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Tips for Buying a Used Commercial Van

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Whether you're starting as an independent business owner or are looking to expand your commercial fleet, you want to save as much money as possible. More "seasoned" commercial vans are affordable while still offering the durability and reliability to meet the needs of your business. The used van market also offers a wide variety of options, allowing you the flexibility to find the vehicle to match your comfort level.    But just like purchasing a regular car or van, you need to do your homework - or you might end up wasting your time and money. To help you with your purchase, here are expert tips for buying used commercial vehicles:   Do your research. The first (and most important step)in buying any used commercial van is to gather as much information as possible about the vehicle before deciding if it's the right purchase for your business. The main ways to obtain the necessary data are: Physically inspecting the van, including structural and mechanical pieces, tire...

Sprinter Vans vs. the Competition

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If you're searching for a van that works as hard as you do while adding to your bottom line — look no further than the Sprinter van. Smart, stylish, and engineered with the strength you need to take on even the most demanding tasks, Sprinters set the benchmark for the light, medium, and heavy-duty van segments. Sprinter continues to stand above the competition, including Ford and Nissan's comparable models, thanks to several of its competitive advantages.   Sprinter Van Competitive Advantages   Fewer Service Visits With more time on the road and less time spent at service visits, the Sprinter helps you stay productive while your competition suffers downtime. Thanks to its category-leading service intervals of up to 20,000 miles, the Sprinter is a no-brainer for business owners.   Award-Winning Value Sprinter vans retain their value over time, so when the time comes to upgrade, you'll get the highest return on your investment.   Outstanding Quality Sprinter vans are ...

Southport Truck Group: Your One-Stop Service Shop

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Southport Truck has always been committed to providing our customers with exceptional customer service while making the safety and reliability of your vehicles our top priority. As a result, we want to remind you of an added-value service to our commercial customers.   Commercial customers are what we do all day, every day. Our Service Department has invested in diagnostic software, allowing us to provide complete fleet care for all your commercial vehicle needs. In addition, our "One-Stop-Shop" allows our clients to have seamless service records with one provider. This gives you a more efficient service experience for routine maintenance to more complicated service issues, all from our expert team.    Our Elite Support℠ Certified technicians provide rapid diagnosis, responsive turnaround time, consistent communication, robust parts availability, and superb customer service. With our expanded capacity for service, our highly-trained technicians possess a solid understandi...

Cargo Vans vs. Box Trucks

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What is a cargo van? How does it differ from a box truck? What is best for my business? When shopping for a commercial vehicle for your business or fleet, you'll have plenty of questions as you compare your vehicle options.  The main differences between cargo vans and box trucks are size and cargo accessibility. The experts at Southport Truck Group have compiled a quick overview to help you decide on the perfect commercial vehicle.  What is a Cargo Van? A cargo van, such as the Sprinter Van , emulates a traditional vehicle because the cargo area and cabin are connected as a single piece. On the outside, cargo vans typically have a sliding side door and large rear doors to access cargo. These vehicles are often used by plumbing, electrical, general contractors, and catering businesses.  What is a Box Truck? Box trucks are aptly named for their box-shaped cargo area. ON box trucks, the cargo area is set on a frame completely separated from and not accessible for the cabin'...

Why Cargo Vans Are Better Than Pickup Trucks

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Cargo vans are one of the fastest-growing, most lucrative vehicle segments in the United States. Over the past five years, sales of full-size vans increased eight times faster than the industry average.  So why choose a cargo van for your business instead of a pickup truck? Both offer excellent towing capacity and a large area to store tools and equipment. However, here are some reasons to opt for a cargo van.  Enclosed Storage One of the main benefits of a commercial cargo van is its enclosed cargo area. It keeps your equipment and product safe from severe weather. This is essential if you’re hauling materials that can be damaged by rain. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, it offers greater security and theft protection. Since cargo vans generally don’t have windows, there’s no need to worry about prying eyes looking into your vehicle. Finally, an enclosed cargo area lets you carry the necessary tools into the job site, keeping the remainder of your equipment secured....

Benefits of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

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Since its introduction to the United States market, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter continues to outshine other commercial vehicles in its class. Before Sprinter, existing commercial vans were not built with comfort in mind. Sprinter responded by creating a fleet of vehicles with higher standards, combining the practical needs of a commercial van with the performance, style, and comfort of a passenger vehicle.  Whether you're in the market for a new or "new to you" Sprinter van, there are many advantages to adding a Sprinter (or two) to your fleet:   Interior Design Versatility Whether for business or pleasure, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter offers superior capabilities designed to fit your needs. From plumbing and HVAC contracting to refrigeration and delivery services, there are hundreds of Upfitting solutions and configurations for almost every vocation imaginable. Additionally, a Sprinter can be customized to haul up to 5000 lbs of equipment or product - thanks to having more ca...

History of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

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Over a century ago, Mercedes-Benz recognized the need for a vehicle that could take on heavy loads and not back down from any job - and the cargo van was invented. As the usage of commercial vans increased over the decades, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has evolved into the leading vehicle in its class. While the latest Sprinters continue to raise the bar for commercial vans, they also continue to deliver an extraordinary level of performance, durability, and safety to everyone.  This innovative and evolutionary spirit is as strong as ever when it comes to the Sprinter Vans. Here's a timeline of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van's brief yet influential history : 1995 - The first-generation Sprinter Van launches in Europe and wins "International Van of the Year." 2001 - The Sprinter debuts in the U.S. markets. It was sold under the Mercedes brand name until 2003, after which the vehicle featured Dodge branding. 2006 - The second-generation Sprinter hits the European marke...