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London’s Evening Standard newspaper is itself making the news after taking delivery of some of Britain’s first new-generation Mercedes Sprinters with fully automatic transmissions.
The Standard operates more than 150 delivery vans from Associated Newspapers’ state-of-the-art printing plant at Harmsworth Quays, Greenwich, where sister titles the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and The Metro are also printed. All but a handful wear the three-pointed star of Mercedes-Benz.
Latest additions to that fleet are four new-generation Mercedes Sprinters. All 3.5-tonne 309CDI Short models, they arrived, with three 2.7-tonne Long-bodied Vitos, via south-east London dealer SG Smith.
Crucially, the Sprinters are equipped with the fully automatic transmissions available for the first time as an option on the new range – the Standard has previously specified its Sprinters with the Sprintshift automated clutchless manual system, which has now been deleted.
Evening Standard Transport Manager Steve Howe declares: “The decision by Mercedes-Benz to offer a conventional auto ’box is a huge bonus for us. Given the stop-start, multi-drop nature of our work, a two-pedal set-up is essential, because it’s less tiring for the drivers and leaves them free to concentrate fully on the congested streets, rather than having to worry about which gear they’re in. Sprintshift was okay, but we did have some reservations about it.”
Indeed, according to Mr Howe, the introduction of the automatic transmission means the Sprinter is now perfectly fit for purpose. “Mercedes vans have always been reliable and durable, good on fuel and popular with our drivers,” he continues. “But the new model represents another big step forward.
“It looks fantastic on the road, while the cab is more comfortable and has a higher standard specification which includes electric windows, a driver’s airbag and CD-radio.”
The strong residual values that go hand-in-hand with Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles also contribute to the Sprinter’s appeal, because they translate into competitive lease rates. The Evening Standard previously acquired its vehicles on operating leases but now prefers to contract hire them; its latest vans being the subject of a four-year deal with in-house specialist Mercedes-Benz CharterWay. Repair and maintenance work is undertaken by an SG Smith technician, who is based permanently at Harmsworth Quays.
Although copies are distributed as far afield as Bournemouth and Northampton, the Evening Standard’s heartland is the area ringed by the North and South Circular Roads, with London’s one million-plus commuters crucial to its continued success.
Driver Dave Poole has been with the Standard since he left school, having started out as a 16-year-old assistant working from the back of one of the newspaper’s delivery vans – of the company’s 150 drivers, 37 who deliver to the City and West End still have assistants.
He says of his new Sprinter: “The take-up from the automatic is much smoother than in my old van and I like the driving position, which seems to be higher. The seat is also a lot more comfortable, with a greater range of adjustment, and there are acres of storage space.”
Without the luxury of a home delivery system, the Evening Standard relies heavily on its van drivers. “They are one of our greatest assets,” confirms Operations Manager Bruce Brooker. “As an organisation we are very reactive, and that applies every bit as much to our distribution operation as it does to our up-to-the-minute editorial coverage.
“If a big story breaks and there’s a run on copies, we have to be sufficiently light on our feet to respond. Our Mercedes vans play an invaluable role in enabling us to get the Standard off the press and onto the streets as rapidly as possible.” |
| | | Watch video footage of the new Sprinter | | |
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