New Mercedes-Benz Arocs for GS Hughes
Lincolnshire-based aggregates operator adds 20 new Arocs eight-wheel tippers to its fleet
IN 2015 stone and aggregates specialists GS Hughes purchased their first Mercedes-Benz trucks for more than 15 years. Today, all 42 of their vehicles wear three-pointed stars.
The Lincolnshire-based operator has just completed the transformation of its fleet by commissioning another 20 Mercedes-Benz Arocs eight-wheelers.
Supplied by East Anglia dealers Orwell Truck & Van, the Arocs are fitted with steel Taperlite tipping bodies from Boweld along with Edbro front-end rams.
Most of the new trucks are 3240 models with advanced 10.7-litre, 290kW (394hp) straight-six engines, which drive through smooth Mercedes PowerShift automated transmissions.
The only exception is a 3246 model with a more powerful 335kW (456hp) variant, which has been allocated to driver Ken Wilkinson as a reward for his 27 years of loyal service.
GS Hughes run quarries in Lincoln and Grantham, operates waste-washing facilities for recycling sand and gravel, and provide muckaway services to construction and civil engineering contractors.
Their trucks are based at a purpose-built site on the outskirts of the village of Eagle, near Lincoln, which offers direct access to the main A46.
The company moved here earlier this year as the new site offers greater scope for expansion than its previous home nearby, whilst also minimizing the need for its trucks to use the narrow village streets.
‘In the three years since we acquired our first dozen Mercedes-Benz Arocs, this model has proved to be very popular with our drivers and extremely well suited to our kind of work,’ commented transport manager John Barker.
‘It’s a very thoughtfully designed vehicle. The impressive ground clearance and the way that damage-prone items are positioned out of harm’s way, help to ensure that this truck is completely at home in quarries and on construction sites.’
He continued: ‘The Arocs have proved economical and cost-effective to operate, too. Our work is so varied that comparing one vehicle’s miles/gal performance with another’s is difficult.
However, the Mercedes-Benz trucks have been significantly more frugal from the outset than those from other manufacturers, which they replaced. We’ve also suffered very little, if any, unplanned downtime.’
GS Hughes’ latest Arocs are the subject of a flexible, low-cost Agility funding agreement with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. ‘The package is competitively priced and, just as importantly, allows us to choose from a range of options at the end of the term,’ observed Mr Barker.
He added: ‘Orwell Truck & Van’s service has also been excellent. We maintain the vehicles in our own workshop but the dealer supports us with regular deliveries of GenuineParts, which are keenly priced compared with the competition.’
Purpose-designed for construction and associated applications, the muscular Mercedes-Benz Arocs range comprises rigid vehicles with two, three and four axles, any number of which can be driven, and tractor units.
The comprehensive, six-cylinder engine line-up extends from a 7.7-litre unit in 175kW (238hp) trim, to one with a 15.6-litre displacement and 460kW (625hp) output.
