M6 toll puts safety first with Euro 6 Mercedes-Benz Atego 08 December 2014

Midland Expressway (MEL), which is responsible for maintenance ontheM6 toll route through the West Midlands, has taken delivery of first Euro 6 truck, a 7.5-tonne Mercedes-Benz Atego.

MEL motorway maintenance manager Steve Warren says one of the reasons for the choice was the reliability of its previous Mercedes-Benz vehicles, while another was its provision of a cab capable of carrying a team of three in comfort and safety.

Supplied by Dealer Midlands Truck & Van, the Atego 816 was specified with an S ClassicSpace cab, and Mercedes' OM 934 four-cylinder156bhp engine mated to the standard-fit Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated gearbox.

The new Euro 6 engine offer a 90% reduction in particulate and NOx emissions, while consuming significantly less fuel and up to 40% less AdBlue than its Euro 5 equivalent.

The vehicle's body – built by PD Stevens & Sons of Market Drayton, Shropshire – provides a platform with rails and fold-down steps.

It carries cones, signs, lamps and materials for cleaning up after spills, as well as fuel for drivers who run out, water and an assortment of tools.

This Atego has also been fitted with a high-visibility back board complete with strobes and flashing LED lights.

"The Mercedes-Benz Atego is the only 7.5-tonner that allows you to carry a third, full-sized man on a proper, individual seat, rather than a bench or baby seat," states Warren.

"Although this vehicle is usually crewed by a two-man team, we'll sometimes send three out, so this is a very useful feature," he continues.

"The auto box has also been well received by our drivers, who do a lot of stop-start work on the hard shoulder, while I'm confident that our latest Atego will prove every bit as reliable as its three 7.5-tonne predecessors."

The new arrival replaces a 7.5-tonner from the previous Atego generation and has joined a fleet that includes two 18-tonne Mercedes-Benz Axors, a barrier repair rig and a tipper with grab and clamshell bucket used for general maintenance and clear-up work.

MEL also has another Atego on order – a 12-tonne traffic management version that will be used primarily to lay cones.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd
PD Stevens & Sons Ltd

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