Nestlé UK has expanded its fleet of vehicles with the addition of new Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor units and Montracon box semi-trailers.
The food giant has commissioned four additional Actros with new second-generation engines to accompany the seven existing Actros tractor units that it already operates. It has also ordered 70 new 13.6m Montracon box semi-trailers with matching silver side skirts, the first of which have entered service – one with special graphic to highlight the company’s 150th anniversary.
Nestlé’s first order of Mercedes-Benz tractor units have been on the road for more than a year – all 375kW Actros 2551 SteamSpace models based at the operator’s production facility in York.
Nestlé UK fleet manager Mick Thompson said: “Our drivers sleep in their vehicles and really appreciate the comfort of the beds and all-round quality of their flat-floored Actros cabs, while a lot of people have commented on how stunning these vehicles look.
“They’re brilliant in terms of fuel efficiency too. The first seven trucks are returning between 9 and 9.1 miles per gallon, which means they’re almost a mile ahead of our previous fleet average. And although we’ve only just set the four new units on the road, at 9.4 miles per gallon they’re already doing even better!”
All of Nestlé’s Actros are equipped with Predictive Powertrain Control systems, which boost economy while also reducing wear and tear on the driveline by employing engine braking at every opportunity, and helping to make shifts at the wheel less stressful for drivers.
The latest vehicles are 2551 versions with aerodynamic StreamSpace cabs too, but their 12.8-litre, six-cylinder OM471 engines are from the recently revamped range which, thanks to a raft of improvements including updated turbochargers and revised injection systems, offer average fuel savings over their predecessors of around 3%.
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