The Tripod Crest line-up includes examples from all three core model lines – Citan, Vito and Sprinter. Supplied by Wellingborough Dealer Intercounty Truck & Van, most are panel vans and crew vans with second rows of seats. The majority of these vehicles have undergone conversion to welfare specification by Body & Trailer Services, also of Northampton, and provide refuge for Tripod Crest’s workers taking breaks while out on site.
Other recent arrivals include another five Sprinter 313 CDI crew vans fitted out to Tripod Crest’s latest welfare specification. Each has two beds, a kitchen and storage area with sink and microwave oven, and a drying cupboard for wet clothes. In April the company took delivery of seven Citan 109 CDI small vans, for use primarily on tarmac sites.
All of these welfare vehicles are additionally equipped with air conditioning and night heaters, as well as extra ventilation, interior lighting and electrical points.
Tripod Crest maintains its commercial vehicles in-house, with workshop manager Craig Baker also responsible for specifying and ordering its vans.
“Our lads can potentially be out on site all week, so we endeavour to make life as comfortable as possible for them,” he said.
“We choose Mercedes-Benz vans for their all-round quality and outstanding reliability, while the fuel economy is pretty good too – we’re getting up to 40 mpg from the Citans.
“Safety is another key priority, as we’re very aware of our Duty of Care obligations not only to our own employees, but also to other road users. We take great comfort, therefore, from knowing they’re equipped with a market-leading array of standard-fit active and passive features, to which we add cameras, proximity sensors and audible reversing warnings.”