ALWAYS ONLINEFully networked: Mercedes-Benz Uptime and

Mercedes-Benz Complete maximise truck utilisation –

Europe-wide

ACTROS: HIGH PAYLOAD TIPPER TRACTOR UNIT | FLEETBOARD: NEW APPS | SPRINTER: AT SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN

The magazine for mobile business. 3|2017www.

road

stars

.mer

cede

s-ben

z.com

|Au

gust

2017

|€4

.50

making everyday smoother

making everyday smootherSUSPENSION SYSTEMS

As official VanPartner for Mercedes-Benz, VB-Airsuspension has launched an air suspension system for virtually all

types of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter*. Choose „PL9“ in the options list and enjoy the benefits of full air suspension on the

rear axle.

ENJOY THE ULTIMATE DRIVING EXPERIENCEDISCOVER THE POSSIBILITIES OF FULL AIR SUSPENSION

* For Mercedes-Benz Sprinter types for which the PL9 option is not available, we can deliver an air suspension

system on the aftermarket via our worldwide VB-Partnernetwork. This also applies to the Mercedes-Benz Citan,

Vito and V Class. Visit vbairsuspension.com/PL9 for more information. OPTION

Mastercode air

suspension VMC

PL9GREATER COMFORT

INCREASED SAFETY

CONSTANT RIDE HEIGHT

OPTIMUM DRIVEABILITY

INCREASED STABILITY

LESS WEAR ON TYRES AND BRAKES

REDUCED CO2 EMISSIONS

EASIER LOADING AND UNLOADING USING THE KNEELING FUNCTION

3TRANSPORT 3·2017 PANoRAMA

DEAR READERS,At Mercedes-Benz Vans, we are committed tokeeping businesses moving. This pledge is basednot only on the market-leading quality of ourvehicles, but also on our UK Dealer Network’scustomer-focused, round-the-clock back-up. Thesame applies to our colleagues at Mercedes-BenzTrucks, for whom maximising vehicle uptime is acentral pillar of their RoadEfficiency strategy.Carl Benz designed and built the world’s first truckin 1895, and its first van the following year. Wewere leaders at the dawn of the automotiveindustry. Our constant drive to innovate hasensured that we’ve kept businesses moving eversince. Of course, by ‘businesses’ I don’t onlymean commercial enterprises. For example, ourultra-reliable, cost-effective vehicles are alsochosen by many of the UK’s emergency serviceproviders. Turn on the TV or log on to coverage ofany major event – good or bad – and you’re likely tosee a Mercedes-Benz police vehicle, ambulance orfire appliance in the thick of the action. Like otherpublicly-funded bodies and charities, many of whichalso employ Mercedes-Benz trucks and vans in ahuge variety of roles, the 999 heroes we rely uponto protect us have to be able to justify every pennythey spend in the current climate of financialrestraint. Inside, we report on a ground-breakingframework agreement brokered by the WestMidlands Police and Crime Commissioner andcovering highly-specified Mercedes-Benz Sprinterpublic order vans, which is set to deliver valuableeconomy-of-scale savings for more than 30 UKpolice forces and agencies. We also focus on theimpressively equipped, off-road Mercedes-BenzUnimog trucks now being operated by the fire andrescue services in Cumbria and Suffolk. As well asoffering outstanding go-anywhere capability, thesevehicles represent great value for money.

I hope you enjoy this issue.

Steve BridgeManaging DirectorMercedes-Benz Vans UK Ltd

ContentsPANORAMA

04 IN BRIEF Record harvest with the Brazilian Actros, and more

42 LAST PAGE Food truck on Sugarloaf Mountain; Imprint

BUSINESS & LOGISTICS14 oFF RoAd The formidable 4×4 Unimog in a wide variety of applications

VEHICLE & TECHNOLOGY06 ChARITy I Medical Detection Dogs sniff out the right van for the job

08 RECovERy PATRoL AA leads with Atego crew cab fleet

12 ChARITy II Approved Used vans support those in the greatest need

13 LowEREd ChASSIS R Adams & Sons’ new Arocs in action

17 PoLICE Sprinter Personnel Carriers set standards for security and durability

30 ACTRoS TIPPER Body The new Actros 1843 LS with tipper body at workfor the Geiger Group

SERVICE10 FLEET MANAGEMENT Crown praises customer-focused service

18 TITLE: MERCEdES-BENZ CoMPLETE How Liedhegener Logistikbenefits from the new Mercedes-Benz service agreements and assist systems

28 EXPANdEd PoRTFoLIo The WeiLa Sprinter back on the road within24 hours thanks to the Mercedes-Benz Vans Exchange Engine Programme

34 MERCEdES SERvICECARd Fresh fruit needs to delivered quickly andreliably: at Primafrio the Mercedes ServiceCard helps get the job done

38 vANS All-round cover with Mercedes-Benz ServiceCare

40 FLEETBoARd Boost efficiency further with new products

TAKING THELONG VIEWReliability and high vehicleuptime: the companyLiedhegener Logistik GmbHrelies on Mercedes-BenzComplete and the Actros withthe new Active Brake Assist 4with pedestrian detectioncapability.

18

STRONG PERFORMANCERecord soybean, maize and bean harvest: Grupo Cereal trusts Brazilian Actros

Some 200 million tonnes of soya, sweetcorn and beans: Brazilis anticipating a record harvest. To cope with this enormousvolume, more and more customers are relying on the

heavy-duty Actros up to 74 tonnes. One of these is Grupo Cereal,one of Brazil’s leading agricultural enterprises, which expandedits fleet by 15 Actros in 2016. The robust chassis of the BrazilianActros is made especially for the frequently difficult roadconditions in the Latin American market. Large sections of thelong-distance roads are only poorly paved. In many locations there

are no tarred roads. The new Brazilian Actros is an outstandingworkhorse in these conditions. In addition, it is highly rated bydrivers thanks to its comfortable cabin.

The Actros from Brazil not only proves great robustness, butalso its economical advantage because of a further reduction in operating costs: the truck manufactured at the Mercedes-Benz factory in São Bernardo do Campo uses five per cent less fuel compared with the previous model, even with ten per cent highertorque. n

4 PANORAMA TRANSPORT 3·2017

Punishing conditionsThe Actros of Grupo Cerealat harvest work in off-road

conditions

Size mattersThe Mercedes-Benz Citan beat off the challenge of severalrivals to land the Best Small Trades Van trophy

HAT-TRICK HEROESCitan, Sprinter and Canter hailed as ‘best buys’ for

retail customers

The three-pointed star outshone thecompetition once again at the latestTrade Van Driver Awards, where two

Mercedes-Benz models won covetedaccolades. The Citan took the Best SmallTrades Van title while the Sprinter –honoured every year since the leadingmagazine for owner-drivers and small fleetoperators launched its celebration of lightcommercial vehicle excellence in 2011 –was the Editor’s Choice this time.

The Trade Van Driver Awards are judgedby a panel of readers who use lightcommercial vehicles in their businesses,and expert journalists. Commenting on theCitan’s success, Editor Matthew Eiseneggersaid: “With mileages increasing for theprofessional tradesperson, a greater burdenis being placed on their vehicles. Also,greater consideration is being given towarranty periods and cover.

“In the judges’ opinion theMercedes-Benz Citan, which is suppliedwith a three-year, unlimited mileagewarranty, offers the ideal solution to thosenow covering greater distances.” Turning tothe Citan’s all-conquering ‘big brother’, hecontinued: “Yet again the Mercedes-BenzSprinter is a winner, both on build qualityand the exceptional warranty, which makeit a firm favourite.”

