Highways contractor tips Mercedes Arocs for reliability05 February 2014

Highways contractor Northumbrian Roads has taken delivery of a Euro 6 Arocs, one of the first of these new Mercedes-Benz tippers to go into operation in the North East.

The Prudhoe-based company has assigned the 8x4 to its contract with Sunderland City Council. The truck makes short trips between the operator's asphalt plant and road surfacing sites across the city.

Supplied by dealer Bell Truck and Van, the Arocs 3240K is powered by a 394bhp, 10.7-litre engine, with the PowerShift 3 automated transmission.

The truck's double-skinned and insulated aluminium body is by PPG Fabrications of Peterborough.

The Euro 6 Arocs is claimed to offer mpg savings of up to 5%, compared with the outgoing models.

But while fuel performance is important to Northumbrian Roads, vehicle reliability was key to its choice, according to transport manager Stephen Atkinson.

"Our vehicles typically make short journeys, with lots of stopping and starting, so while fuel efficiency is clearly important it's not our only concern... What we want above all else is a truck that won't let us down," he confirms.

Atkinson was among a group of customers taken by Bell Truck and Van to an Arocs launch event in Germany last year, where he was able to test drive vehicles around an off-road course.

"Our trucks have to access some very uneven sites and the Arocs' excellent ground clearance will also help protect it from the sort of minor damage that can result in costly trips to the workshop," states Atkinson.

Author
Laura Cork

Related Companies
Mercedes Benz Uk Limited

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