Mercedes-Benz dealer Sparshatt Truck & Van has refurbished its Sittingbourne workshop to deliver enhanced levels of aftersales support to Kent-based operators.

The creation of a dedicated unit for van servicing at the company’s headquarters on the Eurolink Industrial Estate was made possible by the relocation of its bodyshop operation to a new site, a short distance away. 

Using the latest diagnostic equipment and tooling, and fitting only Mercedes-Benz GenuineParts, its Sittingbourne van team offer a full complement of aftersales services, including Class 4, 5 and 7 MOTs.

As a commercial vehicle specialist, Sparshatt understands the importance of ‘uptime’ to operators. Its new van centre is therefore open from 6am until 10pm on weekdays, and from 6am until lunchtime on Saturdays.

Sparshatts’ general manager Kevin Wise said: “This means that customers can get their vehicles serviced, repaired and tested at times which suit them.

“Our out-of-hours capability is an important benefit for those who need their vans to be out on the road and earning during the normal working day.

The van centre is “smartly finished” and has nine bays. The dealer has also introduced a new routing system, dividing vans arriving at or leaving the site from heavy trucks, and a van-only parking area.

“As regular customers will recall, demand for our services meant that parking has long been a challenge here at Sittingbourne,” said Wise.

“Not any longer. Relocation of the bodyshop has given us the room we needed not only to create a comprehensively equipped service facility which is fully dedicated to light commercial vehicles, but also to reorganise the approach so that van drivers are clearly directed to their own, designated parking area.

“The decision to separate our van and truck service operations is already proving hugely successful, and means the system works more efficiently and smoothly to the benefit of all our customers.”