There was more good news as theall-wheel drive FUSO Canter was namedBest Heavy Duty – the popular Japaneselight truck range is sold and supported byMercedes-Benz Trucks Dealers in GreatBritain. “Many operators require a vehiclethat can deal with extreme conditions andthe Canter 4×4 offers this and more,” saidMatthew Eisenegger. “Off-road abilitycombined with functionality make thisfeisty off-roader the judges’ choice.” n

JOIN THE QUEUE

It has not even been unveiled yet butdemand for the new X-Class pickuphas prompted Mercedes-Benz Vans tolaunch a reservation service. PotentialUK customers are invited to pay arefundable £1000 fee, which willensure they are among the first whowill have the opportunity to order avehicle scheduled to arrive in the UKnext year. The X-Class – the abovephotograph is of a concept and doesnot represent the appearance ofthe production vehicle – will pair apowerful V6 diesel engine with4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive,and combine exemplary performanceand practicality with class-leadingsafety credentials.www.reservexclass.mbvans.co.uk

FITTING TRIBUTE

Pride of place on the Mercedes-Benzstand at this year’s Truckfest inPeterborough went to Pollock(Scotrans) driver Allan Holt and hisstunning 460 kW (625 hp) Actros. Thetractor unit was chosen from a numberof entries to the Mercedes-BenzRoadStars competition, by truck driverand journalist Bob Beech. He feltthe Actros reflected perfectly theBathgate-based operator’s 75 years inthe business. Particularly noteworthy,said Bob, was “the combination of atop-of-the-range, modern truck with aclassic Scottish livery that underlinesthe pride taken by the operator and itsdrivers in their trucks.”www.roadstars.mercedes-benz.com

LEADER OF THE PACKMedical Detection Dogs sniffs out the right van for the job

He ‘nose’ a goodthing when hesees oneBio-detection dogAxel and trainerMark Doggett, withMedical DetectionDogs’ newMercedes-BenzCitans

7TRANSPORT 3·2017 VEHICLE & TECHNOLOGY

Apioneering charity which uses the amazing power of thedog’s nose to detect human diseases has chosen a pair ofMercedes-Benz Citans to help with its life-saving work.Medical Detection Dogs is at the forefront of research into

the fight against cancer and helps people with life-threateningconditions. Its Bio-Detection Dogs are trained to identify the distinctivescents of diseases, in samples such as urine, breath and swabs. ItsMedical Alert Assistance Dogs, meanwhile, can detect minute changesin an individual’s personal odour, triggered by their condition.

The Milton Keynes-based organisation trains several canine breeds,although labradors and spaniels have proved particularly adept atalerting humans to the presence of life-threatening illnesses. Ratherthan keeping them in kennels, its dogs are fostered out with families.

Medical Detection Dogs uses its Citans to collect dogs from theirhomes and transport them in crates for training or to undertake theirwork with clients throughout the country. Finished in eye-catchingliveries and riding on optional alloy wheels, both are fuel-efficient109 CDI models – one is an Extra-long crew van with second row ofseats, the other a Long-bodied variant.

Chief Executive Officer Dr Claire Guest explains: “Dogs can identifytiny odour concentrations of around one part per trillion, theequivalent of a teaspoon of sugar in two Olympic-sized swimmingpools. This gives them the ability to detect diseases.

“We train them to use that skill as assistance dogs for people withlife-threatening conditions such as type one diabetes, and areresearching their abilities to detect forms of cancer much earlier thanis currently possible using conventional methods. Our pioneeringwork can help, therefore, to speed up the diagnosis process and impacton thousands of lives.”

Powered by an advanced 66 kW (90 hp) engine, the 109 CDI modeloffers diesel returns of up to 65.7 mpg (combined cycle). Thisimpressive economy figure owes much to a number of standard-fitBlueEFFICIENCY measures, including the ECO start/stop function,low rolling resistance tyres and optimised alternator and batterymanagement systems.

Dr Guest adds: “We set out to buy the most reliable van on themarket and, of course, Mercedes-Benz has an unrivalled reputation forthe quality and longevity of its products.

“Our Citans look great and are attracting a lot of positive feedbackfrom people who see them on the road, while the team memberswho’ve been using them are delighted. Their vans are easy to drive andvery comfortable, as well as being highly economical. We’re confidentthey will do a great job for us.” n

www.medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk

STARS OF THE SHOWMedical Detection Dogs presented its work at thisyear’s Crufts, the world’s largest dog show, whereMercedes-Benz Vans was also exhibiting. Themanufacturer displayed a Vito Tourer with dog-friendlyconversion and a Citan Crew Van at the annualcelebration of all things canine, staged at the NEC,Birmingham.Representatives were on hand to outline to the crowdswho flocked to the stand, the many ways in which theaward-winning Mercedes-Benz Vans range can helpkeep dog-owners and businesses moving.Steve Bridge, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz VansUK, says: “As well as owners like myself – I have awonderful ‘Westie’ called Gilbert – groomers, walkers,veterinary practices and others who work with dogsrequire safe vehicles to carry our four-legged friends.Crufts provided a great opportunity to explain how ourvans can be adapted to suit.”

THE AA TEAMThe UK’s largest motoring organisation leads with Atego crew cab fleet

Tony Doran is a happy man, after becoming oneof the first to collect the keys to a new breed ofMercedes-Benz truck. The reigning AARecovery Patrol of the Year’s 13-tonne Atego

1323 came complete with the unique AA 3 registrationplate that marks Tony out as the face of AA recoveryoperations.

Part of a ground-breaking order for 30 identicalvehicles, the Atego has a factory-fitted crew cab and cantransport up to five passengers in safety and comfort.Its bespoke tilt and slide body was purpose-designedand built by specialist manufacturer Ceejay Systems, ofAlresford, Hampshire.

“The Atego is a really nice drive, very comfortableand with its new body perfectly tailored to ouroperation,” enthuses Tony, who is based at the AA’sdepot in Runcorn, Cheshire. He has worked for the AA

since 2013 and came through a series of interviews andtests to win his coveted title.

The AA runs some 280 recovery vehicles, which arebased across a network of 50 depots nationwide. Thenew rigids are the first Mercedes-Benz trucks to wearthe organisation’s familiar yellow and black colourssince 2001. However, the fleet includes 14 FUSO Canter7.5-tonners with beavertail bodies, which enteredservice in 2014-15 and are used primarily in London –the Japanese light truck range is sold and supported byMercedes-Benz Trucks Dealers in Great Britain.

The AA is the first UK operator to run the latestEuro VI Atego crew cab variant in significant numbers.With the driver and a full complement of customersaboard, the vehicle offers a 4.0-tonne payload capacityand can additionally tow vehicles weighing up to3.5 tonnes.

The new ‘face of the AA’While continuing in his ‘day job’, Recovery Patrol of theYear Tony Doran doubles as an AA ambassador

9TRANSPORT 3·2017 VEHICLE & TECHNOLOGY

Key to the AA’s decision to place its landmark orderwas the reliable performance of a demonstration unit,and the highly positive feedback it attracted fromrecovery patrols out in the field.

AA Fleet Engineer Chris Wiltshire reveals: “In12 months that truck didn’t suffer a single day ofdowntime, which was hugely impressive. Vehicleavailability is crucial to our operation. We work ourtrucks hard – in five years’ time each Atego will havecovered one million km – so if something was going togive, the chances are we’d have found it quite quickly.

“We have taken various opportunities to present theAtego to our patrols, so they could compare and contrastit with products by our two established suppliers.Overwhelmingly, they have come down in favour of theMercedes-Benz. Their input has also been invaluable inenabling us to refine the chassis specification and bodydesign as we’ve gone along, with the result that the

vehicle is now configured precisely as our front-linecolleagues wanted.”

Head of National Recovery Ian Dumont adds: “Ourrecovery patrols certainly like the feel of theMercedes-Benz and the design of Ceejay’s new body,but what’s most important to them is that their truckstarts on time and doesn’t let them down. We allocatetwo drivers to each vehicle and they all have their ownkit, so it’s a real pain if they have to transfer it to anotherbecause their own has broken down.

