Supplied by dealer Euro Commercials, LVT’s new addition is a Sprinter 414 CDI long chassis cab and has been ordered for a contract with a global logistics business. The body spec, built by Commercial Truck Bodies of Caerphilly, enables easy 3m-wide access for forklift trucks.
LVT specialises in ‘white glove’ delivery services for furniture, beds, kitchens and other bulky items, to residential and retail premises. Its uniformed drivers and two-man teams position each product in the room of the customer’s choice, unpack and assemble it, then remove all packaging.
The 15-strong van fleet comprises nine 3.5-tonne Sprinters – four are Lutons, the remaining five being panel vans.
Its only other Mercedes-Benz is a Vito 119 CDI Sport Crew van, which transports crews on LVT’s flat-assembly side of the business.
The Vito, like the latest Sprinter, is the subject of a flexible, low-cost Agility funding agreement with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services.
Ceri Leigh, LVT’s managing director, says Mercedes-Benz vans are selected for “outstanding reliability”. He adds: “We work our vehicles hard and need them to keep our business running, rather than spending time laid up in a workshop, or stopped at the side of the road.
“We purchased a Sprinter five years ago which now has 320,000 miles on the clock, and is still on its original engine, gearbox and clutch. It has never let us down. That’s nothing out of the ordinary, though – it’s just what we’ve come to expect.”
Leigh says the manufacturer’s unlimited-mileage, three-year warranty is a boon, as is the MobiloVan cover with free roadside assistance.
“Reliability and back-up are crucial for a high-mileage operation such as ours, but they are not the only benefits of running Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Our Sprinters are great to drive, economical to run, and equipped as standard with a comprehensive list of safety features.
“Euro Commercials provides a great service, too... The fact that we can drop a van off at 5pm and pick it up again at 6am the next day means our vans are always available for work when we need them.”