A northern Scotland transport logistics company has put 35 new Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks into high-mileage nightly operations and local deliveries.
Caledonian Logistics has taken delivery of 16 new tractors and two new rigids, with another 17 on the way as the firm upgrades the fleet at its headquarters in Aberdeenshire, as well as depots in Inverness and Cumbernauld.
The tractor units, all 2551 models with flat-floored BigSpace cabs, are run by 12.8-litre in-line six-cylinder engines that generate 510 hp, and drive through 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift automated manual transmissions.
The vehicles, from dealer BLS Truck & Van, are making nightly trunking runs to the Palletways hub in Staffordshire. This is a high-mileage application that will see each truck average around 320,000 km per year.
The rigids, meanwhile, have been earmarked for local collections and deliveries – the first two delivered are 18-tonne 1827 models, with 7.7-litre engines, rated at 272 hp, 2.3-metre StreamSpace sleeper cabs and curtainside bodies by Truckcraft.
These trucks will be joined over the coming weeks by another 12 identical vehicles and four 26-tonne Actros 2536 variants, with 10.7-litre, six-cylinder engines that produce 360 hp.
The trucks are the subject of contract hire agreements with Mercedes-Benz Finance.
Derek Mitchell, Managing Director at Caledonian Logistics, said: “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.”
2023
