Wincanton’s construction arm has taken delivery of 14 26-tonne Mercedes-Benz Actros 2546 L drawbar units.
Supplied by Orwell Truck and Van, the vehicles are fitted with rear-mounted Hiab 145DLL-1 HiPro long boom cranes with 14.4-tonne lifting capacities, 2.3m StreamSpace sleeper cabs and the manufacturer’s MirrorCam digital mirror replacement system. They are powered by 460hp 10.7-litre engines and quality for two stars under the Direct Vision scheme.
They are designed to work with drawbar trailers at 44-tonne gross train weights and are fitted with rear-steer axles plated at 8,500kg for a 19-tonne bogie weight.
Bodies were supplied by Massey Truck Engineering and include multiple lashing points and 900mm curtains. The flooring is a honeycomb composite plastic, said to be safer and lighter than conventional hardwood.
They also include microwave ovens and fridges, as drivers typically spend four nights a week in the cabs.
“The improved visibility provided by the new cameras is an advantage, particularly when vehicles are manoeuvring on construction sites,” said Martin Reeve, Wincanton’s construction fleet engineer. “The Actros was already very popular with drivers but the new models take acceptance to a new level. The current shortage of driver and loader operators in the industry means that driver retention and attracting new talent is a key goal.”
