Caledonian Logistics Places Fleet-Renewal Order For 35 Mercedes-Benz Actros Tractors & Rigids

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Caledonian Logistics of Aberdeenshire has signed a deal for 35 Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks in a recent fleet makeover. The order included 2551 tractor units as well as Actros 1827 and 2536 rigids. (Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz.)

When the time came to replace trucks that had reached the end of their hire contracts, Caledonian Logistics decided to go with Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks in both rigid and tractor unit form to revamp its fleet and increase its total to 80 trucks. The Aberdeenshire-based company’s 35 new vehicles include 2551 tractor units with flat-floored BigSpace cabs, 1827 rigids with 2.3-metre StreamSpace sleeper cabs, and 2536 rigids.

The Need For Reliability

The trucks will be based at Caledonian Logistics’ headquarters in Kintore and at depots in Inverness and Cumbernauld and will make nightly trucking runs to the Palletways hub in Lichfield, Staffordshire, meaning each truck will drive approximately 320,000 kilometres (198,840 miles) per year. Caledonian Logistics has been a member of the national delivery network for more than 20 years and handles over 13,000 pallets each month.

“We’ve had Mercedes-Benz trucks on the fleet before—indeed we’re running some Atego 7.5-tonners at the moment,” says Managing Director Derek Mitchell. “But it’s been four or five years since we last acquired an Actros. We’ve returned to Mercedes-Benz with this order in part because we were offered shorter lead times than rival brands could quote, but also because Dealer BLS Truck & Van has made great strides since taking over the franchise for the north of Scotland.

“Our trucks are on timed runs,” Mitchell continues. This means any work needs to be completed to a tight schedule, so they’re back on the road exactly when we expect. We have every confidence that the BLS team will keep the fleet on the road, where it belongs.”

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“The 510-horsepower engines we specified mean they are never short of power, and while we have yet to measure their economy figures accurately, the early signs on both diesel and AdBlue consumption appear promising,” says MD Derek Mitchell.

About The Trucks

The Actros 2551 models have 12.8-litre in-line six-cylinder engines rated for 510 horsepower (375 kilowatts) and 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift automated manual transmissions. The 18-tonne (19.8 U.S. tons) 1827s have curtainside bodies and 7.7-litre, 272-HP (200-kW) engines. The 26-t (28.6-U.S.-t) Actros 2536 rigids have 10.7-litre, 360-HP (265-kW) six-cylinder engines.

“The Actros has always been a fine vehicle and that remains the case—I’ve ridden in one of the new units as a passenger on a run down to Cumbernauld and found it very comfortable,” says Mitchell. “The 510-HP engines we specified mean they are never short of power, and while we have yet to measure their economy figures accurately the early signs on both diesel and AdBlue consumption appear promising.”

Find Mercedes-Benz Trucks

You’ll find a large selection of new and used Mercedes-Benz trucks for sale on Truck Locator, including Actros tractors and rigids.

Source: Mercedes-Benz