They join a fleet of more than 800 vans, most of which are also Mercedes vehicles. Direct replacements for Sprinters that have been stood down, the new vans will each clock-up 27,000 miles per year.
“We have been relying on Mercedes-Benz Sprinters since we began trading in 2010,” comments Yodel executive chairman Dick Stead.
“They have proved to be extremely well built, with a genuine appetite for hard work,” he continues.
“This robust dependability, supported by the fact that our drivers really like their vans, is what’s kept us coming back for more – although with these latest versions we’ve taken the opportunity to improve our specification in some key areas of safety and security.”
Yodel’s first Euro 6 vans are powered by Mercedes’ 143bhp four-cylinder engines, which deliver significant improvements in torque and power against the previous equivalent model.
These vehicles have also fitted with the factory-option Parametric Special Module – a programmable computer interface that allows Yodel to set a series of parameters controlling their performance and functions.
Yodel opted to introduce settings that disable the radio whenever reverse gear is selected; limit reversing speed to 10 mph; switch on the hazard lights whenever a door is opened; and lock the doors automatically whenever a driver moves away from the vehicle or when the van is on the move.
Safety has been further enhanced by the addition of reversing cameras.
“These improvements have made a great van even better, so we’re delighted with our new Sprinters,” opines Stead.
“The support we receive from Mercedes-Benz is excellent too. We’ve always dealt with Ciceley Commercials and they look after us extremely well.”