In the past your plumber's van was something you would rather not see. An old and rusty van (normally a Ford Transit) with a dents and scratches that made it look worse than it really was. These days, plumbers' vans are a far cry from that old picture, offering highly sophisticated kits, comfortable cabins and a wide variety of mechanical options. Competition in the commercial vehicle sector has pushed up standards and variety, offering the driver high levels of comfort and attention to detail.

Modern vans offer car-like comfort along with work-focused measures such as space, ruggedness and durability. They are available in various sizes, from 3 to 17 cubic meters of loading space, and can be customized to meet the plumber's specific needs. Most vans now offer at least one sliding door (some offer a second sliding door as an option), offering excellent access to the loading space.

The back of the van can be customized either as a tailgate or a double rear door setting. Another useful customization offered is a reduced angle cab door opening clearance to allow the users to hold on the handle even if the door is fully opened thus minimizing the risk of hitting the wall or other objects.

Most traders' vans sold in the UK at the moment are using a diesel engine. The main reason for their success is their fuel efficiency and high torque in the low rev range, helping in towing heavy loads. Developments in diesel engine design and assembly in recent years have made them smooth, quiet while keeping their advantage as longer lasting, cheaper to maintain and highly reliable powertrain systems. These developments apply to passenger cars as well as commercial vans.

Particulate filters, using mechanical filtering, remove carbon particles from the output gasses generated by the engine. The filter substantially reduces the amount of carbon emissions that is generated by the engine, making it less harmful to the environment.

Common rail systems have done wonders for the diesel engines in recent years. Similar in many ways to direct injection systems in internal combustion petrol engines, the common rail system has improved diesel engines' smoothness, softened their noise and vastly improved the ride quality. Other important benefits of the common rail systems include better performance, improved fuel economy and increased torque output.

An alternative system is now being introduced which injects fuel at much greater pressure than conventional diesel engines. There are now several vans with engines adopting the new technology which offers improved efficiency and flexibility.

Modern light vans are now sold with gear boxes offering five or six gears. This improves the ride quality, offering a smooth ride. Some vans are now offered with automatic or semi automatic gear boxes, which are winning hearts on the highly congested UK roads and town centres.

Most modern vans now offer creature comforts that were not available even in luxury cars only a few years ago. Air conditioning, cruise control and satellite navigation are either standard or available as options. The quality and smoothness of the ride has also improved a great deal making long journeys feel less tiring.

Van manufacturers have also stepped up the level of safety features to bring vans in line with passenger cars. Most vans now offer a driver's air bag, and many offer other air bags as options (side and curtain airbags). Other modern safety features include ABS (Antilock Braking System) and ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme). Both of these electronic features are effectively active guardians that would correct the vehicle direction or breaking in case of skidding, or breaking in wet conditions.