New Actros gets thumbs up from Allan Booth Haulage 27 November 2012

Hazardous chemicals distribution specialist Allan Booth Haulage, which recently bought its first Mercedes-Benz New Actros as part of a drive to reduce its fuel bills, says it is working.

The company's latest tractor unit – a 2545 StreamSpace, acquired from Warrington dealer Enza – is barely run in, but is already comfortably out-performing the firm's other vehicles in terms of fuel efficiency.

"We'd heard a lot of positive things about New Actros, particularly regarding fuel economy. So we carried out a back-to-back comparison to see for ourselves exactly how good it is," says proprietor Malcolm Booth.

"The New Actros certainly lived up to its billing – from brand new it was a full half a mile per gallon better than the other truck, which itself was only six months old."

Allan Booth has now invested in a new trailer, which, it says, is also helping to improve fuel efficiency.

The Cartwright unit is equipped with a Moffett Mounty loader, and has a European-specification, 4m roof height – lower than the operator's other trailers – as well as an aerodynamic diffuser.

The axle configuration was redesigned to improve weight distribution, with the rear axle positioned closer to the rear – which allows Allan Booth to eliminate the usual ballast, and leaves the trailer 1,000kg lighter than its older units.

"That would normally mean an increased payload capacity, but the limiting factor for our operation is floor area," continues Booth.

"So it simply means the combination is lighter, which aids with fuel economy. The new rig is now up to 9.1mpg, compared to an average of 8.3 mpg from our other vehicles."

Author
John Challen

Related Companies
Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd
The Cartwright Group

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