With its under-10,001-pounds regulatory category, cargo-van hauling might seem to hold the key to addressing some of the biggest complaints among Class 8 owner-operators. Outside of placardable hazmat hauling in a van, such owner-operators do not have to cross scales, keeping them out of the prying eyes of temperamental inspectors. Parking well away from crowded truck stops and rest areas is easy ? many van operators make use of campgrounds and RV parks, often with shorepower...

Mercedes-Benz unveiled its third-generation Sprinter today in Duisburg, Germany, at the junction of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers, as a versatile full-size van with a factory telematics service that will arrive in the U.S. later this year. The new Sprinter will bring an array of updates, including a gasoline engine, more than 1,700 configurations worldwide, telematics offering Mercedes Pro, and available driver assistance systems such as a self-cleaning rear-view camera in the re...

Stuttgart, Germany-based Mercedes-Benz Vans has announced it set a new record for unit sales in 2017 and for the first time passed the 40,000-vehicles sold mark. The division also again gave a taste of what its next-generation Sprinter will offer....

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will add a gasoline engine, optional factory telematics offering, and more than 1,000 configurations to provide a "holistic mobility solution" when it debuts in February, the head of the company's van division told journalists in Stuttgart, Germany. Mercedes-Benz is launching the third generation of its Sprinter that was first introduced in the U.S. 1995 and updated in 2010. "The Sprinter is the flagship of our commercial fleet and embodies our...

This is the final installment of a three-part series to introduce you to each type of vehicle typically used for expediting. The first two articles covered "Why I Chose a Tractor" and "Why I Chose a Straight Truck." Rick Guffey is an owner-operator and fleet owner who has leased with Square One Transport and Logistics since 2015. He owns three 2015 Ram Promaster extended wheelbase, high-roof cargo vans. One is a 2500 model, and the other two are 3500's. So, why did Guffey cho...

If you're looking to become an expedite owner-operator, one of the most important decisions you'll make is the vehicle you'll drive. That's because your vehicle -- whether it's a cargo van, straight truck, or tractor-trailer -- determines which trucking carriers you can sign with, what size and types of loads you can take on, and ultimately how much money you'll be able to make (and keep).? But bigger isn't always better and cheaper isn't always more profitable. So, how do yo...

Here's an Addendum to the current EO Thread "Insurance Coverage and the 'Multi' Carrier Model" or "Why DO Cargo Vans and Sprinters need $1 Million in Liability?" Arguments are certainly made that since FMCSA only requires $300,000 Liability for under 10K GVW units hauling across state lines, why carry more? Short answer:...

Mercedes-Benz Vans has boosted the available gross vehicle weight rating of its European Sprinter by 990 pounds, to 5.5 metric tons or 12,122 pounds. The Stuttgart, Germany-based builder also said it has raised power ratings for its engines. The higher rating is aimed primarily at operators who require special bodies or conversions of standard van bodies, said Norman Kunz, head of Sprinter product management. European Sprinter payloads currently range from 2.95 to 3.41 metric...

Mercedes-Benz Vans announced the expansion of the Sprinter portfolio by debuting the Worker model. "We are pleased to announce the new Sprinter Worker model, which is every bit as capable as the rest of our Sprinter lineup at an even more attractive starting price: $32,495," said Bernie Glaser, vice president of Mercedes-Benz Vans in the USA. "The Sprinter brand is no stranger to hard work and we are making a statement by targeting the heart of the commercial van market by of...

A scenic and muddy tour through the Canadian Rockies in the newest version of the Mercedes-Benz/Freightliner van. Getting your hands on a factory all-wheel-drive commercial van hasn't been easy ? while the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4x4 has previously been available in select European markets, they're only now coming to North America for the model year 2015. And with demand for the 4WD version of the popular Euro-style van currently outpacing the German automaker's sales forecast...