The chassis were supplied by Central Belt dealer Western Commercial, and the bodywork was to Lagan’s own design, with the specification including steps to access the rear of the platform, and systems to protect staff working at height.
Each vehicle also has cameras to both sides and the rear, with colour screens on the dashboard.
Area manager George Miller says that in 15 years in traffic management, he’s seen vehicles from all the major manufacturers, and Mercedes-Benz vans are “head and shoulders above” the others.
“They are the most reliable by a margin, which means they spend a lot less time off the road undergoing repairs,” he explains.
“They’re also competitively priced, while the fact that they so rarely break down means maintenance is relatively inexpensive too. This contributes to an unbeatable total cost of ownership,” he adds.
Miller also points to the Sprinter’s safety record, stating that his vehicles are out in all weathers with lights and beacons on, often for 12 hours at a time.
“The Sprinter’s safety specification is excellent, but we’ve built on this by adding measures specific to our application – including the cameras, which automatically show a view down the relevant side if the driver indicates to turn,” he says.
“The cabs are very well appointed and we’ve also been impressed with the service from Mercedes-Benz,” he adds.
“The ordering process was handled very professionally by Western Commercial, which looked after all the liaison with the bodybuilder on our behalf,” he continues.
“Then, when one of the Sprinters was off road for a short time with a minor bodywork issue, the dealer provided a courtesy vehicle straight away. That’s exactly the level of customer service we look for.”
The Sprinter 313 CDI Long chassis cabs are based at the Lagan Traffic Solutions division’s depot in East Kilbride, from where they are now working on road maintenance projects across Scotland.