New research by Opinium, on behalf of Mercedes-Benz Vans, has shocked many commercial vehicle operators by revealing the true cost of having a van off the road for a day – £1,172.20.
The research, among 500 senior decision makers at UK businesses that rely on vans, found that companies experienced an average of six-and-a-half days of disruption over the past 12 months.
It found downtime affected more than just revenue, with 41% of businesses saying vehicle issues caused staff stress, while 33% reported workflow disruption and 29% said employees were forced to work longer hours.
Customer service impacts were also significant, with 24% reporting customer complaints and missed performance targets, while 18% worried about losing contracts.
Mercedes-Benz Vans is working with fleet customers using its Van Uptime Monitor system, which continuously monitors vehicle technical condition and alerts operators to potential issues before faults develop.
The system connects vehicles with Mercedes-Benz workshops, allowing fleets to identify maintenance requirements early and reduce unplanned downtime. The manufacturer also supports van fleets with its 24/7 Europe-wide MobiloVan roadside assistance service, which it said resolves around 82% of call-outs at the roadside.
Simon Neill, operations director at Mercedes-Benz Vans UK, said: “For many UK businesses, a van isn’t just a van – it’s the business showing up. Our research lays bare what happens when vans, which are often at the heart of our communities, go off the road. Vehicle uptime isn’t something you can park in the operations folder and forget about. It shapes productivity, customer relationships and it lands on people first.”
