The first trucks to wear the new blue colours of Kent-based operator Alan Firmin are four Mercedes-Benz tractor units, all specified with high-ratio back axles.
All premium specification Actros 2546 trucks with flat-floored MegaSpace cabs, they were bought under a four-year, 185,000km pa contract hire with supplying dealer Sparshatts of Kent – and will be inspected and serviced in the dealer's Sittingbourne workshops.
A fifth, identical unit has also been assigned by this Palletforce member to a dedicated distribution contract, working in the customer's silver livery.
Fleet manager Stuart Joyce explains that Alan Firmin runs a fleet of 50 trucks – all but a handful of them 44-tonne tractor units – and 100 trailers, most being new Lawrence David curtainsiders.
He also says that the company specified the high-ratio back axles to maximise fuel economy. And he explains that the tractor units' 460hp V6 engines are programmed to shut down automatically after idling for two minutes, and that the kick down feature on the trucks' 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift automated transmissions has disabled.
"These are still early days," comments Joyce, "but our first impressions of these new trucks are certainly very positive. They're doing well on fuel and the drivers appreciate the space and comfort of their cabs."
