Healthcare provider inspired to opt for Mercs again
Eight years after its investment in a fleet of Mercedes-Benz Atego 7.5-tonners, private hospital group Spire Healthcare has replaced them with a like-for-like fleet, from Kidderminster Mercedes dealer Rygor Commercials.
Spire undertook an evaluation process prior to making the decision, trialling demonstration vehicles and receiving tenders from several other manufacturers.
“The criteria on which our acquisition decision was based included price, R&M service, vehicle performance and account management,” said Spire senior buyer Gill Kite.
“The respondents were scored and Mercedes-Benz came out on top in all areas. We also invited our drivers to test and comment on the various demonstrators and their feedback was also factored in – the Mercedes was definitely the drivers’ choice.”
The seven Atego 816s are based at Spire Healthcare’s national distribution centre in Droitwich, Worcestershire, and are the subject of a CharterWay contract hire agreement with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, under which each will cover some 115,000 miles a year.
The trucks are powered by fuel-efficient 150hp, 4.25-litre engines. Like all Atego models with manual transmissions they also came fitted as standard with the MSS (Motor Stop Start) system, designed to boost economy and cut emissions by switching off the engine whenever the vehicle is in neutral and stationary for three seconds – for example in heavy traffic or at lights – then switching it back on again automatically as soon as the driver depresses the clutch.
The trucks’ box bodies were supplied by Fred Smith & Son of West Bromwich, which also fitted their Dhollandia 1,000kg tail-lifts with ‘auto-erect’ side gates and applied liveries.
Spire Healthcare operates 38 hospitals throughout mainland Britain and is using its new Ategos to make daily deliveries of a wide range of consumable items to this network.
Said Kite: “The support we have come to rely upon from the team at Rygor Commercials, Kidderminster, was also key to our decision. The dealer’s account management is efficient and its service very good – Rygor help us, for example, with pick-ups and fast turnarounds, thereby minimising inconvenience to our own transport team and ensuring that our trucks are always ready for work when we need them.”
