Their aerodynamically profiled box bodies were built and mounted by Commercial Truck Bodies, of Caerphilly, while the operator also specified long-range fuel tanks with a capacity of 280 litres, in place of the standard, single 120-litre versions.
The new trucks join a 14-strong mixed fleet of 7.5 tonners, which include a pair of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans, and group transport manager Malcolm Streeter says Mercedes-Benz trucks have been the mainstay of the fleet.
“Each 7.5-tonner typically covers up to 90,000 km a year, which is a fair amount for a vehicle of this size,” he says.
“We prefer not to run anything bigger, because it’s all residential work and access to our customers’ homes can be an issue.”
Streeter explains that the trucks are double-manned and, on leaving the factory, each makes as many as 20 deliveries – meaning reliability is essential.
“Experience has proved the Atego to be more dependable and durable than anything else, which is also why we’ve tended to retain them longer than other types of vehicle – they just keep going,” states Streeter.
He also says Mercedces-Benz service has been good, recalling an incident last year, when a seal failed on a 12-registered Atego and it lost coolant.
“Euro Commercials had a Service 24h technician out to us very quickly. He diagnosed the problem, went back to the Swansea branch to pick up parts, and we were back on the road within three hours.”
And he adds: “I’ve known and worked with Euro’s truck sales executive Huw Salway for a long time now, and he also provides a very good service.”