Parcel delivery specialist DPD UK has ordered 150 Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor units, 50 of which were delivered in late 2019, to keep up with the growing shipping demands related to online shopping. They join a fleet of around 1,150 mostly Mercedes-Benz trucks used to haul single- and double-deck semi-trailers. DPD also ordered 30 7.5-tonne Atego 816 curtainside trucks. These additions are part of a £200 million investment designed to increase DPD’s next-day parcel delivery capacity.
Half of the trucks delivered last year are new-generation Actros models that feature Active Drive Assist, MirrorCam camera systems, Active Brake Assist 5 with emergency braking, Predictive Powertrain Control, and the Multimedia Cockpit, which Mercedes-Benz says “replaces switchgear with two stylish and intuitive screens.” All of the Actros units in the order are 1840 LS nR models with StreamSpace cabs, 10.7-litre, 394-horsepower (294-kilowatt) engines, fifth wheels, and gross combination weights of up to 38 tonnes.
Popular With Drivers
“We talk to our drivers all the time, and they’re very enthusiastic about the new features on these vehicles,” says Dave Winchcombe, head of transport at DPD UK. “MirrorCam gets a particularly big ‘thumbs up’ for the much-improved rear-facing visibility it provides—they love the fact that you can set the camera to the back of the trailer—and because by replacing mirrors it’s eliminated some major blind spots.”
“With aids like Active Drive Assist and new Predictive Powertrain Control, it’s a very simple truck to drive nowadays,” Winchcombe says. “From the company’s point of view, meanwhile, being able to offer a state-of-the-art vehicle like this helps us to attract new drivers to our business. That’s a very big plus, given the scale of the recruitment campaign in which we’re now engaged.”
More On The Actros
The fifth-generation Actros, winner of the International Truck of the Year 2020 award, is built for long-distance haulage and heavy-duty distribution. The 18- to 33-t truck is available as a rigid or tractor unit with axle configurations ranging from 4x2 to 6x4. There are 17 cab variants in two widths, with roof shape options such as GigaSpace, BigSpace, StreamSpace, ClassicSpace, and CompactSpace. Euro VI engine outputs range from 238 to 625 hp (175 to 460 kW) and from 1,000 to 3,000 newton-metres (738 to 2,213 pounds-foot) of max torque.
The Actros’ Multimedia Cockpit combines ergonomic and connectivity refinements to allow operators to drive and live in comfort. Standard safety features include a driver side airbag and the Mercedes-Benz Safety Package, which includes Active Brake Assist with Proximity Control Assist and pedestrian recognition technology.
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You will find hundreds of new and used Mercedes-Benz trucks for sale on Truck Locator, including a large selection of Actros and Atego models.