GAP Vehicle Hire has announced plans to more than triple the size of its fleet – with support from Mercedes-Benz Vans.

The Glasgow-based company currently runs a fleet of 3,000 vehicles, which is to be increased to 10,000 over the next three years as it opens a series of new, ‘supersite’ depots across the UK.

As GAP’s preferred supplier for vehicles up to and including 3.5 tonnes gvw, Mercedes-Benz Vans is in line to pick up the lion’s share of these orders.

As well as supplying vehicles from across its range, the manufacturer is helping its customer to grow by delivering detailed product training to senior members of the GAP sales force.

Operations director Jim Forrester and five members of his management team have just spent a day at the Broxburn headquarters of Dealer Western Commercial, which supplies many of the company’s vans.

Forrester said: "This is an excellent example of the mutual benefits both parties are deriving from the close partnership we’ve forged.

“Our own reputation has been built on exacting standards of customer care, while Mercedes-Benz products lead the field in terms of reliability, economy, safety and driver appeal, and its dealers provide excellent support.

"By gaining a deeper understanding of the key benefits of these vehicles, and the back-up network behind them, we’ll be able to enhance the service we offer even further.”

The GAP Group is a family-owned business with a 60-year history. In 2014 GAP acquired CVR (Commercial Vehicle Rental) from owner Forrester, and retained him with a brief to grow its new vehicle hire division nationally.

The business broke even in its first year, then posted profits of £500,000 and £1.1 million in years two and three respectively.