Mercedes-Benz USA offers a comprehensive fleet program and growing network of Sprinter dealers. It was just a little more than one year ago when Richard Fertig started Brilliant Transportation with a small fleet of specially-equipped Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans. Today, the fast-growing company operates chauffeur-driven Sprinter-based Brilliant Vans and Mini Buses up and down the East Coast, as well as in the Los Angeles area.
Fertig says a large part of Brilliant’s success is due to the unusual design of the Sprinter van’s size and height, which allows the company to outfit interiors with many amenities that business travelers appreciate. “We’re also impressed with the Sprinter’s reliability and especially the fuel economy of its clean-diesel engine,” he adds. “Getting 20 miles per gallon in a vehicle of this size is phenomenal, which means relatively low operating costs for us.”
The Sprinter has been sold in the U.S. since 2001 by Freightliner, and by Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) through select Mercedes-Benz dealers since 2010. Both companies are divisions of Daimler AG. In the U.S., the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is targeted toward small businesses while the Freightliner version continues to be available to its established customer base of commercial vehicle operators.
At last count, MBUSA had opened its 119th Sprinter dealership and there were 59 dealer locations in the Freightliner Sprinter Van network. While selective in its expansion, MBUSA will continue to appoint dealers in strategic locations to service the needs of Sprinter customers.
The success of the Sprinter commercial van has been attributed to its practical design, cargo capacity and low operating costs. Powered by a 3.0-liter V6 BlueTEC diesel engine that the company claims gets 30% better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline engine, the vehicles are also equipped with five-speed automatic transmissions and four-wheel disc brakes.
The Sprinter line includes Cargo Van, Passenger Van, MiniBus, Chassis Cab and Crew Van models. Cargo and passenger vans feature a side-door opening that’s 51 in. wide and 59 in. high, with a 71-in. height on high-roof versions. Step-in height is only 19.9 in.
Popular among a growing number of trades that operate fleets is the Sprinter Cargo Van, available in two wheelbases, three body lengths, two cargo area heights and three GVW classes. Cargo volume ranges from 318 to 547 cu. ft. and payload capacities extend from 2,872 to 5,375 lbs. The cargo area height is up to 78.2 in. and loading area length can reach 185 in. Towing capacity of the model is 5,000 lbs.
Another option for fleets is the Sprinter Cab Chassis that can be equipped with service, flatbed, stake and other body types. This model is offered in two wheelbases of 144.3 and 170.3 in., and has a payload capacity up to 6,252 lbs. and a permissible GVWR of 11,030 lbs.
MBUSA also is offering a fleet program for Sprinter customers. Included, notes Dan Barile, commercial vehicle PR specialist, are discounts based on the number of units purchased. “We also offer extended warranty programs covering the engine, transmission, cooling system, rear axle, and audio and climate control systems of up to 24 months/100,000 miles on both new and pre-owned vans,” he says.
MBUSA’s fleet program can also include service and maintenance solutions for many customers, and for large fleets, a customized national program is available.
“Our program offers discounts and services directly to the end user, so they receive the benefits,” Barile says. “From a productivity standpoint, a Sprinter can be expected to have triple the service interval of its competitors. That means a customer’s vans spend less time being serviced, and more time on the job making money.”
