IN THE WORKSHOP
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Haulage is just one part of the Arthur Spriggs & Sons story. Appropriately, given its favourite brand of truck, it has a three-pointed strategy, the expansion of which is the province of the newest recruit Chris Hodgson, who brings years of experience with the local Daf dealership. The second element was the implementation of a Vosa authorised testing facility in June of this year, which is currently running at 3.5 days a week.
It’s fair to say that while the company likes the Mercedes-Benz product, it hasn’t always been happy with the service from its local dealership. The Spriggs fleet is now sourced through the Surrey and Sussex Rossetts Commercials group, for which it has considerable praise. Ironically, said local dealership has now been taken over by a different group, but too late to stop the impending launch of the third point of the strategy, Arthur Spriggs & Sons Mercedes-Benz, an authorised repair facility. The rather drastic primary purpose of the new £250,000 enterprise is to ensure that the company’s own vehicles get the level of service required to offer its own customers a dependable service in turn. But it is also intended to be a profitable business in its own right, attracting other operators looking for an alternative source of service and parts. Among the workshop’s attractions are full diagnostics and staff experienced on all makes. A Stoneridge tachograph centre is already operational as part of the workshop expansion, and MoT testing for vans and motorhomes will be accommodated. The new facility is due to become operational this month, and its new Citan vans are already on their way.