Wholesale sandwich producer Tiffin Sandwiches has taken its latest delivery of Mercedes-Benz vans as it continues to convert its entire fleet over to Sprinters.
The Bradford-based firm runs a delivery fleet of 39 vehicles, of which all but three are vans and typically cover anything up to 2,000 miles per week.
Based on the Sprinter’s reputation for reliability and durability, coupled with the round-the-clock servicing capability of Mercedes-Benz’ franchised UK dealer network, the firm decided to switch to the manufacturer and over the last 18 months it has purchased 21 long-bodied Sprinters from dealer Northside Truck & Van.
The latest five vehicles mark Tiffin’s first 314 CDI models with Euro 6 engines and, as with their predecessors, have been converted for temperature-controlled operation by RVL Northern, of Pudsey, West Yorkshire.
Fleet manager Steve Gadd said: “Not only is the Sprinter more reliable, but it’s also impressively fuel-efficient. We’d been getting 22-24 mpg from our established vehicles, whereas the Mercedes-Benz vans are returning 28-30 mpg. Given the high mileages they cover, this improved economy equates to a big saving on our fuel bill, so we’ve allocated Sprinters to our longest routes and also sent a few down to London, where they excel in the stop-start traffic.”
He added: “Our drivers certainly appreciate the Sprinter’s comfort and enjoy having a Mercedes-Benz badge on the front of their vehicle. Our plan, of course, is to replace the entire fleet as soon as possible. During this transitional phase, however, there’s invariably a bit of a clamour when the next batch of new vans comes in, because they all want one.”
For more of the latest industry news, click here.
