So, it's the credit crunch, when all the talk is of businesses struggling to afford new vans or even the cost of renewing fleet van insurance policies. However, for one Scottish company things just seem to be getting better and better.
Eagle Couriers, Scotland's leading courier firm and one of the UK fleet van insurance industry's most sought after customers, has announced it is doing such good business that it has actually exhausted the supply of its trademark red vans.
Jerry Stewart, a director with Eagle Couriers, comments, "It's been an incredible 12 months for us between new business, buying up competitors like QED and natural wear and tear on vehicles, so we went to get replacement vans. "However when we went to van suppliers they told us that there's a shortage of red vans - they aren't being made due to the credit crunch. Coloured vans just aren't being made in the traditional numbers. We can't get our hands on them at all. "It's incredible. Here we are, a Scottish success story, business improving thanks to our growing reputation for quick delivery across the UK and we're stumped for red vans. "If we can't source red vans soon - or if we don't hear of red vans being available – then we may have to look at changing the fleet over to another colour. "Apparently there's something like 23,000 white vans lying unsold in Europe, so that may be the way forward, but it would be a shame to lose our distinctive livery as it's built up a lot of goodwill over the 30 years we've been in business. "One thing is certain though: our customers don't have to worry - we aren't short of vans, so all deliveries will be made on time as always - we'd just like to have some more."
But it seems that unless the delivery company succeeds in sourcing some red commercial vehicles soon, it will be a while before Eagle Couriers purchases fleet van insurance for any new vehicles.