Black Country haulier Andyfreight recently acquired three new Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks to go with the six it received last year; Mercedes-Benz reports there are eight more on order for this spring. The previous-generation Actros trucks in the Andyfreight fleet have all provided better fuel efficiency than trucks it runs from three other marques, with an average of 11.27 mpg, and its current-generation Actros trucks are returning an average of 11.9 mpg.
Building An Efficient Fleet
The news gets even better: the firm’s latest additions are equipped with the MirrorCam system, which eliminates bulky side mirrors in favour of compact camera housings that reduce aerodynamic drag and help bump their fuel economy up to 12.03 mpg. MirrorCam also improves for everyone in proximity to the trucks by giving their drivers better rear vision and by eliminating forward-facing blind spots. The gains in both fuel efficiency and safety, along with the popularity of the Actros among Andyfreight’s drivers, has led the company to replace other trucks with more Actros tractors.
“We are certainly favouring Mercedes-Benz at the moment, not least because the Actros is so competitive in terms of overall lifetime costs,” says Operations Manager Dan Harris. “We don’t tend to run at maximum weights but on a like-for-like basis it’s a lot better on fuel than any of the other trucks we’ve tried, particularly the new model with MirrorCam.”
Deep Roots
Andyfreight has been running Mercedes-Benz trucks for over 30 years, nearly from the company’s beginning in 1986 when it was established by Managing Director Andy Pountney with just a single 3.5-tonne pickup. Once the remaining eight new Actros trucks are in service, Andyfreight’s fleet of 35 will be about two-thirds Mercedes-Benz, helping the company provide cost-effective nationwide haulage, distribution, and warehousing services.
About The Actros
The new trucks have Mercedes-Benz’s Predictive Powertrain Control to manage gear changes and make full use of the Mercedes PowerShift 3 transmission’s Eco Roll function. The system takes account of topography, corners, roundabouts, junctions, and traffic signs and generates fuel savings of up to 5%. The Actros also have the Multimedia Cockpit, which replaces the old switchgear, along with Active Brake Assist 5, an emergency braking aid that uses camera and radar to be even more proactive in recognising pedestrians crossing the truck’s path.
Find Mercedes-Benz Trucks
You’ll find hundreds of new and used Mercedes-Benz trucks, including a big selection of Actros tractors and rigids, for sale every day on Truck Locator.
Source: Mercedes-Benz