The Prudhoe-based company has assigned the purpose-designed 8x4 tipper to its contract with Sunderland City Council. The truck makes short trips between the company’s own asphalt plant at Hendon and road surfacing sites across the city.
The Arocs 3240K has a 290kW (394hp) 10.7-litre engine, which drives through the latest Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated transmission. The truck’s double-skinned and insulated aluminium body is by PPG Fabrications of Peterborough.
“We need a vehicle that’s going to give us maximum ‘uptime’,” said transport manager Stephen Atkinson. “Our vehicles typically make short journeys, with lots of stopping and starting, so while fuel efficiency is clearly important it’s not our only concern. Rather, given the demanding nature of the job, what we want above all else is a truck that won’t let us down.”
He added: “We like the automated transmission, which will make the driver’s life easier when negotiating city centre traffic, because he’ll be free to concentrate fully on what’s going on around him rather than worry about which gear he’s in.
“Our trucks have to access some very uneven sites and the Arocs’ excellent ground clearance will also help protect it from the sort of minor damage that can result in costly trips to the workshop.”
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