Shortlist For Fleet Van Of The Year Announced

It’s that time of year once again: here come the 2018 Motor Transport Awards! On 4th July, at the Grosvenor House Hotel in central London, gongs will be awarded for a whole range of different categories linked to the commercial transport industry. Among them is the sought after title of the “Fleet Van of the Year”.

The award celebrates the best commercial van that weighs under 7.5 tonne. Judged according to a range of specific attributes (including fuel efficiency, productivity, manufacturer support, productivity and total cost), an expert panel will decide what the best vehicle for courier jobs has been for 2017/18.

So, who’s on the shortlist? Let’s have a look.

Fiat Ducato

As the reigning champion, the Ducato is a once again the favourite in the running for this year’s title. In shortlisting the vehicle, the judges have continued to praise Fiat dealer services, with servicing intervals of 30,000 miles keep the van on the road and longer opening hours for support.

A chassis of 3.5 tonnes makes it one of the lightest contenders and also one of the cheapest to run: the Fiat’s Euro-6 emissions standard means it can run without AdBlue and avoid emission surcharges. Above all though, the Ducato succeeds because of its rock solid reliability – most un-Italian!

Iveco Daily

A traditional name for haulage and courier jobs, Iveco appear again in the fleet van category. The Daily has a gross weight capacity higher than any of the other candidates, at 7 tonnes, meaning it is a real fan favourite for industry heads.

Its automatic gearbox has been upgraded over the year to a new Hi-Matic system across the Blue Power Range van series. Add that to Euro-6 emission status and we have a solid product with top-notch modern specs.

Nissan NV200

The NV200 might look ungainly but the Japanese sure know how to engineer small, agile vehicles. With electric and combustion engine versions available, Nissan has pushed the boat out with its attempts to modernise the fleet market.

Its size efficiency and manoeuvrability have been key selling points for a relatively non-traditional transport make. The NV200 also boasts great adaptability: there is the opportunity for fridge inserts and other means of kitting the van out, allowing for the transportation of a variety of products.

Peugeot Partner

Peugeot have made great strides in engine reliability in recent years, whilst still remaining competitively priced. Well supported by a common industrial estate manufacturer, and with parts easily sourced, the Partner is at the cutting edge of the drive into LDV market share.Rounding out the Peugeot is its highly developed electric option, which positions itself nicely for use in inter-city courier jobs.

Vauxhall Vivaro

Completing the shortlist is the Vivaro. A previous winner of the prize, it is Vauxhall’s value warranty and strong record of mechanical reliability that puts this van model back into contention for the big prize. With good driveability, surprising capacity and fine parts resource, the Vivaro is a favourite amongst fleet operators. Its affordability also makes it ideal for owner drivers looking to do courier jobs.

So there you have it: the top 5. Who will win?

Author Plate

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Over 5,300 member companies are networked together through the Exchange to fill empty capacity, get new clients and form long-lasting business relationships.