Concrete mixer, vehicle, and driver hire specialist TGA Haulage of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, recently took possession of two additional Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3243 8x4 concrete mixer trucks. Like the other Mercedes-Benz trucks in owner Tom Allen’s fleet, he bought the new trucks for their competitive running costs and aftersales support. The new Arocs were provided by dealer Intercounty Truck & Van with 7.5-cubic-metre (9.8-cubic-yard) drums by McPhee Mixers of Motherwell, Scotland.
A Convert
Allen bought his first Mercedes-Benz Arocs in 2014. He currently has several 32-tonne (35-U.S.-ton) 8x4 models in his fleet, as well as a 6x4 26-t (28.7-U.S.-t) unit and an ENA model with a single front steer axle, double-drive bogie, and rear-steer axle. Allen previously preferred Swedish trucks before discovering the merits of Mercedes-Benz.
“I like the idea of uniformity within the fleet, and the Arocs is now firmly established in my mind as the best vehicle for our kind of work,” says Allen. “It’s beautifully put together and a real pleasure to drive, particularly the latest examples, which are loaded with technology that makes life safer and more comfortable for the individual at the wheel.
“Factor in the Mercedes-Benz truck’s fuel-efficiency and attractive overall running costs, and the high ground clearance that gives it a big advantage when working on rough terrain, and it all adds up to a very compelling proposition,” Allen says.
Features & Options
TGA Haulage’s new Arocs mixer trucks both feature Mercedes’ Active Brake Assist 5 automatic obstacle detection and braking system, along with the MirrorCam system which replaces the side mirrors with cameras.
“I’m a big fan of MirrorCam, which provides much improved visibility,” says Allen. “The images from the roof-mounted cameras remain crisp and clear, even when it’s raining, which means you no longer have the hassle of wiping the water and road debris from standard wing mirrors.”
The new TGA trucks are powered by 10.7-litre, inline six-cylinder engines with 428 horsepower (315 kilowatts). Their transmissions are 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated manuals. Mercedes’ Predictive Powertrain Control manages gear shifting for the lowest fuel consumption and emissions, with assistance from PowerShift 3’s Eco Roll function. The trucks ride on lightweight Dura-Bright alloy wheels.
The two Arocs have StreamSpace sleeper cabs with relatively narrow 2.3-metre (7.5-foot) widths and 170-millimetre (6.7-inch) engine tunnels. The beds have refrigerators and drawers underneath. The cabin’s twin-screen dashboards have the Multimedia Cockpit upgrade to a larger, 12-in. instrument panel with satellite navigation.
The Mercedes-Benz Arocs
Mercedes’ Arocs range of 18- to 41-t (20- to 45-U.S.-t) construction trucks includes prime movers, rigids, and tipper trucks as well as concrete mixers. The rugged, versatile Arocs line is available with a selection of cabs and axle configurations from 4x2 to 8x8.
Find The Right Mercedes-Benz
At Truck Locator, you can easily find new and used Mercedes-Benz trucks for sale, including Arocs models with a variety of truck bodies.
Source: Mercedes-Benz