Goodyear Dunlop gets into the groove with Mercedes-Benz

Tyre manufacturer Goodyear Dunlop made tracks straight to Mercedes-Benz when it needed a new fleet of vans.

The 20 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 313CDIs were supplied by Birmingham dealer Midlands Truck & Van and work for TruckForce, Goodyear Dunlop’s dedicated mobile truck tyre and breakdown service. They are based across TruckForce’s 15 operating centres, which act as hubs for some 100 satellite depots across England and Wales, and used by technicians who repair, replace and service customers’ tyres at their premises or at the roadside.

The Sprinters are fitted with engine-driven PTOs which power on-board compressors, as well as Hope Safe-T-bar rear safety bumpers and roof-mounted flashing beacons. They have replaced a fleet of similar-sized vehicles by another manufacturer.

TruckForce Fleet Manager Paul Floyd said: “In conjunction with our leasing provider, CLM, we took a good look at the market to see what was available. We considered various factors including size, cost, safety and comfort, and came up with a shortlist of vehicles which we then examined in greater detail.

“The Sprinter emerged as the most attractive option, a finding borne out by the other operators to whom we spoke, several of whom were very positive about their Mercedes-Benz vans.

“We require top-quality vehicles and first-class back-up, so we held a series of meetings with representatives of Mercedes-Benz and they gave us complete confidence in their ability to meet our needs.”

He continued: “We do our own weekly checks but for all other maintenance and servicing these vehicles will be looked after within the Mercedes-Benz national dealer network.

“The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is very well engineered, with high levels of safety and comfort for our technicians, and top-quality support from the manufacturer. It is also an excellent ‘fit’ for the compressor equipment which we install.”

TruckForce provides a round-the-clock service to truck fleet operators of all sizes with the aim of prolonging tyre life, reducing tyre budget and keeping its customers’ vehicles on the move. Services include breakdown cover, routine maintenance, repairs, scheduled replacement and regrooving.