Its new Actros 2545 tractor units employ 12.8-litre in-line six-cylinder engines that produce 444bhp and have been specified with either StreamSpace or BigSpace cabs.
Five of the Streamspace models are being assigned to Montgomery Distribution Ltd, as well the rigid vehicles ordered. The first of these 13 curtainsiders is scheduled to enter service next month. All are 18-tonne 1824 models with 235bhp 7.7-litre straight-sixes, ClassicSpace S-cabs, and PPS Commercials bodies with Dhollandia tail-lifts.
Although Intercounty Truck & Van is a ‘sister’ company to the two businesses now introducing the new Actros to their respective fleets, it won the order in the face of strong competition from other manufacturers.
Montgomery Transport’s new Mercedes-Benz vehicles are replacing trucks from rival marques.
Once the last of the new trucks has entered service, all but 10 of Montgomery Transport’s 119 tractor units will be from Mercedes-Benz. Its newly-promoted managing director Ian Dickinson confirmed: “Intercounty Truck & Van has had to work hard and prove it is worthy of our business. Its success in doing so reflects the quality of the dealer’s people, as well as the quality of the Actros as a product.”
Montgomery Transport also undertook extensive trials at various sites of vehicles by all three of the truck-makers with which its parent company has a direct association, as well as a fourth from outside the group.
“The new Actros did very well, and the excellent fuel economy we recorded during our evaluation exercise has been reflected in the returns from the first 50 units that we’ve put into operation,” confirmed Mr Dickinson. “They’re consuming 14% less diesel than our previous fleet average.”
Equally important to Montgomery Transport has been the performance of Intercounty Truck & Van in running the vehicle maintenance unit at its primary English depot in Preston. Appointed to this crucial role in March, the Intercounty team is led by head of fleet workshops Rob Powell, who is supported by depot manager David Birch and workshop controller Ann Marley.
“We’re very pleased with the way the VMU is running,” reported Dickinson. “Since the Dealer took on responsibility for our workshop we’ve seen a definite improvement in vehicle uptime, with fewer repetitive issues and more ‘first time fixes’.