Mercedes-Benz Delivers 16-Tonne Atego Skip Loaders To Waste Hauler Clearaway

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Clearaway’s 15-vehicle fleet consists mostly of Mercedes-Benz trucks, such as the Arocs 1824 and Atego 1524 shown here. (Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz.)

Waste management specialist Clearaway of Basildon, Essex, is no stranger to Mercedes-Benz trucks, but the firm just took delivery of its first 16-tonne (17.6-U.S.-ton) Atego models from supplier Sparshatt Truck & Van.

The new Ategos are construction-specification 1524 K skip loaders outfitted with short, ClassicSpace S-cabs and Hyva lifting equipment. The new Ategos offer payload capacities of nearly 7.5 t (8.3 U.S. t).

“We’re really pleased with our first 16-tonners,” says Clearaway co-owner Paul Whitehair. “They’re no bigger than the 13.5-t Atego, but each offers a very useful increase of approximately 2,400 kilograms in body and payload allowance.”

Reliable & Dependable

The new Mercedes Atego skip loaders have 7.7-litre, in-line six-cylinder engines with 238 horsepower (175 kilowatts). The trucks’ transmissions are six-speed Mercedes PowerShift automated manual units.

“Our Mercedes-Benz trucks have proved over the last 10 years to be exceptionally strong and reliable, which is crucial given the nature of our operations,” Whitehair says. “Skip loaders will always get knocked about a bit, yet we still have a couple that are on 15 plates. I was going to let them go a little while back but haven’t done so yet because they’re still good, solid trucks that continue to stand the test of time.”

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This Mercedes-Benz Atego 1524 is one of Clearaway’s first 16-tonne Atego models. (Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz.)

Arocs As Well

Clearaway’s fleet of 15 mostly Mercedes-Benz vehicles includes two 13.5-t Atego skip loaders and a pair of Atego 7.5-t models, soon to become a trio. The firm also uses six 18-t (19.8-U.S.-t) Arocs skip loaders and two 32-t (35-U.S.-t) Arocs eight-wheelers, one of which is a hook loader and the other a tipper truck.

Clearaway’s sister company Wasteaway has even more Mercedes in its fleet, with 40 of the brand’s tractor units, mostly double-drive variants. Wasteaway uses these to haul walking-floor trailers and to collect commercial and residential waste in Essex and Kent.

The Mercedes-Benz Atego

Mercedes’ Atego range spans the 6.5- to 15-t (7.2- to 16.5-U.S.-t) class. Atego trucks are available with two day cab and two sleeper cab options. Their OM 934 engines produce 154 to 228 HP (115 to 170 kW).

Ategos are available with wheelbases of 3,020 to 4,820 millimetres (119 to 190 inches). Mercedes offers the vehicles with steel or air suspensions.

Find The Right Mercedes-Benz Truck

When you visit Truck Locator, you’ll notice how simple it is to find new and used Mercedes-Benz Atego, Arocs, and other Mercedes trucks for sale.

Source: Mercedes-Benz