The session, staged by Mercedes-Benz Vans in partnership with the Freight Transport Association (FTA), was a pilot for a programme that Mercedes intends to roll out across the UK.
Van safety, compliance and fleet efficiency were all discussed, with operators hearing from FTA’s Mark Cartwright on the support his organisation offers through its Van Excellence scheme.
Northside’s Glyn Staley and Lizzy Hinchcliffe offered insights into the safety credentials of Mercedes-Benz light commercial vehicles, including recent developments such as the Adaptive ESP anti-skid system.
Attendees were also able to look at vehicles from the Sprinter, Vito and Citan ranges.
Helen Cluderay, fleet and compliance manager for LC Vehicle Hire, described it as “an extremely interesting and useful exercise”.
Matthew Hammond, fleet manager for industrial services business Cape plc, said: “This kind of opportunity for sharing ideas and learning from each other is exactly what the van operating sector needs to help raise its standards even higher.”
Mercedes-Benz Vans now plans to work with the FTA to stage similar sessions across the country.