“The driving training provided has also been amassive plus; I’ve taken several calls from patrolstelling me how refreshing it was to receive suchprofessional support, and how much it has enhancedtheir understanding of the product.” n

www.theaa.com

Tailored fortowingThe Atego 1323offers a 4.0-tonnepayload capacityand canadditionally towvehicles weighingup to 3.5 tonnes

recoveryvehicles

are based across anetwork of 50 AA

depots nationwide

280

STROKEOF GENIUSHigh-profile operator praises

Daimler Fleet Management’s

customer-focused service

One of the biggest names in the decorating industry hasgiven its merchandising team a top-quality, professionalmakeover, by setting them on the road in its firstMercedes-Benz vans.

Crown commissioned the 15 Citans after Daimler FleetManagement undertook a thorough and wide-ranging analysis ofits requirements. DFM Fleet Sales Manager Scott Chambers madea compelling whole-life cost case for the Mercedes-Benz product,which was then corroborated by the week-long trials of two

demonstration vehicles he arranged for his customer. Crown has aheritage that dates back to 1777 and its products are the choice ofdecorators and DIY enthusiasts alike. The holder of a Royal Warrantfrom Queen Elizabeth II, the company operates from headquartersin Darwen, Lancashire, a manufacturing facility in Hull, and agrowing network of 130 Crown Decorating Centres locatedthroughout the UK and Ireland.

Its new vans are all Long-bodied 109 CDI versions of thefuel-efficient Citan, and the subject of a contract hire agreementwith Daimler Fleet Management. A business unit of Mercedes-Benzparent company Daimler AG, it has been working with Crown forthe last eight years, and in 2016 was awarded sole responsibility forfunding and managing its high-profile customer’s entire fleet of 170cars – most of which are by Mercedes-Benz – as well as its 130 vans.

The cost-effective package put together by Daimler FleetManagement and the enthusiastic feedback on the demonstrationmodels from its merchandisers were both key to Crown’s decisionto switch from its previous brand of small van to the Mercedes-BenzCitan.

Crown Commercial Buyer Susan Fielding recalls: “We had lookedat Mercedes-Benz vans in the past but discounted them as tooexpensive. Not this time, though. The focus for our latest tender wason a combination of lease and running costs, and reliability – ouragreement with Daimler Fleet Management is highly competitiveand represents excellent value for money.”

10 SERVICE TRANSPORT 3·2017

Crown’s field-based merchandising team are a highly visible‘face of the business’, spending much of their time visiting retailersand other customers, delivering literature, point of sale andtraining materials. Their new vans are contracted to cover anaverage of 80000 miles each over the next three years.

Daimler Fleet Management has also undertaken to supply areplacement vehicle in the event one of Crown’s own suffers abreakdown and is not back on the road within the agreedtimeframe. “Given the Mercedes-Benz brand’s reputation forreliability we’d hope not to invoke this provision, but it’s reassuringto know it’s there, just in case,” adds Ms Fielding.

She concludes: “Daimler Fleet Management provides anexcellent service. Scott Chambers, in particular, is very efficient,dealing quickly with any issues and working very hard for hisclient. We are very pleased with our Citans so provided its pricingremains competitive there will be every opportunity forMercedes-Benz Vans to grow its share of our fleet when we come toupdate other, larger vehicles in the future.”

Crown’s professional finishes, notably Crown Trade, SandtexTrade and Sadolin, are specified for some of the most prestigiousbuildings in the British Isles, while its household name brandssuch as Crown have found favour with several generations ofhome-owners. n

www.crownpaints.co.uk

Star qualityCrown merchandiser Zoe Kitson is thrilled to bedriving a new Mercedes-Benz. “The Citan is verycomfortable and exceptionally quiet, whiletouches like the multi-function steering wheelwith cruise control and speed limiter add to thepleasure of the experience,” she says

Professional makeoverCrown is one of the biggest names in the decorating

industry. The company’s merchandisers are nowvisiting customers in their new Mercedes-Benz vans

12 VEHICLE & TECHNOLOGY TRANSPORT 3·2017

Deserving causeFrom left, Willen Hospice Nursing Auxiliary Julia Hall, Senior Sister Sally Leverett,Nursing Auxiliary Chris Potts and Estates Manager Anton Faber, with their Vito

www.willen-hospice.org.ukwww.mkfoodbank.org.uk

GOOD NEIGHBOURSApproved Used vans support those in the greatest need

Mercedes-Benz Vans has underlined itscommitment to local communities byproviding loan vehicles at no cost totwo charitable organisations based

near its UK headquarters.Willen Hospice is running a stylish 109 CDImodel

from the latest-generation Vito range, while MiltonKeynes Food Bank is operating a roomy and reliableSprinter 316CDI.Mercedes-BenzVans is a long-termbacker of both causes. The latest in a series ofApproved Used vehicles supplied by Mercedes-BenzVans, both bear the respective charities’ names andlogos and are helping to raise their profiles amongthose who see them on the road.The Vito has been assigned to Willen Hospice’s

Facilities Management team and is now supportingits network of charity shops, as well as transportingbulky promotionalmaterials to and from fund-raisingand other events. Milton Keynes Food Bank is usingits Sprinter to collect food items donated by localcompanies and the public, then distribute them topeople in need of assistance throughout theBuckinghamshire town and surrounding areas.Willen Hospice Chief Executive Paul Hinson

declares: “We’re incredibly grateful toMercedes-Benzfor the donation of this wonderful new van. It is aninvaluable resource and will help us continue to raisevital funds for the care we provide throughout theyear.”Food Bank Project Manager John Marshall adds:

“Our Sprinter is now being put to very good use,collecting donated food from schools, churches,workplaces and other organisations, thendistributing it to those in need.”Mercedes-Benz Vans’ Remarketing Manager Mick

Glover says: “We are delighted to be supporting suchimportant and worthy causes within our localcommunity.” n

Teaming upMilton Keynes Food Bank Partnerships Manager Caitlin Hands helps Project ManagerJohn Marshall load their Sprinter

HIGH PRAISE INDEEDLowered 32-tonne chassis wins a resounding ‘thumbs up’ from early customer

One of the UK’s first reduced-heightMercedes-Benz Arocs eight-wheelers is off toa flying start in the colours of bulk haulierR Adams & Sons. So impressed is the operator

that within 24 hours of taking delivery of the new tipperit had ordered a second, identical vehicle. R Adams &Sons runs a mixed-marque fleet of 30 trucks from itsbase in Henley-in-Arden, south of Birmingham. The firmmoves some 24000 tonnes of material every week,much of it aggregates and grains, although the Arocs3240 has been specified primarily for muckaway work.

Power comes from the 290 kW (394 hp) version of theadvanced 10.7-litre OM 470 LA straight-six, which cannow be specified with a 320 mm high engine tunnel.Customers for the 8×4 Arocs have previously chosenbetween cabs with flat floors or 170 mm tunnels. Thenew variant sits six inches lower than its establishedstablemate with 170 mm tunnel, which makes life easier

for the driver when climbing up into or down from thecab. The three steps are more closely spaced, makinglife easier for drivers, while a 14% improvement indirect vision contributes to enhanced safety.

Most of R Adams & Sons’ trucks are tractor units.These include six Mercedes-Benz Actros, one a flagship2563 GigaSpace model purchased by the company in2015 to mark its 60th anniversary. The Arocs, however,is its first rigid truck to wear a three-pointed star.

