Delivered by Dealer Bell Truck and Van, the tippers have ClassicSpace L sleeper cabs.
CW Russell specialises in construction and ‘muckaway’ haulage, plant hire – with a range of earth-movers and other machines, which can be delivered on low-loaders – and the supply of aggregates from its own crushing and screening facility.
Previous Arocs tippers supplied to Russell have day cabs with 320 mm engine tunnels, which provide a lower driving position and fewer steps up to the cockpit. The new trucks, though, ride higher and have 170 mm tunnels, to allow space for the under-bunk fridge draws the operator specified. All are covered by Mercedes-Benz ExtendPlus warranties that provide cover for five years.
Fitted with steel Boweld bodies and Edbro front-end rams, the new tippers will be joined later this year by four more Arocs eight-wheelers and a trio of Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor units, also from Bell Truck and Van.
Director Tom Russell said: “Not so very long ago our fleet was dominated by trucks from another brand. Over time, though, we became less happy with them and started to look at alternatives. We tried several other options but none gave us a level of toughness and reliability that we were happy with.
“Two years ago, though, we took our first Arocs tipper from Bell Truck and Van and that was a revelation. The Arocs is built a very high standard but, importantly, is also clearly designed with exactly our kind of work in mind – the high ground clearance and suspension make it a very capable off-road performer.”
Since then, that first Arocs has been joined by nine more, as well as five Actros tractors which haul bulk tipping trailers.
Although many of Russell’s eight-wheelers are intended for local day-work, the company is making an increasing number of runs north into Scotland.