In The News

Sprinter Van Central: Expo hot spot

The Expedite Expo offers a little bit of everything related to the expedited trucking industry, from entertainment to information.

For many attendees, though, the really big draw is the equipment that will be on display and one of the more popular areas at the show is sure to be Sprinter Van Central.

Since its introduction in 2001, the Sprinter has steadily gained popularity in the expedited trucking industry — so much so that now many carriers will only accept a Sprinter to haul freight in their fleet.

Some of the very first Sprinter models introduced were for use in the expedited industry, which makes perfect sense.

“I think the biggest thing that sets them apart is the size of the vehicle,” said Shawn Crace, Sprinter Sales Manager at Germain Motor Company in Columbus, Ohio. “There’s 14 feet of bed length and the entrance height is 70 inches. That in itself makes it very attractive.”

Another key attribute is the Sprinter’s 3-liter turbo diesel engine. Not only is the engine fuel-efficient, but it’s also durable — two assets that are very important in expedited trucking.

“I love it,” said Terry O’Connell, who drives a FedEx-owned Sprinter complete with an office inside as he travels the country conducting safety training for the Memphis-based carrier.

“It’s very easy to drive,” said O’Connell, who spent nearly 20 years as an owner-operator working with FedEx and Roberts Express. “It’s comfortable for me. I like the height of it; I can see the traffic. There’s really nothing I don’t like about it.”

The Sprinter was originally introduced under the Freightliner badge but now carries the Mercedes nameplate. It was revamped in 2007 and its engine now features 188 horsepower and 325 foot-pounds of torque.

“That makes the biggest difference when you’re loaded down and running through the hills,” Crace said.

Of course, other manufacturers produce vehicles that are similar to the Sprinter, but they don’t seem to match up.

“Mainly what they’re building is on a pickup truck frame,” Crace said. “They just don’t have either the fuel efficiency or the longevity of the Sprinter. Everything on it is heavier-duty than on your standard pickup or cargo van.”

And, after a long day of driving, far from the comforts of home, the Sprinter also is spacious enough to relax and get a good night’s sleep.

“I think it’s the up-and-coming thing,” O’Connell said. “There’s plenty of room for personal comfort and still enough room for cargo. For that it’s the ideal freight hauler.”

The ideal place to see the Sprinter might just be the Expedite Expo — an annual event that brings drivers, carriers, vendors and manufacturers together in one venue.

For Crace, it’s an opportunity to show off the Sprinter to a range of potential customers — from seasoned drivers who are looking to upgrade their equipment to newcomers who are considering careers in the expedited industry.

“The Expo is great,” Crace said. “It’s a wealth of information for people. Anything that has to do with expedited trucking, you’ll see there. Everybody can gain from it. For me, selling Sprinter vans and equipment, it’s excellent. It’s a very concentrated area where I can talk to a lot of people.”

And with the Sprinter becoming more and more popular, there’s a lot to talk about.


Expedite Expo 2011
Roberts Convention Centre
Wilmington, Ohio
I-71 at Exit 50

Show times:

Friday, July 22, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday, July 23, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Registration, admission, parking: FREE!
 
www.expediteexpo.com