“This new model is ideal,” says Director Mark Adams,who runs the business with his brother Andy. “On dayone the Arocs returned 8.2 mpg, which is very goodgiven that it was all local work. The engine offers plentyof power and torque, the steering is light and thegearbox and brakes are also very good. It’s a greatall-rounder.” n

www.r-adams.net

24thousandtonnesof material ismoved every weekby R Adams &Sons

Efficiency in actionR Adams & Sons’ new Arocshas a steel Boweld tippingbody, yet still offers a highlycompetitive 19400 kgpayload capacity

14 BUSINESS & LOGISTICS TRANSPORT 3·2017

A HORSE FOREVERY COURSEThe off-road heritage of the iconic Mercedes-Benz Unimog stretches back more

than 70 years. Thanks to constant development the Unimog is still widely

acknowledged as the world’s leading all-terrain vehicle, with a reputation forged

in the harshest operating conditions. New examples of the formidable 4×4 are

now being put to work by UK operators in a wide variety of applications

MCCULLOCH RAIL: ENSURING‘ON LINE CONNECTIVITY’McCulloch Rail made tracks straight back to Mercedes-Benz for theonly vehicle able to work with equal ease on-road, across roughunmade ground and even on train lines. In addition to its roadwheels, the Ayrshire-based railway maintenance contractor’s latestUnimog U 427 model is fitted with special rail wheels by Germanspecialist Zagro. These can be lowered to enable the truck to drivealong railway tracks, then raised again when not required. With itsfactory-fitted dropside body and ability to tow a large trailer, the13-tonne gvw chassis can transport a full complement of tools andmachinery to the most remote rail locations.Brothers Billy and Danny McCulloch founded their business in1992. The following year they were commissioned to cut back treesoverhanging the railway lines with their first Unimog, a vehicle theystill own and plan to restore as a mascot for the business. Thatcontract led, ultimately, to their decision to specialise in railmaintenance. From its base in Ballantrae, McCulloch Rail provides arange of services which includes repairing and replacing damagedrails and sleepers, often using innovative machinery that it hasdesigned, developed and refined itself. In 2016, McCulloch alsohandled well over a million tonnes of rail.“No other machine does what the Unimog can do,” says DannyMcCulloch. “It can be driven on road at 56 mph yet is also capableof handling the roughest cross-country terrain. It can haul a heavytrailer with specialist plant or machinery, and ours can even run onthe railway line. It does everything.”www.mccullochrail.com

SUFFOLK FIRE AND RESCUE:SAVING LIVES, REDUCING COSTSSuffolk Fire and Rescue Service has enhanced its ability to deal witha wide variety of incidents in difficult-to-access locations bycommissioning three Mercedes-Benz Unimogs. The 14-tonne gvwU423s are based in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, and Lowestoft. Theyhave replaced the Unimogs on which the authority had relied formore than 30 years to undertake large animal rescues and fightfires on heaths and scrubland.The new vehicles are fitted with dropside bodies by John DennisCoachbuilders, Palfinger PK 9001-EH high performance cranessupplied and fitted by TH White, and 6.0-tonne Bushey Hall winches.As well as retrieving horses and other animals that have becometrapped in water or other hazards, the cranes lift mission-specificdemountable ‘pods’ on and off the vehicles.One, a ‘rescue pod’, contains an inventory for use by Suffolk’s swiftwater rescue teams – as an extension to the Unimog’s role, the newvehicles also tow rigid inflatable boats (RIBs). A second pod is a1500-litre water tank with pump and hose reel.Removal of the pods means the deck can be used to transport vitalequipment which can be used, for example, when responding totrain or aircraft crashes that may occur at inaccessible locations.“The Unimog is not cheap but it is actually a highly cost-effectivepiece of equipment,” observes Suffolk Fire and Rescue Fleet &Equipment Manager Neil Elmy. “An unrivalled combination ofall-terrain performance, agility and adaptability means it does thejob of several different vehicles rolled into one.”www.suffolk.gov.uk/suffolk-fire-and-rescue-service

16 BUSINESS & LOGISTICS TRANSPORT 3·2017

CUMBRIA COUNTY COUNCIL:CONQUERING ICE AND FIRECumbria County Council is responsible for England’s highest andmost challenging terrain, including the rugged fells of the LakeDistrict and a chunk of the wild and remote north Pennines.Harsh winter weather conditions mean keeping the roads clear ofsnow and ice for motorists poses a major challenge, while springand summer bring moorland wildfires in hard-to-reach locationsthat must be fought and doused. Rather than opting for specialistvehicles the authority ensures maximum value for its taxpayers’money by choosing the one chassis capable of tackling both tasks– the Mercedes-Benz Unimog.When temperatures drop, the two U500s are fitted with 5m3 Econgrit hoppers and spreaders. Up front, depending on the conditionsto be tackled, they can be armed with Kahlbacher cutting andblowing equipment or Cuthbertson plough blades.Then, as warmer days return, these are replaced with 4000-litrewater tanks and high-pressure Angloco spraying pumps, along withracking to carry tools such as axes and beaters for use byfire-fighters from the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.The County Council’s Transport Services Senior Manager DavidJenkinson says: “The Unimog is really the only viable option for thetype of terrain we have to deal with. The cabs on our latest U500sare extremely well designed and user-friendly, with superb all-roundvisibility, and the trucks are supremely competent whatever theconditions. Even when faced with deep snow drifts, steep muddyslopes or the most rutted tracks, there’s just no holding them back.”www.cumbria.gov.uk

R-OIL: REAPING THE REWARDSOF ALL-TERRAIN FLEXIBILITYWhatever the season, R-Oil’s Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 400 will bepulling its weight ‘down on the farm’. Part of the Cotswold FarmingPartnership, the company produces top-quality, cold-pressedrapeseed oil for culinary use and as a feed supplement for horses.It harvests the oilseed rape, presses and bottles its oil, markets thefinished product to customers – among them leading supermarkets,Michelin-starred restaurants and the House of Lords – and evenrecycles used oil and by-products into bio-diesel and animal feed.R-Oil farms 4000 hectares near Stow-on-the-Wold, where themulti-purpose Unimog fulfils a variety of support roles withoutcompromising on capability.In spring it is fitted with a 4000-litre tank body and ferries fertiliserand other crop treatment solutions to a sprayer working in thefields. This allows the sprayer to stay ‘on the job’ rather than wastingtime on journeys back to base to refill, a valuable efficiency saving.Come harvest time the Unimog will help to bring in well over 1000tonnes of rape seed to the pressing plant. Later in the year itdelivers cattle feed, created from the by-product of the pressing, tobeef farms in the surrounding area.R-Oil Director Hamish Campbell confirms: “The Unimog is incrediblyversatile. We rely on ours to undertake a diverse set of tasks, bothon and off-road, and it’s brilliant at all of them. We work it very hard –it could be out in the fields one day and hauling an 18-tonne trailerthe next. Whatever the job, it’s always fuel-efficient and comfortableto drive too.”www.r-oil.co.uk

West Midlands Police and CrimeCommissioner David Jamieson visitedone of Europe’s leading specialistvehicle converters to mark the signing

of a framework agreement that will deliver valuableeconomy-of-scale savings for more than 30 UK policeforces and agencies.Part of Babcock International Group, Walsall-based

MacNeillie has been commissioned to build thestate-of-the-art public order vans. Based on theLong-bodied Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 516 CDI chassiswith uprated front axle giving a gross weight of5.3 tonnes, the new vehicle incorporates a range offeatures including:• Protected glass capable of withstanding attacks;• Tyres that can still be driven on for up to 30 kilometresin the event of punctures, and

• Locking systems and people cells, as well as built-instorage units.

