If you’re running a van fleet, there are few things more frustrating — and costly — than unreliable vans. This was the situation that Merseyside-based drink wholesaler Ale & Beer Supplies found itself in until it decided ti make the switch to Mercedes-Benz Sprinters.

The firm says that its previous vans were the cheapest on offer. Managing Director Chris Lawler admits that this approach was not a success:

“That proved to be a false economy. They were terrible – something was always going wrong. Not only were we were paying a fortune to keep them on the road, but it was also a huge job to meet our delivery schedule, and live up to the dependable service promise we make to customers.”

The vans have now been replaced by three long-bodied Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, which Mr Lawler says are a revelation:

“The Sprinters are so much better, in every way,” enthused Mr Lawler. “The price difference was negligible and they’re proving far more cost-effective to operate, as well as promising the long-term reliability for which Mercedes-Benz is renowned.”

The vans are 20th Anniversary Special Edition Sprinter 313 CDIs. The 20th anniversary model was introduced to mark the van’s 20th birthday and just 1,200 units have been made available.

The anniversary models offer a generous specification that includes air conditioning, sat nav, driver’s Comfort seat with arm rest and some chrome trim. The total cost is just £750, versus a usual list price of more than £2,000 for these options.

The vans are used to deliver alcoholic and soft drinks to pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels across the North-West. Chris Lawler says that after six months of service, the firm’s decision to switch marques “has been vindicated” and that the new vans are popular with staff and have proved totally reliable.

Reliability, fuel efficiency and safety were three of the factors behind Innovate Signs’ continued loyalty to Mercedes-Benz vans.

The Whiteley, Hampshire based manufacturer and installer of retail signage has just replaced its van fleet with its third consecutive set of Mercedes vans.

The new line-up comprises four 20^th Anniversary Special Edition Sprinter 316 CDIs, a Vito 114 BlueTEC crew van and a Citan 109 CDI. All are Long-bodied variants and the subject of flexible, low-cost Agility hire purchase agreements from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services.

Founded by Managing Director Lee Devitt in 2001, Innovate Signs offers design, manufacturing and installation services, and works throughout the UK and most of Europe. Its impressive customer base includes the likes of JD Sports, One Stop, Schuh, Bensons for Beds and Harveys.

The firm acquired its first Mercedes-Benz Vans in 2009 and replaced them three years later with a second set, which have just been bought back by Pentagon. The new vans have lined up alongside a 63-registered Vito which is ‘out of sync’ with the rest.

It is the first time that Innovate Signs has operated a vehicle from the small Citan range introduced by Mercedes-Benz in 2013. Mr Devitt explained:

“Because of its size we’re using the Citan for local jobs, and those where access and parking are issues. It’s proving to be a valuable addition to the fleet.

The Special Edition Sprinter was introduced to mark the two decades that have passed since the all-conquering model’s launch. Just 1,200 vans benefited from ‘Sprinter 20’ badging on the front wing and a unique option bundle including air conditioning, sat nav, a driver’s Comfort seat with arm rest, wheel trims and a chrome grille – this package was worth over £2,000, but put just £750 on the retail cost of the vehicle.

Mr Devitt said:

“We were getting horrendous fuel economy from the vans we were running prior to 2009, but since making the switch to Mercedes-Benz we’ve never looked back.

“Its vehicles are built to an exceptionally high standard, reliable, fuel-efficient and comfortable, as well as leading the field in terms of safety. Features such as Brake Assist and Crosswind Assist are very reassuring to operators like me, who are conscious of their Duty of Care responsibilities both to employees and to other road users.

Innovate Signs’ Sprinters will each clock-up some 200,000 miles over the next three years.

Working on busy motorways and trunk roads gives traffic management specialist Lagan Operations & Maintenance little room for error. Motorway hard shoulders are among the most dangerous places to spend time on motorways.

Operating reliable and well-specified vehicles helps Lagan’s crews work safely in this difficult environment. The firm recently purchased six new dropside vans to be based at its East Kilbride depot, from where they undertake road maintenance projects all over Scotland.

Unsurprisingly, Lagan’s van of choice was the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. The new vans are all Sprinter 313 CDI long wheelbase chassis cabs with custom dropside bodies. These include access steps and safety rails for staff working at height in the rear of the vehicle.

Area Manager George Miller, who is responsible for the new fleet, said:

“Although this operation only began around 18 months ago, my own experience of traffic management work goes back over 15 years.

“In that time I’ve seen vehicles from all the major manufacturers and it’s clear to me that Mercedes-Benz vans are head and shoulders above the competition. They are the most reliable by a margin, which means they spend a lot less time off the road undergoing repairs.”

To enhance the safety of the firm’s crews when working on busy roadways and construction sites, Lagan has specified twin, rear-facing side cameras linked to full colour screens on the vans’ dashboards. These automatically show a view down the relevant side of the vehicle if the driver indicates left or right.

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has won numerous awards for safety and, with its reassuring armoury of active and passive systems, is widely acknowledged as the market leader when it comes to the protection of occupants and other road users.

Leading UK veterinary wholesaler Centaur Services has completed its transition to an all-Mercedes-Benz fleet of 60 vans.

The company supplies more than 22,000 products to veterinary practices across the UK from its headquarters in Castle Cary, Somerset, and depots in Carlisle, Ivybridge, Letchworth and Stoke-on-Trent.

The firm’s first ever Mercedes-Benz Citan and Vito vans have recently jointed its fleet, but the vast majority of its vans are Sprinters. While most are 3.5-tonne 313 CDI models, the line-up also includes a number of 5.0-tonnne 513 CDI variants.

Over recent years Centaur Services has invested heavily in its warehouse and distribution network. With the exceptions of two mid-size Vito 111 CDI crew vans, which have second rows of seats and are used by its VetSpace practice management software division to attend shows and exhibitions, its vehicles make multi-drop deliveries of food, drugs and consumables.

Typically, a van will service 17 veterinary surgeries each day. The company’s single, small Citan, a 109 CDI, is based in Inverness and covers the Highlands, where there are fewer drops and much longer distances between them, so fuel efficiency is more important than carrying capacity.

“We moved to Mercedes-Benz because of its reputation for reliability and its vehicles have certainly lived up to that promise,” said Lisa Derbyshire, Director of Supply Chain and Operations. “Not only are they much better in terms of build quality than the vans we were using previously, but the drivers much prefer them and they lead the market when it comes to safety – that’s something we’re very conscious of, given our Duty of Care to employees and other road users.

Centaur Services’ Mercedes-Benz Sprinters are fitted with tracking devices and limited to 70 mph – each covers around 60,000 miles per year.

“The Sprinter is very cost-effective and economical,” continued Lisa Derbyshire. “Those working in towns and cities will use a bit more fuel but across the fleet they’re averaging 32-33 mpg, which is great.”