Civil engineering firm Burdens is anticipating savings of up to £25,000 per vehicle in purchase and maintenance costs over the next 10 years, from its first Mercedes-Benz trucks.
The company has purchased a dozen 26-tonne crane trucks from South-West dealer City West Commercials.
All are premium specification Actros 2541 models with Maxi day cabs and fuel-efficient, BlueTec Euro 5 410bhp engines matched to 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift automated transmissions.
The trucks' 24ft platform bodies – by Ross Gordon Bodyworks, of Avonmouth, and AG Bracey, of Bristol – are fitted with removable curtain systems, to meet Working at Height regulations, and rear-mounted Hiab (Cargotec) XS166 HiDuo 16-tonne/metre cranes.
Burdens, which operates 150 trucks, embarked on a fleet replacement programme last year and spoke initially to five manufacturers, quickly whittling these down to three.
"We were not prepared to compromise on quality, so wanted to stay with a recognised premium brand," explains transport and safety officer Ryan Coles.
"While the fleet acquisition decisions made many moons ago were born mainly of necessity and a lack of real options, this time there were more modern factors to consider – and also more choice," he adds.
"Over an expected 10-year life for the new trucks and cranes we are fully expecting to realise savings of £25,000 per truck, through purchase and life maintenance costs."
