Turners takes delivery of 100th Mercedes New Actros 13 August 2013

Turners, one of Britain's biggest privately-owned transport companies, has taken delivery of its 100th New Actros tractor unit.

Paul Day, managing director of Newmarket-based Turners, took delivery of the specially-liveried 6x2 tractor unit from Michael Kamper, managing director, commercial vehicles, for Mercedes-Benz UK, and David Grant, managing director of supplying dealer Orwell Truck & Van.

The landmark vehicle is a 450bhp New Actros 2545 with a narrow, 2.3m-wide version of the aerodynamic StreamSpace cab, and will pull a tank trailer as part of a distribution contract with an unnamed AdBlue producer.

Turners set its first New Actros unit on the road just over a year ago. It then commissioned a further 58 vehicles shortly before Christmas, and has since taken the remainder in batches.

All are 2545 StreamSpace models but approximately half have full, 2.5m-width cabs.

"We allocate those to the long-haul drivers who are out all week and appreciate the extra space and comfort," explains group fleet engineer Tim King.

"Our New Actros trucks have been faultless and are now firmly established as the most economical vehicles on the fleet," he continues.

"It's difficult to quote precise fuel figures, because the applications and routes vary so widely – which is why we focus on driving styles. But when operating at 44 tonnes gcw for most, if not all, of the time, these vehicles are consistently returning mpg figures in the high nines and even tens."

And he adds: "With first Actros and now New Actros, our experience of operating Mercedes-Benz vehicles has been positive... They're exceptionally reliable and popular with our drivers. That why the New Actros is now our vehicle of choice for mainstream distribution, refrigerator and container work."

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd

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