In January 2021, when Truro-based Duchy Plant Hire needed to quickly add a new truck to its aggregate, earthmoving, and tipper fleet, founder and Director Jamie Shelton purchased a pre-built Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3240 from dealer Intercounty Truck & Van. Shelton has been so impressed with the reliability and performance of the eight-wheeler that he’s since ordered eight more Arocs.
“That Arocs never gets stuck and is the most reliable truck on the fleet,” says Shelton. “All we’ve had to do with our first Mercedes-Benz over the last couple of years is replace wear items.”
“Astonishing” Fuel Returns
Founded in 2018, Duchy Plant Hire currently runs a 19-truck fleet. The Arocs 3240 added last year is equipped with a 10.7-litre six-cylinder engine rated for 394 horsepower (290 kilowatts). The eight other trucks Shelton ordered are Arocs 3251 variants, each with a 12.8-litre, straight-six engine rated for 510 HP (375 kW) and a Predator Ultimate tipping body from Abba Commercials of St Helens.
Shelton has already put two of the new trucks into service. One logged over 12,000 kilometres (7,456 miles) in just a month and the other nearly equaled that total. Both trucks have StreamSpace sleeper cabs that are 2.3 metres (7.5 feet) wide. Of the other six Arocs, two have StreamSpace cabs and the other four ClassicSpace M cabs. Mercedes-Benz says to provide optimum manoeuvrability, Duchy Plant Hire specified two of the ClassicSpace models in ENA configuration with single front-steer axles, double-drive bogies, and rear-steer axles, which will benefit drivers when accessing sites in Cornwall with restricted access.
“Our latest Mercedes-Benz trucks are doing a brilliant job, and the fuel returns are astonishing,” Shelton says. “The new Arocs have been returning 9 mpg straight out of the box, which puts them a good couple of miles per gallon ahead of our other eight-wheeled tippers. The drivers have been blown away too by their smooth power delivery and comfort.”
The Mercedes-Benz Arocs
Duchy Plant Hire’s Arocs are factory-finished in Arctic White with colour-coded bumpers and mirror housings. The company also opted for aftermarket white paintwork for the sun visors and wiper arms. Other exterior touches include Alcoa Dura-Bright alloy wheels, protective headlamp grilles, light bars, airhorns, and personalised “DPH” registration plates.
In addition to tippers, the Arocs lineup includes rigids, dump trucks, and concrete mixers ranging from 18 to 41 tonnes (19.8 to 45 U.S. tons). Axle configurations range from 4x2 to 8x8, while rated power options range from 235 to 617 HP (175 to 460 kW).
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Source: Mercedes-Benz