The Poole-based operator provides heavy haulage, temperature-controlled distribution and crane services through its AET Transport and Dorset Crane Hire divisions.
Its sister companies AET Andover, Curvin Transport and Eaton Transport offer warehousing and storage services, as well as general haulage, and next-day and palletised deliveries via Palletways.
The group now runs six Mercedes-Benz Actros tractors, all of which were supplied by south coast dealer Pentagon Commercials.
It also has a 16-tonne Atego with Transload curtainside body and tail-lift on order, due for assignment to a contract with boilers specialist Hamworthy Heating.
That truck was specified with features including a four-way camera system, designed to protect cyclists, especially in London.
As for the new Actros trucks, most are 2551s with BigSpace cabs and the 510bhp six-cylinder engine. Three have Eaton Transport livery, while two – one an ex-demonstrator with a range-topping GigaSpace cab – are used by AET Transport's factory relocations team to move machinery, plant and other large consignments throughout Europe.
The remaining truck is a 2545 BigSpace model with the 449bhp straight-six engine, which has joined the Curvin Transport fleet.
"We ordered our first Actros for AET Transport after Pentagon provided us with a demonstration unit," recalls AET managing director Andrew Trotter.
"Over the two-week trial that vehicle consistently returned 8.5—9 mpg, which was very impressive given that our established supplier's trucks typically achieve 7.5—8 mpg on similar work."
AET vehicles pull step-frame trailers and each cover 120,000 km per year. "Their first assignment took them across to Cornwall to load up, and then straight down to Slovakia. You can't beat bedding them in properly," laughs Trotter.
The three Eaton vehicles, which entered service shortly before Christmas, are scheduled to clock-up 160,000 km annually. These units trunk double-deck trailers to and from the Palletways hub in Lichfield at night, then make local deliveries from 10-metre (33ft) urban trailers during the day. They have been fitted with Mercedes Lane Assist system.
AET operates a six-bay workshop manned by four fitters who maintain many of its trucks, along with the group's 50 semi-trailers, 27 forklifts and various vans – among them two Sprinters and a Citan. AET also has a Sprinter dropside on order for Dorset Crane Hire.
However, its new Actros are PMIed and maintained at Pentagon's Poole depot, under three-year Mercedes-Benz R&M contracts.
All AET's Actros trucks have the full complement of Mercedes-Benz safety features, including an electropneumatic brake system (EPB) incorporating ABS (anti-lock braking) and ASR (anti-slip regulation), which brakes each wheel individually.
EPB includes secondary braking –engine brake or retarder – to further improve safety and reduce wear, while in the event of emergency braking the system automatically activates the hazard warning lights to warn following traffic.