Somerset-based RT Keedwell has taken delivery of 15 new Mercedes-Benz Actros L 2548 tractor units with BigSpace cabs. Supplied by City West Commercials, the new arrivals are the latest in a long line of Actros tractors the haulier has been running since 2012 in its fleet of more than 400 trucks.
Chairman, Stuart Keedwell, said: “Our first Actros proved to be superbly reliable and their fuel returns were easily as good as our fleet average at the time – but when we added units from the following generation they showed an immediate 10% mpg increase. That trend has continued. Our latest 480 hp tractors, even with just a few weeks on the road, are already matching the figures of the next-newest 450 hp vehicles we run.”
The trucks are powered by 12.8-litre engines from the third generation OM 471 engine family, designed for efficiency. Keedwell said: “The 450 hp Actros is a great truck from a fleet operator’s perspective because it’s so cost-efficient and reliable. With the 480 hp version though, we get all of the same benefits with the added bonus of a useful boost in power, which makes them more popular with our drivers.”
RT Keedwell has been working with its local Mercedes-Benz truck dealer for 13 years since the Actros was first introduced to the fleet. Keedwell added: “City West has become a trusted partner over the years and when they told us there would be no fuel penalty from upgrading to the 480 hp engine, we trusted their word. The evidence has proved they were correct.
“The Actros L cab is a great step forward too – the seating position and quality of the fixtures and fittings make it a real driver’s truck, and the gearbox is the best yet.
“We have vehicles from other manufacturers so we’re always comparing but our experience shows that – especially when you’re talking about a large fleet with a lot of different drivers – the Mercedes-Benz Actros is unbeatable for consistently high average mpg returns.”
