Most are replacing trucks by two other manufacturers that have reached the ends of their contract hire terms. However, Caledonian Logistics is also increasing its total fleet strength by a couple of vehicles, to 80.
The 16 tractor units are now in service. All are 2551 models with flat-floored BigSpace cabs. Their 12.8-litre in-line six-cylinder engines generate 503bhp and drive through 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift automated manual transmissions.
Based at the operator’s headquarters in Kintore, and at depots in Inverness and Cumbernauld, these vehicles are making nightly trucking runs to the Palletways hub in Lichfield, Staffordshire. Caledonian Logistics has been a member of the national delivery network for more than 20 years. This high-mileage application that will see each truck average around 320,000km per year.
The rigids, meanwhile, have been earmarked for local collections and deliveries. The first two to be delivered are both 18-tonne 1827 models with curtainside bodies by Truckcraft, of Stalybridge, Cheshire. They have 7.7-litre engines, rated at 268bhp, and 2.3-metre StreamSpace sleeper cabs.
They will be joined over the coming weeks by another 12 identical vehicles, and four 26-tonne Actros 2536 variants with 10.7-litre, six-cylinder engines that produce 355bhp.
“We’ve had Mercedes-Benz trucks on the fleet before – indeed we’re running some Atego 7.5-tonners at the moment,” revealed managing director Derek Mitchell. “But it’s been four or five years since we last acquired an Actros. We’ve returned to Mercedes-Benz with this order in part because we were offered shorter lead times than rival brands could quote, but also because dealer BLS Truck & Van has made great strides since taking over the franchise for the north of Scotland.