“White van man” a new breed of driver says insurer
Date: 01/05/2008 12:00:00
An insurer says a new generation of commercial vehicle drivers are beginning to rival the stereotypical 'white van man'.
Car insurance retailer Swinton has identified what it calls the “white vin man” - a breed of self-employed professionals investing in top of the range commercial vehicles.
The firm says creative industry professionals such as landscape gardeners are increasingly going it alone and investing in high-spec vans like the Mercedes Vito and VW Transporter Sportline.
A spokesman for Swinton said: "Just like thousands of traditional van driving customers, these self-employed professionals also need practical and reliable transportation."
The firm said the trend was a male and female one, with "white vin woman" also a growing phenomenon.
Interior designers and organic grocers are two other types of profession listed under the new banner, in contrast to plastering and plumbing skills associated with the traditional 'white van man'.
Swinton added the average vehicle and contents value for a "white vin" driver is £25,000 compared to £6,000 for the second-hand panel van and equipment associated with the more typical white van driver.
The original white van man term was first coined by BBC Radio 2 DJ Sarah Kennedy in 1997, according to the BBC.