Supplied by Scottish dealer Western Commercial, the Cockermouth-based operator’s 12 new additions are all Sprinter 316 CDI long chassis cabs, powered by four-cylinder engines producing 161bhp and driving through automatic transmissions.
Their insulated, dual compartment (chilled and frozen) bodies are by Solomon Commercials, of Rossendale, and are equipped with Hubbard refrigeration units.
Caterite’s multi-temperature delivery fleet comprises 24 vans and 18 rigid trucks, and is now almost entirely Mercedes.
Despite the strong presence of Mercedes vehicle in its fleet, the operator evaluated three brands – including a demonstrator – before deciding on the Sprinter, which Caterite’s transport manger Matthew Scott describes as “a tried and trusted workhorse”.
He explains: “The roads in this part of the world can be pretty challenging – many of them were built for horses and carts, rather than motor vehicles – and we use our vans pretty intensively for eight years and more, during which they’ll typically cover 50,000 miles a year.
“We know from experience that the Sprinter can take the punishment and won’t let us down. It’s also cost-effective to operate and leads the field when it comes to safety, while our drivers enjoy the experience at the wheel, too.
“As a complete package, nothing else comes close.”