An Arocs makes its entrance.
Added: 09 December 2019
Highly skilled teams need trucks they can trust.
Bristol-based company Plant Speed provides its customers with cost-effective heavy haulage solutions, including out-of-gauge and break bulk consignments throughout the UK and Europe. The team is highly skilled and experienced, capable of handling tricky and delicate loads whilst adhering to the safest working practices.
A growing fleet of Mercedes-Benz trucks.
City West Commercials delivered Plant Speed’s first Mercedes-Benz in 2013. At the time the mighty 250-tonne Actros Titan was the most expensive truck ever sold by the manufacturer in the UK – the 8x4 tractor and its Scheuerle modular equipment represented a combined investment of more than £1 million!
The operator was so impressed; particularly with the Turbo Retarder Clutch (one of the first trucks to be fitted with this ground-breaking system) it purchased another Mercedes-Benz vehicle in 2015, this time an Arocs from the Euro VI SLT range.
Paul Lomas explains, “Mercedes-Benz trucks are also technologically advanced – the Turbo Retarder Clutch is a fantastic piece of kit, brilliant for low-speed manoeuvres or when pulling away on a steep gradient, and a lot kinder to the drivetrain than a traditional torque converter.”
The first three-pointed star Arocs.
Since 2015 the business has obtained two Arocs BigSpace models and four 68-tonne Actros vehicles with range-topping GigaSpace cabs and tag axles.
“We’re favouring Mercedes-Benz strongly at the moment,” confirmed Paul. “Its products are fairly priced and exceptionally reliable, and our drivers like their big, comfortable cabs.”
The new 32-tonne Arocs 3246 with flat-floored BigSpace cab has a beavertail plant body and 56 tonne Fassi crane as well as coupling for pulling drawbar trailers. It’s the first rigid on the fleet to bear the three-pointed star and has replaced an eight-wheeler from 2005. “The Arocs has a much more spacious cab and a bigger crane.”
Tough and economical.
The beast of a truck is surprisingly manoeuvrable, considering its power and size – due to its steered rear axle. It also promises valuable fuel savings and reduced tyre wear, thanks to the fact the rear axle can be lifted when the vehicle is running light.
“We wanted a vehicle that’s economical to operate and agile – the sites this truck has to access can be quite tight, so the rear-steer axle is a big help,” said Paul.
After such positive feedback, we think Plant Speed may be adding more Mercedes-Benz trucks to its line-up in the future.
The new 32-tonne Arocs 3246 has a flat-floored BigSpace cab and is powered by the top-rated 340 kW (460 hp) version of the second-generation 10.7-litre OM 470 ‘straight six’. It has a beavertail plant body by Andover Trailers and a 56 tonne/metre Fassi crane, as well as a coupling for pulling drawbar trailers.
The 8x2 Arocs is impressively manoeuvrable thanks to its steered rear axle. It also holds out the promise of valuable fuel savings compared to an 8x4 variant, while the fact that the rear axle can be lifted when the vehicle is running light also allows the operator to save on tyre wear; even when deployed the axle’s turning function reduces scrub.
Plant Speed employs the latest heavy haulage equipment to provide its customers with cost-effective transport solutions. The company also observes the safest and most efficient working practices, and its highly skilled and experienced team of drivers and support staff are capable of handling the most awkward and delicate loads.
Last year City West Commercials supplied Plant Speed with another four tractor units – two double-drive 460 kW (625 hp) Arocs BigSpace models plated for operation at 180 and 120 tonnes GCW respectively, and a pair of 68-tonne 390 kW (530 hp) Actros with range-topping GigaSpace cabs and tag axles. The Dealer then delivered two more, identical 68-tonners earlier this year.
These trucks have all replaced vehicles by other truckbuilders. “We’re favouring Mercedes-Benz strongly at the moment,” confirmed Managing Director Paul Lomas. “Its products are fairly priced and exceptionally reliable, and our drivers like their big, comfortable cabs.
Mr Lomas continued: “The 68-tonners are our ‘bread and butter’ trucks, and carry out a lot of plant and railway equipment movements. They’re the lightest tractor units we run, but they’ve replaced Swedish-built 65-tonners, and the extra three tonnes is surprisingly useful in terms of increased flexibility.
“The new 32-tonne rigid, meanwhile, has replaced an eight-wheeler from 2005. The Arocs has a much more spacious cab, and a bigger crane. It’s a Swiss Army Knife-type of truck, capable of undertaking all sorts of tasks, and has barely stopped working since it landed.
Plant Speed relies on City West Commercials for technical assistance and parts. “The Dealer provides a very good service,” confirmed Mr Lomas.
