Supplied by dealer City West Commercials, the Saltash-based operator’s first two additions were 8x4 Arocs 3240 ENAs, both with ClassicSpace M-cabs.
Both have single front-steer axles, double-drive bogies, and trailing and lifting rear-steer axles – giving improved turning circles compared to standard 32-tonne eight-wheelers.
The first, with a McPhee mixer drum, went into operation in December. This was followed, in January, by the second, this time with a Charlton steel tipping body. Both have 395bhp engines and 12-speed Powershift automated transmissions.
The tipper’s cab features the recently introduced 320mm engine tunnel, so sits six inches lower than its stablemate with 170 mm tunnel.
The next Arocs ENA will also be a tipper with lifting, rear-steer axle, but is a 3251 model with 503bhp engine and StreamSpace cab.
Stuart Wilkie, transport manager, says the Mercedes eight-wheelers have proved ideal for Cornwall’s roads: “Their steering and lifting back axles effectively give these trucks the same degree of manoeuvrability as a shorter six-wheeler, while allowing us to retain a payload capacity which is only slightly lower than a conventionally configured 8x4 chassis.
“We’re also confident that as 32-tonners they will command significantly higher resale values than a 26-tonner – it’s very difficult these days to sell a six-wheeled tipper.”
Wilkie adds: “Our Arocs are still very new but the trucks, and the dealer, have made good starts... From what we’ve seen so far, there’s certainly an opportunity for Mercedes-Benz and City West Commercials to increase their share of our fleet.”