Supplied by dealer S&B Commercials, the Stevenage-based operator’s new additions all have ClassicSpace cabs and curtainside bodywork by Wessex Vehicle Bodies, of Salisbury.
Four are 18-tonners: three Antos 1824s with day cabs, and an Actros 1824 with a sleeper, which is used for occasional longer assignments requiring a night out. The remaining vehicle is a 12-tonne Atego 1218.
One of the Antos has curtains printed with the livery of customer Altro Flooring, of Letchworth, while another is in the colours of Hertford-based wholesale plant nursery Rochfords.
Beattie used to run Mercedes trucks but switched to another manufacturer a few years ago. However, says business development manager Matt Moore, “this supplier’s aftersales service was not good enough”.
He adds: “We’ve seen a lot of investment made in the [S&B’s] facilities, and heard very good things about the levels of customer care its staff are now providing.
“The Mercedes-Benz truck range has also been renewed from top to bottom… the latest models are a huge step forward in terms of fuel efficiency and driver comfort, as well as being a lot smarter in appearance. We tried a couple of demonstrators and were hugely impressed.”
Early signs are encouraging from the Mercedes trucks, he says: “The fuel returns have been particularly promising from day one – we’re getting up to 12 mpg from the 18-tonners, which is already ahead of our fleet average for this size of vehicle.
“They were also competitively priced and our drivers are really pleased with them, too, and while these are still very early days the service from S&B Commercials has been professional and attentive. As a complete package, the Mercedes-Benz teams are ticking all of the boxes.”