West Midlands Police took the lead in drawing up the

national specification and is expected to buy around60 vehicles. Police and Crime Commissioner DavidJamieson observes: “Not only does this contractrepresent great value for money, because police forcesand agencies from across the country have cometogether to drive down costs, but it is also good for theWest Midlands economy as all of the vehicles will beconverted in the region.”Richard Semmens, Managing Director of MacNeillie,

says: “We’re delighted to have been chosen to supportthis initiative alongside Mercedes-Benz, and lookforward to producing a finished vehicle that will serveour police forces and the public well.”Mercedes-Benz VansManaging Director Steve Bridge

adds: “The Sprinter is already well established as thefront-line van of choice for many UK police forces andwe welcome the opportunity to work on this projectwith our long-term partner MacNeillie.” n

www.macneillie.co.uk

FRONT-LINE FORCEMercedes-Benz Sprinter-based Protected Personnel Carriers will

set new standards for security and durability

Grand tourWest Midlands Police

and CrimeCommissioner DavidJamieson is pictured

during his visit toMacNeillie’s Walsall

production facility,with the conversion

specialist’s ManagingDirector Richard

Semmens, right, andMercedes-Benz Vans

Managing DirectorSteve Bridge, left

TRANSPORT 3·2017 VEHICLE & TECHNOLOGY 17

Always on the moveThe Liedhegener Logistik fleet consists of

28 trucks. Most of them are from Mercedes-Benz– and they are fitted with a comprehensive set of

assist and safety technologies

19TRANSPORT 3·2017 SERVICE

TIME IS ASUCCESS FACTORA high level of vehicle utilisation is one of the core components of the

RoadEfficiency concept of Mercedes-Benz Trucks. And that is

something that is paying off for Liedhegener. Mercedes-Benz Uptime,

one component of the Mercedes-Benz Complete service agreement,

ensures that the transport company’s trucks spend as much time as

possible on the road, rather than in the workshop u

20 SERVICE TRANSPORT 3·2017

Anyone wanting to succeed in the transport sector in the longterm cannot afford to give away even a smidgeon of time.And anyone wanting to find out how this truism can bebrought to life in earnest should have a chat with David

Liedhegener: “My first official working day was in August 2008. But inreality I have always been in and around the company, even as a child,”recalls the 25-year-old. “It meant that I was able to learn from theground up right from the start, and this helped me during my trainingin forwarding agency management. While David Liedhegener couldstill pass as a youngster, he has already been running the parentalbusiness for five years, together with his father Berthold. Wasting timeby putting generational change off a little longer? That is not howthings are done at Liedhegener Logistik GmbH!

Even in their everyday routines, time is never wasted by the familycompany and its staff of just under 70, who are based in Sundern, some60 kilometres south-east of Dortmund. Wasting time is a luxury thatthey cannot and will not indulge in. “One of our core business fields ishandling partial and complete consignments of industrial goods inGermany and in the neighbouring countries,” according to the juniorboss. “Much of it is steel in various forms, and plastics or wood. Andat least 40 per cent of the trips have to be done at short notice becausethe goods are needed in production or at construction sites – and thistrend is on the rise!”

ORDERED TODAY, DELIVERED TOMORROW

It is a situation the company’s dispatchers are only too familiar with:around lunchtime a customer phones through an order that needs to befulfilled by the next morning. “Somewhere in Germany at 8 o’clock inthe morning, an installation crew will be ready to get going,” says DavidLiedhegener, whose desk is next to the dispatchers’ workstations – shortlines of communication are something they value around here. Thetrucks from the Sauerland region are on the road six days a week. “Wego by the motto that ‘flexibility makes us reliable’. So we cannot simplyclose shop on a Saturday,” confirms Berthold Liedhegener, the man whofounded the company in 1984.

No wonder then that their trucks clock up an average of 120 000kilometres per year. With 28 vehicles – 24 of them fromMercedes-Benz – the fleet is by no means excessive, given thecompany’s order books. This means dependability and high vehicleutilisation are top priorities. To improve these aspects even further,

Two generationsBerthold Liedhegener (left) started the

company in 1984. His son David joinedthe management in 2012

Three construction projectsThe transport company has occupied its currentcorporate headquarters, which boasts a large loadinghall and other facilities, since 2008 – and this yearthe premises will be expanded for the third time

“We hope that with Mercedes-Benz Uptime we will

be able to minimise thealready very low level ofdowntime of our vehicles

even further”David Liedhegener, Managing Director

Liedhegener Logistik GmbH & Co. KG, Sundern

22 SERVICESEN TRANSPORT 3·2017

the Liedhegeners were one of the first transport companies inGermany to sign up for Mercedes-Benz Uptime, which has beenavailable as an integral part of the RoadEfficiency concept ofMercedes-Benz Trucks since 1 March of this year.

How does the product work? Mercedes-Benz Uptime continually andremotely checks the status of the vehicle systems in real time. Themethod used is called “telematics”: the vehicle’s built-in Truck DataCentre collects all the required data and transmits it to Mercedes-Benz.Here the data is interpreted in a matter of seconds, and if a criticalor potentially critical condition is detected, the Customer AssistanceCentre (CAC) immediately provides the customer with specificrecommendations for action they should take.

PREVENTING BREAKDOWNS WITH MERCEDES-BENZ UPTIME

Just how useful this system can be in real life is something Liedhegenerfound out shortly after commissioning the first Actros 1845 equippedwith telematics: “One of our drivers was on the road to Stuttgart with aload of building materials,” recalls David Liedhegener. About two hoursbefore he was scheduled to reach his destination, the Truck Data Centreregistered a potentially critical case of creeping air loss in one of thetyres on the truck’s front axle. Mercedes-Benz Uptime alerted thedispatchers in Sundern via the online customer portal and by email fromthe CAC. “He pulled in at the next service station, topped up the tyrepressure and went on to deliver his load on time.”

Mercedes-Benz Uptime also comes to the fore if there is a potentialdefect that the driver cannot fix himself. In that event, the company isimmediately notified by phone. And, most importantly, the CAC booksthe truck into a workshop at a Mercedes-Benz Service Partner on or nearthe truck’s scheduled route. Ideally, the driver will be able to get to theworkshop around the time a mandatory rest period is due, and can thencontinue on his delivery run without losing any time. (See the box onthe right for the Mercedes-Benz Uptime scope of services).

The company places great emphasis on working with first-rate driverswho are then provided with additional training. “The drivers also takethe initiative and report any problems with their trucks. We encouragethem to do that. But it is still good to know that any problems will alsobe reported automatically,” says Berthold Liedhegener.

It allows the drivers to focus that much more on traffic. Also helpingthe drivers do their job well is the range of assist and safety systemson board – including the new Active Brake Assist 4 with pedestrian

Working under pressureAt Liedhegener, an increasing number

of orders have to be dealt with ad hoc –something that will only work if the

fleet is totally reliable

By phone…...email and over the online customer portal:thanks to Mercedes-Benz Uptime, Verena Krauseand her fellow dispatchers are notified and receivesuggestions for possible remedies whenever thereis a problem with one of their trucks

23TRANSPORT 3·2017 SERVICE

MERCEDES-BENZ UPTIMEOVERVIEW

Prevention of breakdownsMercedes-Benz Uptime continually andremotely checks the status of the vehicle

systems through the vehicle’s on-board Truck DataCentre. If a breakdown appears to be imminent, theCustomer Assistance Centre in Maastricht isalerted immediately. The CAC then notifies thecustomer by phone. If required, arrangements aremade for a stop at a mechanical workshopsomewhere along the truck’s scheduled route.Ideally such activities are timed to fit in with thetruck’s scheduled loading or unloading times andthe driver’s rest periods to avoid disrupting thetransport schedule.

Real-time support for customerrepairsThe truck reports a problem that the

driver is able to solve himself quickly – provided heis told exactly what to do. It could involve the needto manually trigger the regeneration of a dieselparticulate filter, for example, or a tyre withinsufficient pressure. The events are collated byMercedes-Benz Uptime and made available to thefleet manager via the online customer portal andvia email.

Efficient management of repair &maintenance workAll the maintenance activities and repairs

that do not need to be carried out immediately canbe done more efficiently thanks to Mercedes-BenzUptime. This applies to regular maintenance worklike replacing brake linings, lubricants and filters,for example, or defects involving comfort functionssuch as air-conditioning. Mercedes-Benz Uptimeautomatically sends the information about anyrequired measures to the Mercedes-Benz ServicePartner nominated by the customer. The servicepartner then collates the repair and maintenanceactivities that need to be carried out. The customerwill be contacted at an early stage to make anappointment that meets with route planning as wellas maintenance requirements. This in effectminimises both time spent at the workshop andvehicle downtime.

