Five leading van manufacturers have become partners of Van Excellence, the accreditation scheme that encourages high standards of van operation and driving.

Fiat, Isuzu, Mercedes, Nissan and Volkswagen have pledged to work with fleet operators and the Freight Transport Association, which manages the scheme, to champion the interests of operators and drivers and develop new standards for customer service and dealership support.

Mark Cartwright, FTA's head of vans and light commercial vehicles said:

“We have developed strong and supportive relationships with each of the van makers during the development of Van Excellence. Becoming a partner of the scheme allows them to demonstrate their support for van operators and their drivers and their commitment to high standards of support and service for accredited fleets in vehicle acquisition and the after sales market.

"We remain open to welcoming other van makers as Van Excellence partners in the near future."