Karl Benz patented the first gasoline-powered automobile in 1886, and Gottlieb Daimler was building motor vehicles at the same time; the two companies merged in 1926 as Daimler-Benz. Commercial vehicles were part of the story from the beginning, with Daimler delivering the world's first motorized truck in 1896, and today Mercedes-Benz trucks form part of the separately listed Daimler Truck company.

The Actros flagship defined the modern European long-haul tractor across successive generations, the Atego handles distribution work, the Econic serves municipal duty with its low entry cab, and the Zetros and Unimog cover extreme terrain. The Sprinter van, introduced in 1995, became a standard of light commercial transport and is now in its third generation.

Mercedes-Benz truck and van manuals provide complete engine overhaul procedures, Powershift and other automated transmissions, air-brake and electronic braking systems, axles and air suspension, cab and body electrics with full wiring diagrams, and diagnostic systems including fault-code interpretation. Torque specifications and maintenance schedules for each model keep servicing within factory limits.

Fleets, owner-operators and independent workshops worldwide use these manuals for trucks and vans prized for longevity. Buyers of used Sprinters and Actros units also depend on documented service history, and workshops outside the dealer network rely on the same information for complex electronic repairs. The Unimog, with its portal axles and flexible frame, is covered alongside the truck ranges for municipal and implement work.