator Lisa Smith says the company plans to buy more Citans as its other vans fall due for replacement:

“We’ve been sourcing our fleet from another manufacturer for a long time, but last year conducted a comprehensive evaluation of all the alternatives,” she explains.

“We trialled demonstration units from various suppliers and gave them a thorough workout. We also turned some over to our engineers, and asked them to rate the vans against a series of criteria, with scores of one to five.

“Most of the vehicles we looked at scored highly in some areas, less so in others. But the Mercedes-Benz Citan stood out, achieving fours and fives across the board. It was far and away the best and most popular choice, and definitely the most cost-effective van we could buy.”

Launched last year, the Citan marks the entry of Mercedes-Benz into the small van market. The range combines impressive fuel efficiency of up to 65.7 mpg with CO2 emissions as low as 112 g/km, and is packed with clever features such as a folding bulkhead, to provide maximum load length as well as protection for the driver.

“Fuel economy and overall running costs were high on our list of criteria,” continues Lisa Smith. “As well as returning excellent mpg figures, the Citan offers long service intervals which translate into lower maintenance costs and less downtime.

“Another benefit is the standard three-year, unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty,” she continues. “Our engineers cover the whole country from a network of 13 depots throughout the UK, and they each rack up around 25-30,000 miles per year. It’s reassuring to know their vehicles are fully covered, no matter how far they drive.”

Established in 1965, Abel Alarm Company provides security systems to large businesses and public sector organisations such as universities and hospitals, as well as small- and medium-sized enterprises and residential customers – it numbers high-profile sports and media personalities among its clients.

Nissan ousts Citroen from PH Jones fleet after 4-week trial

Leave a reply
PH Jones Nissan NV200 fleet

Vans from PH Jones’ 227-strong fleet of Nissan NV200 vans, which replaced the firm’s previous Citroen Berlingo and Dispatch vans.

Nissan’s efforts to expand its UK van business appear to be paying off, after the firm managed to replace Citroen as the main provider of vans to British Gas subsidiary PH Jones, which recently took delivery of 227 Nissan NV200 SE vans.

The decision to switch from Citroen Berlingo and Dispatch vans — both favourites with SMEs — to the NV200, a relative newcomer, came after PH Jones undertook a four-week trial of a NV200 SE, complete with full racking, to test whether the van would be the appropriate vehicle for its fleet daily usage patterns.

Drivers praised the NV200 SE for its comfort plus its ability to safely house all of their repair tools and equipment.

The new vans are all in PH Jones livery and will cover around three million miles per year. Commenting on the decision, on Marshall, PH Jones fleet manager said:

“This is a very large order for us so it was important we undertook an intensive vehicle trial to ensure the vans would be fit for purpose. As well as being a hit with the drivers thanks to the handling and air conditioning, the support from Nissan throughout has been excellent and we look forward to continuing to work together in the coming months.”

Originally established in 1963 as a local heating contractor in the North West and Wales, PH Jones has expanded to become a social housing provider to homes across the country providing central heating installations, heating service and repair and electrical services.

Strong residuals key factor in North Lanarkshire Council switch to VW

Leave a reply

Volkswagen has secured a deal to provide North Lanarkshire Council with 224 commercial vehicles. The new agreement will see Volkswagen supply nearly 45% of the council’s 500-strong fleet of vans and will include a combination of Caddy, Transporter and Crafter models.

Volkswagen supplies 224 new vans to North Lanarkshire Council

Volkswagen supplies 224 new vans to North Lanarkshire Council

Past experience and an excellent reputation helped Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles secure the deal. The council’s procurement team also considered the excellent reliability, attractive service, maintenance and whole life costs when choosing a fleet partner.

Other operational benefits for the council include a range of quiet, fuel-efficient engines with low CO2 emissions, which help cut fuel costs and reduce the fleet’s impact on the environment.

The deal, which comprises Crafter, Transporter and Caddy panel vans, will also include a Crafter Luton van with built-in tail lift from Volkswagen’s Engineered-to-Go scheme.

Kenneth Wilson, Head of Land Services at North Lanarkshire Council, said:

“We needed to replace a significant proportion of our van fleet in line with our vehicle replacement programme, and I’m pleased to say that Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has been successful in winning the majority of the business.

“What tipped the balance in their favour is the fact that their products are so flexible in terms of allowing us to customise them to meet our needs. Similarly, they have extremely strong residual values compared to the rest of the market, which mean the vans are very good value for us.

“The Volkswagen vans that have arrived so far have been a welcome addition to the fleet and feedback from our drivers has been very positive.”

