The trucks are powered by Mercedes 450bhp) straight-six engines, driving through Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated transmissions. Both tractors have been fitted with the optional 17.5in wheel mid-lift axles to reduce unladen weight by a 371kg.
The first Actros went on the road on 1 March 2015 and Trevor Walker, managing director of the Clitheroe, Lancashire-based company, says: "Paired with one of our Wilcox aluminium tipping trailers, with Hyva rams, it offers a payload of around 29.5 tonnes, which is pretty good for a Euro 6 vehicle and right up there with the best of our vehicles."
"The fuel returns are pleasing too. That truck is already achieving 7.75 mpg which may not sound a lot but is excellent for this application, and significantly better than our fleet average."
T&J's vehicles work nationwide for customers in the aggregates and agricultural sectors, but much of their time is spent on the hilly A and B roads of Lancashire and Yorkshire.
"We also run fully loaded at 44 tonnes 90% of the time, so our mpg returns are lower than those of operators who spend their time rolling along nice smooth motorways," confirms Walker.
"We do pay close attention to efficiency though, and pay our drivers a bonus for hitting their fuel targets."
And Walker continues: "The second [Actros] went on the road in mid-May and has been assigned to a long-serving member of our team who was a dyed-in-the-wool fan of one of the other brands [primarily Volvo] on our fleet.
"He's been completely won over by the Mercedes-Benz, and loves the comfort and space, as well as the high quality of the interior fixtures and fittings."
Walker is pragmatic though: "Of course, any truck is only as good as the back-up.
"We already had a close working relationship with Ciceley Commercials, as we have 23 trailers with Mercedes-Benz axles, which we maintain in our own workshop.
"The parts team at Ciceley Blackburn support us with regular deliveries and make sure that if we ever need anything, it's already there on the shelf."