24 SERVICE TRANSPORT 3·2017

Helping drivers to helpthemselvesIn cases like creeping air loss intyres or other minor disturbances,Liedhegener is advised via email –and drivers like Jan Beutler canthen take care of it themselveswhile still on the road

25TRANSPORT 3·2017 SERVICESEN

detection capability in the latest Actros. A driver receiving that muchsupport also has more time to focus on saving fuel. The FleetboardPerformance Analysis shows the management who has been usinghow much fuel – and there are bonuses for drivers achieving the mosteconomical performance.

Berthold Liedhegener is convinced that all these factors contributetowards his team doing a good job and maintaining good relationshipswith the customers. “Our customers would most likely show someunderstanding if something like a blown tyre were to result in asignificant delay. Yet if things like that were to happen morefrequently, they certainly would question our relationship.”

Transport companies are already and increasingly being assessedbased on quantifiable performance indicators, according to DavidLiedhegener. A growing number of customers are now requestingdetailed information for things like delivery times achieved – to thenuse these figures to rate the performance of a service provider. “Giventhese circumstances, we hope that with Mercedes-Benz Uptime wewill be able to minimise the already very low level of downtime of ourvehicles even further.”

THREE EXPANSIONS IN UNDER TEN YEARS

There is a lot to see on a visit to the company’s headquarters in Sundern.From the workplaces of the junior boss and the dispatchers, thewindows look straight into a 3000 square metre transhipment hall, bigenough to make it easy for the trucks to move around. When weconducted our “Transport” interview, there were stainless steel profilesfor a customer in France in the hall, and beds destined for an old people’shome in Berlin. These are mostly goods that are expected to be deliveredat a specific point in time.

Next to the hall, there is a high-rack warehouse, mostly filled with10000 sacks of plastic granulate at the time of our visit. “The materialis used for manufacturing closing caps for beverage containers, forexample,” explains Berthold Liedhegener. “We commissioned thewarehouse in 2016 to serve a customer who operates a productionfacility nearby. We hold the plastic granulate in intermediate storagehere and make deliveries as needed.”

This order is a good example to show how the Liedhegeners’business is changing rapidly: away from pure transportation andevolving into an all-round logistics operation. “Offering our customersthe complete package is the right step for us to take,” says the senior

On the computerMichael Schneider from the Mercedes-Benz

Service Partner Rosier can accessup-to-date vehicle data for the

Liedhegener fleet at any time and initiatemaintenance work as required

Inside the trailerLiedhegener carries many industrial products –and sacks of plastic granulate in particular, forwhich a high-rack warehouse was built especially

26 SERVICE TRANSPORT 3·2017

APPLICABLE THROUGHOUT EUROPE:THE SERVICE AGREEMENTS FOR ACTROS,AROCS, ANTOS AND ATEGOMercedes-Benz Complete The complete package for a term ofup to eight years and a mileage of up to 1000000 kilometres.Covers all repairs, including wearing parts in the chassis, and allvehicle components and engine replacement due to wear andtear – as well as all maintenance work on the Mercedes-Benzchassis, plus any breakdown assistance and towing costs thatmay be required in the event of technical faults.Mercedes-Benz Uptime The service offering for Actros, Arocsand Antos, available as an optional component in all serviceagreements or as a stand-alone service agreement.

In addition, the following service agreements are available on acountry-specific basis:

• Mercedes-Benz Select and Mercedes-Benz SelectPlusin various combinations of guarantee extension andmaintenance packages

• Mercedes-Benz BestBasic as a national maintenancepackage

• Mercedes-Benz Extend, a guarantee extension for thedrive train, and Mercedes-Benz ExtendPlus, a guaranteeextension for the entire vehicle

The service agreements are available for booking throughoutEurope – subject to country-specific exceptions andadjustments.

27TRANSPORT 3·2017 SERVICESEN

boss. “That’s why we’re in the process of expanding yet again, to createeven more space for storage.”

It is the third construction project since they moved into theseheadquarters in the year 2008. Again, rule number one is: do not wastetime nor money! Keeping costs down is also a priority in the logisticssector, where competition is fierce. Here, again, a high vehicle utilisationrate ultimately contributes to constancy, reliability and good customerrelations.

NO WORKSHOP REQUIRED – THANKS TO MERCEDES-BENZCOMPLETE

One thing this family-owned and operated company does not have is amechanical workshop. Maintaining a fleet of vehicles costs time, moneyand energy – resources that the Liedhegeners would rather spend ondelivering their services and on growing their business further. Whichis why all their trucks bearing the star are covered by theMercedes-Benz Complete service. Regardless of whether a need formaintenance or repair work has been identified or whether a routine jobis due: the all-round care-free package covers all workshop activities,including wearing parts, as well as coordinating workshop bookings andinvoice verification (see box on the left). And at fixed monthly rates. “Allwe need to think about now is filling up,“ says Berthold Liedhegenerwith a wink. “We can calculate the cost of the complete service packageprecisely, which makes it easier to plan.” Both the senior and the juniorboss appreciate the fact that Mercedes-Benz Complete provides coverthroughout Europe. “Planned maintenance work is handled by ourMercedes-Benz Service Partner Rosier in Arnsberg. But if a seriousproblem occurs on the road, help is also quickly at hand in France or inSwitzerland. After all, Mercedes-Benz is present almost everywhere.”

And here we can see once more just how spot-on the Liedhegeners arewith their strategy of not wasting any time – in this case in relation tothe generational change in their company: for a long time BertholdLiedhegener had pursued a strategy of having repairs carried outwhenever they were needed, recalls the senior boss. “But in the year2010, I realised that we should take a longer view on this and take outservice agreements.” What persuaded him at the time, says BertholdLiedhegener, was not only the scope of services covered by the relevantproduct, but also, and primarily, his son David. n

A two-fold security blanketYou can see how Mercedes-BenzUptime and Mercedes-BenzComplete keep the Liedhegenerfleet on the road at www.roadstars.mercedes-benz.com

Looked after by experts…Mercedes-Benz Complete covers all

maintenance and repairs – in a Europe-wideservice network with around 2700 workshops

… and back on the road againThis way the Liedhegeners do not need toconcern themselves with the maintenance andrepairs of their trucks – and all that for fixedmonthly rates, which makes planning andbudgeting that much easier

www.liedhegener-logistik.de

ON AND ONThe escort vehicles from WeiLa Transport are extensively upgraded specialists.

The owner, Dieter Langer, makes use of the flexible exchange engine portfolio

of Mercedes-Benz Vans to extend the life cycle of Sprinter & Co – affordably,

quickly, and with a warranty

Back on the road again – quickly and affordablyThe exchange engine programme of Mercedes-Benz Vans – nowwith an expanded portfolio – allows power units to be replacedquickly and easily, usually within 24 hours. For further particulars:http://mb4.me/remanufacturedengines

29TRANSPORT 3·2017 SERVICE

After more than360000 kilometres,

our Sprinter isnow being givena second life

cycle thanks to an originalMercedes-Benz short engine. The Sprinteris one of our four escort vehicles used ininternational heavy-haulage transports.The fleet also includes 30 prime movers.Our 65 employees ensure the smoothhandling of the special consignment,overwidth and standard transport assignments. WeiLa is part of the “Route to Space Alliance”, which transports components for the Arianerockets, for example. This is very precious cargo which often needs to be transported within very short time windows. Which means the escortvehicles also need to be ready for deployment at all times. The Europe-wide, dense service network of Mercedes-Benz is therefore a vital factorfor us. As is the new Mercedes-Benz Vans exchange engine portfolio. While the escort vehicles carry hardly any load, they do run up extremelyhigh mileages – 400000 kilometres in three years tends to be the rule. Once an engine comes to the end of its life cycle, the rest of the vehicleis still in good shape thanks to the light loads. By fitting an exchange engine – which comes with a two-year warranty – I can refurbish thevehicle and run it profitably for another few years. A new vehicle would also require the installation of new and extensive superstructures andequipment. The signalling equipment alone costs around 20 000 euros. Thanks to this new portfolio, I can make decisions about exchangesolutions on a case-by-case basis. A complete power train can often be installed on the same day. If there is time and if the most importantcomponents are still serviceable, I will choose the cost-effective short block option.”Dieter Langer, Managing Director of WeiLa Transport GmbH & Co. KG in Teising, Germany