Alastair Hemmings, National Fleet Manager at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK, added:

“We are delighted that North Lanarkshire Council has decided to convert nearly half of its fleet to Volkswagen after trialling a small number of our vans. The power of our residual values means we are highly competitive and able to offer our customers outstanding value for money.”

It’s good to know that even in today’s price comparison age (guilty as charged, m’lud), if you get your marketing, brand image and product quality right, you don’t have to be the cheapest in order to do well.

Van Journo Uses Press Vehicle To Help Berkshire Flood Victims

Leave a reply
Isuzu D-Max helping flood victims

Neil’s Isuzu D-Max helping flood victims in Wraysbury, Berkshire.

Sometimes, common sense does prevail — as was the case when VansA2Z.com editor Neil McIntee asked the Isuzu press office if he could use one of their demonstrators to help out flood victims in the Berkshire village of Wraysbury.

The vehicle in question was a D-Max pick-up, so Neil immediately realised he had the perfect vehicle to help in the rescue effort and spent a day helping local emergency services, retrieving stranded residents from the their homes and shifting sandbags to where they were needed.

After a busy day, Neil explained:

“One of the VansA2Z team lives in Wraysbury and with a D-Max demonstrator sittings outside my house we were more than happy to help with delivering sandbags to residents in their hour of need.

The D-Max never missed a beat, despite being overloaded most of the time and at one point was even called upon to rescue a stranded family”.

The D-Max is available in three cab configurations (single, extended and double) and the popular double-cab models are available in four specifications. Prices range from £14,749 (CVOTR) for the entry-level 4×2 single cab to £23,649 for the top-of-the-range Utah 4×4 double-cab automatic.

Mercedes Vito Sport-X Is Key Van For Halesowen Locksmith

1 Reply
Dr Locks Vito Sport-X

Jason’s new Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport-X

A 100-yard test drive of a dynamic Vito Sport-X van was all it took to convince locksmith Jason Gould to sign on the dotted line.

Jason, whose firm Dr Locks is based in Halesowen, West Midlands, had owned a string of Vito and Vito Sport models – but then he strayed from the three-pointed star and bought another make of van.

“I fancied a change, and it was a nice vehicle,” he recalls. “But it very soon dawned on me that it just wasn’t a Mercedes-Benz. It lacked the quality and comfort of the Vito, and it didn’t have the ‘feel good’ factor I’d been used to.”

Jason hotfooted it back to his local Mercedes-Benz dealer,  Midlands Truck & Van, where he was invited to take a quick spin in Managing Director Jon Divers’ ‘company car’, a fire-breathing Vito Sport-X. It was love at first sight, as Jason explains:

“I’d scarcely left the forecourt before I realised that this was the van for me. It really looks the part and the fact that it’s so quick makes it a real joy to drive. I dropped Jon’s van back at the dealership and ordered my own there and then.”

Jason isn’t the only company boss to choose a Vito Sport-X as his company car, and given the van’s spec, this doesn’t surprise me: the Vito Sport-X is powered by a V6 engine that delivers an eye-watering 167 kW (224 hp) output to the road via a five-speed automatic transmission.

The Sport-X is not just a standard Vito with a big engine, either — it boasts styling by renowned Mercedes tuning and body styling specialist Brabus, which designed its 18-inch alloy wheels, customised front spoiler and chrome sidebars. Sport-X models also feature powerful bi-xenon headlamps with LED daytime driving lights.

A former Birmingham City Council carpenter, Jason started his own business in 2005 after buying specialist tools and teaching himself to pick locks. The company was a success from day one and its expert team now provide an emergency 24-hour call out service, as well as offering bespoke security and alarm solutions.

Kate & Pippa Take To Road In QMS Sprinters

Leave a reply
One of QMS' new Mercedes-Benz Sprinters

One of QMS’ new Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, ‘Kate’.

The most famous ‘named’ vehicles on UK roads are probably those operated by haulier Eddie Stobart, but it’s a surprisingly popular practice.

Take road marking and specialist surfacing business Quality Marking Services, for example.

The firm’s seven-truck fleet is all named, and when it took delivery of two brand-new Sprinters recently, QMS invited its customers and staff members to suggest a pair of sisters’ names for the new vans.

The most popular choices — “by a landslide”, according to Greg Clark, QMS operations director, were Kate and Pippa, a.k.a. the Duchess of Cambridge and her sister.

Based in Newton Abbot, the new Sprinters are 313 CDi models that carry a variety of equipment and materials for use in applying internal markings, such as those found on the floors of warehouses, factories and supermarket aisles.