Duchy, a company that specialises in aggregates and earth moving, started using its first Mercedes-Benz Arocs tipper in January 2021.
Duchy’s Jamie Shelton said: “That Arocs never gets stuck and is the most reliable truck on the fleet. It’s every bit as capable as our Swedish-built trucks, yet they cost us upwards of £40,000 more. All we’ve had to do with our first Mercedes-Benz over the last couple of years is replace wear items.”
As a 3240 variant, the vehicle is powered by a 10.7-litre in-line six-cylinder engine producing 290 kW (394 hp).
The eight vehicles it has since ordered are all Arocs 3251s with 375 kW (510 hp) 12.8-litre ‘straight-sixes’. Their steel Predator Ultimate tipping bodies are being built by Abba Commercials, of St Helens.
In addition to its three Arocs, the company runs 16 other trucks, all of which are by the Swedish brands. The line-up includes tractor units and a beavertail-bodied eight-wheeler, but 8x4 tippers form the backbone of the fleet.
Duchy Plant Hire is sending its vehicles further afield, into Devon and as far as Bristol. The new Arocs tippers have StreamSpace sleepers with 2.3m widths.
“Our latest Mercedes-Benz trucks are doing a brilliant job, and the fuel returns are astonishing,” Shelton continued. “The new Arocs have been returning 9 mpg ‘straight out of the box’, which puts them a good couple of miles per gallon ahead of our other eight-wheeled tippers.