EXPANDED PORTFOLIO:VAN EXCHANGE ENGINES■ Needs-orientedThe exchange engine programme offersa range of custom solutions, from shortblock to long block engines and rightthrough to complete power trains,making for very quick and particularlycost-effective repair solutions withdiscounts of up to 60 per cent and witha two-year warranty.■ ProfessionalIn a multi-stage process, the van powerunits are dismantled, cleaned andrefurbished to the latest standardsbefore being thoroughly checkedin production test bays, all with theexclusive and professional expertiseof Mercedes-Benz.■ EconomySpeedy repairs, thanks to an inventoryof over 4000 engines, eliminatenegative impacts on daily operations.The perfect fit and high achievablemileage of the exchange engines makefor a significant extension of a van’slife cycle.

A solution for every situationThe Mercedes-Benz Vans exchange engine programme comes with a large portfolio

30 VEHICLE & TECHNOLOGY TRANSPORT 3·2017

We want a vehicle that performs veryeconomically on the road but that canalso handle the last few metres at theconstruction site,” says Andreas Weber.

He is Head of Logistics and Business Development at theGeiger group of companies, based in the Allgäu region.The solution for the special task at Geiger: the newroad-oriented semi-trailer Actros 1843 LS withhydraulically-operated tipper body. A glance at theportfolio of the Geiger Group shows that the company

operates as comfortably on motorways as on the roughterrain of a construction site. Founded in 1923 byWilhelm Geiger and having evolved into a group ofcompanies, the business today offers every serviceassociated with construction projects. Fromtransportation and delivery of materials via projectplanning, construction and civil engineering rightthrough to renovations and the disposal of materials,Geiger today is a one-stop shop. It makes the Group witha workforce of 2000 at 50 locations and a turnover of

CROSSOVERARTISTAlways something new from Mercedes-Benz Trucks: while the Actros

1843 LS with its hydraulically powered tipping body is built for the

road where it performs with its usual efficiency, it can easily handle

detours over the rough at construction sites. The Geiger Group in

Germany’s Allgäu region already operates the truck with the great

payload advantage on a daily basis

High on-road component

The Geiger tipper semi-trailers sometimes travel

great distances on sealedroads – making every

kilogram of payload count

32 VEHICLE & TECHNOLOGY TRANSPORT 3·2017

400 million euros one ofthe Allgäu region’s biggestemployers.

Hauling bitumen fromIngolstadt to Kempten in theAllgäu on the motorway is asmuch a part of the daily businessas carrying bulk freight up anddown steep quarry ramps – andit is usually all done by thesame green and red colouredfleet of vehicles.

Working on one of the GeigerGroup’s smaller projects, theremoval of gravel from LakeForggen, located at the footof Neuschwanstein Castle anddrained for several weeks eachyear, the road-oriented Actros1843 LS shows what it is madeof. The truck handles approachesdown to the front-end loaderin the middle of the lakebedwith ease. The truck’simproved capability for handlingconstruction site terrain makesthe vehicle’s deployment at theinterface between motorway and construction site muchmore efficient and easier to plan for Geiger.

Previously the Actros – built for driving longdistances on sealed roads – was not always able to driveonto construction sites. The off-road capable Arocs hadto be deployed instead, but its robust design meant lowerpayloads. The road-oriented Actros 1843 LS primemover with hydraulically-operated tipper body has nowclosed this gap.

What matters for Andreas Weber: “The truck musthave a very low tare weight so that it can carry a highpayload. In addition, our drivers should be able to sleepin the truck. For moving around construction sites, it isimportant that the vehicle has as much groundclearance as possible and can handle steep slope andramp angles.”

For this reason, theroad-oriented Actros 1843 LSwith tipper trailer is designed tobe best suited for transportingbulk goods predominantly onthe road, with just theoccasional off-road deployment.What sets it apart from thelong-distance Actros and theconstruction site Arocs is thatwhile it is still an economicalon-road specialist for longdistances, it has beenaugmented in a targeted mannerto make it fit for off-roadoperation as well. Thisadvantage comes at the expenseof only 70 kilograms inadditional weight comparedwith the conventional Actrosprime mover, and it is still up to150 kilograms lighter than thecomparable Arocs 4×2 LS.

To achieve this newconfiguration, the straight frontaxle of the Arocs was fitted intothe road-oriented tipper trailer

to give it greater ground clearance. The front springhanger is made of robust steel, rather than aluminium.The construction site capable bumper corners made ofsteel and the optionally available movable entry alsomake it more robust and give greater freedom ofmovement on a construction site. The complete tippinghydraulic systems of the 4×2 and 4×4 prime movers arealready available ex works. The two-line system can beswitched from 250-bar high-pressure operation to lowpressure at 170 bar, and it includes a backflow filter.

Thanks to the combined advantages of the Actros andthe Arocs, the Geiger Group can now operate at theinterfaces between construction sites and motorwayswith even greater flexibility. n

“It is important for us thatthe long-haul trucks can

also handle the odd detourinto a construction site”Andreas Weber, Head of Logistics and Business

Development at Geiger Logistik GmbH & Co. KG inGermany’s Allgäu region

www.geigergruppe.de

TECH.ROAD-ORIENTED ACTROS1843 WITH TIPPER BODY■ FunctionThe road-oriented Actros 1843 LS withtipper body of the Geiger Group is mainlyused for long-distance haulage. It needsto be extra robust to handle quarries andgravel pits.

■ EquipmentA straight front axle, bumper cornersmade of steel, higher ground clearanceand a larger approach angle improve thetruck’s off-road driving characteristics –and it still brings a 150-kg payloadadvantage over a comparable Arocs.

■ EffectThe truck allows the Geiger Groupto operate more efficiently whereconstruction sites meet motorways.

In action outsideNeuschwanstein Castle

The road-oriented Actros 1843 LS withtipper body is deployed by the Geiger

Group in the gravel mining operation inthe drained Lake Forggen

35TRANSPORT 3·2017 SERVICE

ConspicuousThe Primafrio trucks areunmistakable with their elegantblue-yellow-blue lines on bothsides of the driver’s cab. Wellover half of the trucks alsosport the Mercedes star

FRESH & SMARTWith a fleet of almost 2000 trucks, Primafrio hauls a steadily growing

volume of fruit and vegetables from the Iberian Peninsula to supermarkets

throughout Europe. Always on board: the Mercedes ServiceCard u

It looks like the construction of the gigantictranshipment hall has only just been completed –and already there are pallet trucks whizzingaround the loading docks. They are moving lemons

and oranges for a Swiss supermarket chain, onionsfor a customer in Hesse in Germany, and a great manyother kinds of cargo. Welcome to Primafrio’s brandnew cargo terminal in theMurcia region in southernSpain. Fruit and vegetablesgrown here and in thesurrounding districts alongthe Mediterranean coastlineneed to be shipped to theconsumers while still freshand crisp. There is no timeto waste for the transportcompany – work gets underway in the urgently needednew facility as soon aspossible.

“Here we have 14 000square metres of space and108 loading docks for ourcargo handling operation.

