The first 22 Sprinters are finished in a modified version of Tuffnells’ familiar “Big Green Parcel Machine” livery, which highlights its 100 years of operation. Supplied by North-West Dealer Enza, all are 313 CDI models with 129hp engines driving through 7G-Tronic automatic transmissions.
Although the high-roofed, Extra-long bodies already offer huge, 4.8 metre-long cargo areas, the front passenger seats have been removed, allowing the vans to carry even longer items – one of Tuffnells’ biggest customers manufactures blinds up to six metres in length.
The Sprinters will be maintained within the manufacturer’s franchised network under a comprehensive CharterWay contract hire agreement from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, which includes replacement tyre cover. Each will cover some 50,000 miles per year.
Tuffnells’ national fleet manager Andrew Morton is responsible for more than 900 vehicles. The majority are trucks although the line-up includes more than 100 vans, which it runs for three years and which are used to deliver consignments from depots to their final destinations.
He said: ‘We conducted a lengthy evaluation process which entailed trialling various demonstration models in the Midlands, Yorkshire and Scotland. If our new vans perform as well as those we tested, and the dealer support meets expectations, Mercedes-Benz will be in a strong position during our van tender process for 2015.
‘Reliability is crucial to our operation and I am confident that with its market-leading build quality and a Dealer network that’s geared-up to service and repair our vehicles outside normal working hours, the Sprinter is the right vehicle to take Tuffnells forward into its next 100 years.’
