Twenty-five years ago, my wife and I began our trucking career.   For fifteen years, we earned a good living driving team for midsized fleets.   Most of our employers treated us well.   Driving the highways and byways of America I watched owner-operators zoom past beset with envy for the pretty rigs; at truckstop fuel islands, in their restaurants and TV lounges, I and other company drivers listened raptly whenever an owner-operator spoke.   Many o...

I was recently asked by someone if we had to choose a vehicle all over would we choose a Sprinter again...

Addition of smaller capacity vehicles comes in response to customer demand for greater shipping flexibility CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – November 29, 2011 – U.S. Xpress Enterprises, a leading provider of transportation services throughout North America, has recently expanded its Xpress Direct Demand Critical fleet to include smaller capacity vehicles, including cargo vans and straight trucks.  The company is presently operating nearly 30 of these vans...

Chrysler, LLC’s Ram Truck brand has launched production of the minivan-based 2012 Ram Cargo Van in its Windsor Assembly Plant in Canada. The Class 1 Ram C/V offers a payload capacity of 1,800-lbs. and towing capability of up to 3,600 lbs. The van also features a heavy-duty radiator and transmission oil cooler, along with a front anti-sway bar and rear twist-beam axle with coil springs. The Ram C/V has a maximum gross combined weight rating of 8,750 lbs. Electroni...

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 o...

Shawn Crace, Sprinter Sales Manager, brings 29 years of automotive experience to Germain Mercedes Sprinter of Easton. From parts and service to sales and financing of commercial vehicles Shawn has the ability to assist an experienced expedite owner operator with a trade in on a new Sprinter or outfit the Newbie with everything needed to ensure a solid start in expediting. Shawn invites you to stop by to say hello, and take a look at the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. You...

Columbus, OH -- July 1, 2010 -- Germain Motor Company, a multi-state automobile dealership group, recently welcomed the popular commercial van known as the Sprinter to its family.  In January 2010, Mercedes-Benz started selling the Sprinter, which is a Daimler AG vehicle, at select dealerships.  The Sprinter will be sold at their Mercedes-Benz dealership in Columbus, Ohio, Mercedes-Benz of Easton.  As part of their foray into the world of the Sprinter...

Lower prices, more power and a new model are part of the Sprinter’s move to the Mercedes-Benz (MB) brand in North America this year, and the 67 MB dealers who have taken on the light-truck franchise have responded by accounting for two-thirds of the truck’s retail sales in the first quarter of 2010, according to Ernst Lieb, president & CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA.  The 45 Freightliner dealers who’ve handled the Sprinter alongside the brand’s...

Mercedes-Benz USA, parent of Mercedes-Benz Vans, announced that the Sprinter cargo, chassis cab and passenger vans will cost about 6% less than last year. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the Sprinter cargo van starts at $35,995, while the cab chassis begins at $34,270, and pricing for the passenger van begins at $39,820.  All prices exclude destination charges set at $980. The prices include the Freightliner Sprinter models, too, a company spokesma...

In just five months, Mercedes-Benz USA has put together a dealer, parts and distribution network ready to take over sales and support of the Sprinter commercial van on January 1, according to officials at Daimler AG’s American automotive operation.  Called Daimler Vans USA, LLC, the new commercial vehicle business will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler headquartered at MB-USA’s main offices in Montvale, NJ. It will distribute the vans under both t...