Sheffield-based Toutes Directions has added a new flagship truck to its fleet in the form of a big, blue Mercedes-Benz Actros 2553 tractor unit with range-topping GigaSpace cab. Supplied by Northside Truck and Van, the truck is plated for operation with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 68 tonnes (75 U.S. tons) and is powered by a 12.8-litre six-cylinder engine rated for 530 horsepower (390 kilowatts). Driver Peter Molnar is operating the truck, which is used for heavy haulage and other tasks. Molnar previously drove a highly spec’d Mercedes-Benz Actros 4x2 tractor that he had become extremely attached to.
“To be honest, I wasn’t exactly eager to swap, but the new Actros has blown me away,” Molnar says. “It’s a significant upgrade, and not only in terms of power. The new technology, including Proximity Control Assist and the latest version of Predictive Powertrain Control, makes the vehicle so easy to drive, and it has a great cab in which to live and work over a long trip.”
Spec’d For Comfort
Established in 1978, Toutes Directions delivers and installs high-value equipment for customers in the IT, medical, catering, and other sectors. This new Actros 2553 joins more than 20 other Mercedes-Benz vehicles in its fleet. The company spec’d its new flagship with numerous optional upgrades, including an interactive version of Mercedes-Benz twin-screen Multimedia Cockpit dashboard. The truck also boasts a StyleLine interior, a sliding and tilting electric sunroof, and leather-covered seats and steering wheel. Automatic climate control, a luxury top bunk, a TV and DVD player, and a pull-out fridge and microwave will also help Molnar to rest easy during long trips.
“In this case, we ticked virtually every box on the extras list, but we always specify our trucks highly,” says Tom Harrison, Toutes Directions transport manager. “We do so to reward and retain our excellent drivers, not least because around 25% of our work entails long-distance European haulage. If we’re asking the guys to live in the cab for a couple of weeks at a time, it’s only fair that we give them a comfortable environment.”
Welcome Aboard
Toutes Directions’ Actros 2553 purchase closely follows its addition of a 26-t (28.7-U.S.-t) Actros 2545 6x2 rigid, also supplied by Northside Truck and Van. That truck also has a GigaSpace cab as well as a 450-HP (330-kW) engine and a box body from Micra Truck Bodies.
“We’ve always operated artics and 18-tonners, but this new rigid gives us another option,” says Harrison. “It will be perfect for deliveries that require a bigger vehicle, but for which the access might be a bit too tight for a tractor and trailer. For added flexibility, the body features very wide-opening side doors, which combine the best features of a rigid box and a curtainsider.”
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You’ll find hundreds of new and used Mercedes-Benz trucks and vans for sale on Truck Locator, including a big selection of Actros tractor units and rigids like the 2553.
Source: Mercedes-Benz