Staffordshire operator hails Mercedes-Benz dealer service 19 August 2013

NS Clarke Transport is recording fuel savings worth up to half a mile per gallon from some of its first Mercedes-Benz New Actros tractor units, which include its first Euro 6 truck.

But the Staffordshire bulk haulier says it wouldn't be running them at all were it not for the service it receives from Midlands Truck & Van, which keeps its trucks on the road under three-year Mercedes-Benz R&M (repair and maintenance) contracts.

"The dealer's Wolverhampton depot is about 16 miles from our base in Lichfield, and much of that journey is on congested roads. So when we bought our first five Mercedes-Benz trucks in 2009, it was on condition that they provide a collection and delivery service for routine maintenance and inspections," explains managing director, Shaun Clarke.

Four years on from that first order, 33 of NS Clarke's 51 tractor units are Merdcedes-Benz, along with nine of its 15 rigids at 7.5 and 18 tonnes gvw. The operator also uses eight refrigerated Sprinter vans for urgent and temperature-controlled deliveries.

Latest additions to the fleet include eight 44-tonne New Actros BigSpace tractor units, among them a 2548 model with the 480bhp Euro 6 engine. There are also two 450bhp 2545s, while the rest are 510bhp 2551s.

"The 450bhp units are between 0.2 and 0.3 of a gallon ahead of the 460bhp units from the current Actros range we've been running," reports Clarke.

"They're okay for curtainside work but for the bulk tipping industry they're a bit underpowered," he continues.

"The 510s and the Euro 6 480, on the other hand, are a full half a mile per gallon better, which represents a very welcome saving. Looking ahead, we reckon the Euro 6 version will be perfect for our operation."

Downtime is kept to a minimum thanks to the deployment of mobile technicians to the NS Clarke yard most weekends.

"Some weeks we'll have 15 pieces of equipment going over to the workshop, while the fact that they'll also come over here on a Saturday or Sunday is very convenient," comments Clarke.

"Dealers rarely get praised but Midlands Truck & Van work very hard and do an excellent job."

Author
John Challen

Related Companies
Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd
Midlands Truck & Van Ltd

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