Actros Transporters Have Six Appeal
Published: 17th September 2002
That’s because the Tring-based company’s six new 460bhp Mercedes Actros 4x2 tractor units are showing fuel savings of up to 35 per cent on the vehicles they have replaced!
"I still can’t quite believe it myself but I keep checking the figures and they keep giving me the same result," declares a delighted Vic Cole, Managing Director of Tring-based QVD.
"We were getting an average of 6.3mpg from our previous Mercedes 1834s but these new Actros 1846s midi-liners are doing anything from 9.7 to 10.5mpg on exactly the same work.
"That’s largely down to the increased horsepower," he continues. "At 460bhp, the new Actros are a lot more powerful than our old 340bhp tractors, and that means they’re not changing gear as much on the longer runs.
"There’s no real way of streamlining a car transporter trailer so you always get a lot of drag and my solution was to go for a tractor with plenty of grunt. I’m only glad that I did."
Wearing an attractive yellow, red and black livery, QVD’s new Actros project the perfect image when hauling up to 10 cars to quality outlets – including those of Mercedes-Benz Direct, the manufacturer’s own used car sales network.
Adds Mr Cole: "With its special reduced height chassis and fifth wheel, the Actros midi-liner is one of the lowest vehicles on the market," he explains. "We operate with articulated semi-trailers and this low height, coupled with a flat cab roof, allows us to maximise the number of the cars that we haul.
"I’ve a great deal of faith in the three-pointed star," he continues. "You’re always going to get the odd problem with any vehicle, but I’ve found that Mercedes-Benz offer by far the best overall package in terms of reliability, driver acceptability and whole-life costs."
John Baker, Truck Sales & Marketing Director for Mercedes-Benz,
adds: "Vic Cole has been in the car transporter business for many
years so a glowing testimonial from an operator of his experience is high
praise indeed."
