Watling JCB has taken delivery of 10 Mercedes-Benz 3.5 tonne Sprinters and two Vito 114 BlueTec models, with a third Vito to follow in September.

The company’s fleet of 88 vans is dominated by the three-pointed star, having switched from it previous van supplier in 2010.

The Sprinters are assigned to service engineers while the new Vitos will have a dual role, being used by field-based service technicians or to make parts deliveries.

Given the nature of the work, which entails making emergency call-outs to breakdowns at locations such as construction sites, reliability and durability are key attributes for Watling JCB's vehicles.

Jason King, finance director, said: “Customer Service and quick response are key differentiators for our business, which means that reliability of the commercial fleet is key. Our vehicles are invariably fully laden yet experience has proved we can run them for 150,000 miles or more with minimal downtime. In terms of build quality and component life they are industry leading.

“What’s more, the mpg returns have always been comfortably ahead of our previous vans, while the drivers love them too – we’ve only ever had positive comments about the Sprinter and the new Vito has been similarly well received. Superb whole-ife costs complete the picture.”

Watling JCB also values the aftersales support it receives from Mertrux, Leicester.

 “Unlike some of its competitors, Mertrux is a commercial vehicle specialist, so understands the pressures on a business such as ours and is geared up to meet our needs,” said King.

All of Watling JCB’s Mercedes-Benz vans also have Service Care contracts set up by Mertrux.