White van man stereotype debunked by Mercedes-Benz
New research from Mercedes-Benz Vans UK has debunked the stereotype of the ‘white van man’, with almost half now degree-qualified.
It found that 46% of van drivers hold a Foundation, Bachelor or Masters degree, while an additional 3.2% have achieved a doctorate (PHD).
Of those who are university-educated, 42% said driving was the first job after graduating and more than three quarters said they were happy with their choice of career.
The research, published in the Mercedes-Benz Vans UK annual Under the Bonnet Report, also found that 33% of drivers are now privately educated or attended grammar school.
Meanwhile, reading has emerged as the most popular downtime hobby amongst today’s van drivers with 63% saying they enjoyed picking up a book in their spare time compared to 33% six years ago. More than half (59%) also enjoy doing puzzles such as Sudoku and Wordle and 45% said they spoke a second language.
Sarah Palfreyman, sales director at Mercedes-Benz Vans UK said:
“While van drivers and businesses have evolved since 1995, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has been a constant over the last 30 years. We’re proud to supply van drivers and businesses all over the UK with premium, reliable and enduring vehicles that ensure van drivers can get from A to B.”
