Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, UK: Polar Speed has added 12 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans to its fleet. The company operates 3,700sq metres chilled warehousing and 130 temperature-controlled vehicles, including over 100 refrigerated vans.
The latest arrivals from dealer Hughes were a dozen 3.5-tonne Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 313 CDIs converted for reefer operation by Solomon Commercials. The medium-length vans are fitted with Thermo King dual-temperature refrigeration units to carry product in separate compartments at 5°C and 20°C.
Hughes also supplied Polar Speed late last year with seven 313 CDIs and three 5.0-tonne Sprinter 516 CDIs with box bodies, also by Solomon Commercials. These bigger vehicles carry product on pallets, as well as in boxes and cartons, and are used to deliver to larger hospitals.
Richard Holmes, director of supply chain, Polar Speed, says: “The distribution requirements of the pharmaceuticals market can be especially demanding, and are often well beyond the capabilities of traditional transport and logistics organisations.
“Depending on their locations and proximity to our own depots, we rely on several Mercedes-Benz dealers to maintain our vans – the fact that they’re able to do so outside normal working hours is very useful, as it means our vehicles are always available for work when we need them.”
