MJ Prosser has added a 13-tonne Mercedes Atego to its fleet – its 13th such model.
Supplied by Rygor Commercials, the 1324 L model includes a high-roofed BigSpace L-cab, 238hp 7.7-litre engine and rear air suspension.
It is bodied by Fred Smith and Sons and includes a double-bunk sleeper cab, air-conditioning, a night heater and 180- and 100-litre fuel tanks in place of the standard the 120-litre tank to increase its range.
The haulage firm’s rigid trucks are fitted with 8.5m long curtainside or platform bodies. The chassis are extended at the Mercedes-Benz Custom Tailored Trucks (CTT) plant in Molsheim, France, to accommodate the extra length.
The company has bought only Mercedes trucks since 2000 and currently operates four other 13-tonne Ategos, the oldest of which is a 13-plate with more than 600,000km on the clock.
It specialises transportation for the construction sector and replaced its last two vehicles at 1.2 million and 1.3 million km. “Neither owed me a penny,” said owner Mark Prosser.
“We’ve remained loyal to the Mercedes-Benz Atego over the last 20 years because it’s such a reliable and durable truck. I typically swap them out after seven or eight years, but I know that if I need to run them for longer I can safely do so, because they’ll just keep going for as long as it takes.”
