PTC fleet adds three Mercedes Benz Arocs tractors 06 March 2014

Tipper haulage specialist PTC (South East), part of Ardula, has added three new generation Mercedes Benz Arocs 2548 6x2 tractor units to its expanding, mostly Mercedes, fleet.

The tractors were specified with the Mercedes-Benz six-cylinder, 12.8litre, 476bhp Euro 6 engine mated to the Powershift 3 automatic transmission.

PTC field operations manager Shaun Presneill also went for the new optional water retarder unit, stating that he was impressed by it when he drove demonstration Arocs trucks on steep quarry inclines in Germany at the Arocs launch.

"All the way around the test route I didn't have to use the brakes once," states Presneill.

"A simple five-stage finger switch operated by my left hand while still holding the wheel took care of all the retardation needed," he explains.

"We won't be operating our artics in quite such severe conditions, but we are often on hills in the Weald of Kent and other areas we operate in, so the water retarder will be of benefit to driver comfort and safety – and show a great saving in brake wear," he says.

Presneill concedes that the water retarder unit is not cheap, but states that, over a five to seven year truck life, it should pay for itself in cost savings "on brake replacements and downtime".

The trucks will be used to haul new Fruehauf 51 cubic metre smooth sided sloper trailers, which PTC recently bought from trailer partner Newton Trailers.

These were specified with automatic sheets for driver safety and productivity, as well as weigh loaders and in-trailer cameras to ensure even and safe load distribution.

The new trucks were supplied by Sparshatts of Kent from its Sittingbourne dealership, which will also provide repair and maintenance.

Author
Brian Tinham

This material is protected by MA Business copyright
See Terms and Conditions.
One-off usage is permitted but bulk copying is not.
For multiple copies contact the sales team.