As a result, the service we provide to our customershas improved already,” says Juan Conesa. The45-year-old is running the enterprise founded byhis parents in 1963 with great success: whereasPrimafrio was still a medium-sized player with120 employees back in 1990, today the team has growninto a workforce of 3 000 working in six locations

in Spain and Portugal. Thedispatch department alone,which is set to remain atthe existing headquartersnear the city of Murcia, isthe size of a large indoorsports hall. In 2016 thestaff here dispatched truckstransporting more than amillion tons of fruit andvegetables. And the tonnageis set to increase furtherin 2017: the Spaniardsrecently purchased 600Actros trucks in one go,stocking up their fleetfrom 1 700 to about 2 000vehicles.

MORE THAN JUST FRUITWhile Primafrio originally built its reputationcarting fruit and vegetables, the companyestablished in 1963 has long since becomeactive in other cargo segments as well.For instance cut flowers and food, some ofwhich must remain frozen during transport.And an increasing number of their truckscarry pharmaceutical products, consumerelectronics and video games. This segment,which extends beyond the company’s corebusiness, has been expanding at a particularlyfast rate. Last year it contributed over40 per cent to the company’s EBITDA(earnings before interest, taxes, depreciationand amortisation) of around 50 million euros.

JugglingManaging Director Juan Conesa ensures that the Primafrio business is constantly evolving. And Julia Miras from UTA España& Portugal makes her own contribution by issuing a Mercedes ServiceCard for each new Actros joining the fleet

37TRANSPORT 3·2017 SERVICE

Mercedes ServiceCardEmail: info@mercedesservicecard.comPhone: +49 6027 509-567www.mercedesservicecard.comwww.uta.com

2to 10 degreesis the temperatureinside therefrigerated trailersfor most fruit andvegetable deliveriesmade by Primafrio

www.primafrio.com

Always on board every Primafrio Actros trucks is theMercedes ServiceCard, which is issued in partnershipwith UNION TANK Eckstein GmbH & Co. KG (UTA). “Itprovides us with a number of solutions, and we makeuse of all of them,” says Conesa. For example, the cardallows drivers to refuel without the need for cashpayments, and road toll fees are paid automatically. “Ifa vehicle breaks down due to a technical fault or anaccident, we have access to Service24h.” The MercedesServiceCard also simplifies billing, for instance for VATand mineral oil duty refunds, in many countries.

These are all vital aids in making a complex businesseasier to run. The refrigerated trucks primarily callat destinations in western and central Europe, wherethey serve no fewer than 27 countries. On long-hauljourneys Primafrio usually works with teams of twodrivers to ensure that deliveries can be made asefficiently and flexibly as possible.

An added factor is that while the plantations andgreenhouses on the Iberian Peninsula may yield a greatdeal, a considerable proportion of the produce is grownelsewhere: “Our customers expect us to supplythem with the bulk of the produce all year round,”says Conesa. “We cannot guarantee this kind ofuninterrupted supply from here alone so we are

DeliveringDaniel José and his fellow drivers deliver merchandise, mainly from Spain and Portugal,to 27 European countries. Long-haul trips are usually done by teams of two drivers

Filling upCashless refuelling is just one of the advantages Primafrioenjoys with the Mercedes ServiceCard

increasingly delivering produce from France and theNetherlands, especially in summer.” To boost transportcapacities in those regions, Primafrio launched thejoint venture Primaver together with the Frenchtransport company Réseau Primever in the spring of2017. That’s how business is done! n

38 SERVICE TRANSPORT 3·2017

PEOPLE WHOCAREMercedes-Benz ServiceCare keeps customers

moving. The service provider Transport Sanitari

de Catalunya, for example: they handle over

3 000 patient transfers every day, a feat that

calls for the ultimate in reliable service

Powerful fleetTSC deploys about 1000 fully equipped patienttransfer vehicles, 200 of which are Sprinters

MERCEDES-BENZ SERVICECARE

Mercedes-Benz ServiceCare is gradually being introduced in many additional countries(services, conditions and product names may vary).

You can find more information about theMercedes-Benz service products at:www.vans.mercedes-benz.com/services

Indicator on, the visual check – andhe is off onto the Avinguda Numéro5. A salty Mediterranean breezeblows in from the harbour just a

few blocks east. The first destination forMonica Ochoa Domenech this morninglies in the opposite direction, in the westof Barcelona: a pensioner’s apartment.The driver will drive the woman to herdialysis appointment, and then, afterhaving completed another three tripswith other patients, pick her up and takeher home again. She is looking forwardto a chat with the pensioner who, as shecan no longer manage the journey bybus, has been a weekly passenger forthe last years.

“We don’t just drive people around; wealso look after the human being, that’sour motto,” says Stefano Pellegri, theManaging Director of Monica OchoaDomenech’s employer TSC. The lettersstand for Transport Sanitari deCatalunya, or Patient TransportsCatalonia, in the local language. This “autonomous community”in the northeast of Spain values its independence. “To us thename also says something else: that we are close to the peopleliving in this region,” adds this native of Milan, Italy, who hasbeen living on the Iberian peninsula for about 20 years now.

The company with its over 2000 employees is indeed close toa great many people: every day TSC transports about 3000individuals, the majority of whom live in Catalonia, an areaslightly bigger than Belgium and with a population of 7.5 million.The service provider also operates in Aragón, to the west ofBarcelona, and on the Balearic and the Canary Islands. The totalnumber of transports divides roughly half and half into scheduledtrips like the one Monica Ochoa Domenech is doing today, andemergency deployments for accident victims and acute carepatients. The customers are public and private health careproviders.

TSC moves these patients using about 1000 fully equippedpatient transfer vehicles. 200 of these vans are Sprinters. Anyonewanting to succeed in the health sector must be totally reliable –and needs to be able to document it, for example, when applyingfor tenders. “We cannot afford to miss trips as a result of vehiclebreakdowns.” Then there is the added responsibility for thepassengers: “Some of our deployments are a matter of life ordeath. And it goes without saying that there is no way we canleave an elderly dialysis patient standing by the side of the road.”

That is why Pellegri took out insurancefor the Sprinters in the form of theMercedes-Benz ServiceCare package. InSpain four different service agreementproducts have recently become availableunder this umbrella brand – TSC haschosen the most comprehensive of these:Mercedes-Benz ServiceCare Complete.

The product covers all work performedby mechanics. It includes the replacementof wearing parts in the brakes, the clutchand the suspension, as well as allscheduled maintenance. The same goesfor any work done under warranty: aservice that covers almost all componentsand assemblies, including axles, engine,gearbox, electrics and air-conditioning.

In addition, Mercedes-BenzServiceCare Complete also comprisesthe Europe-wide Mercedes-BenzMobiloVan service, which ensureson-site breakdown assistance as well asmany additional essential services suchas towing and a replacement vehicle.

Customers get all this at a fixed monthly rate, and for a freelyselectable period of up to seven years.

“Mercedes-Benz ServiceCare Complete provides us with extrasafety and mobility, and this is of enormous value to us,” saysPellegri. “Our everyday operations demand a great deal from ourvehicles, which means wear and damage are unavoidable.”Thanks to Mercedes-Benz ServiceCare Complete, theentrepreneur can rely on his Sprinter fleet to be in top conditionand ready for action at all times – this, after all, is what hiscustomers depend on as well. Moreover, the “all-round carefreepackage” allows him to budget for a fixed amount for service andmaintenance, and that means planning certainty.

“We are going through an exciting period right now,” saysStefano Pellegri. “Our society is aging, and the demand for patienttransports is growing as a result.” Yet anyone wanting to ride thistrend would have to grow as well. “In the foreseeable future, themarket will come to be dominated by fewer, but bigger providers.”This Catalonian-by-choice leaves little doubt that he wants to bein the thick of it, continue to develop his enterprise, at the sametime as maintaining personal contact with the patients. It is amission on which he can fully concentrate, not least thanks to theSprinter and Mercedes-Benz ServiceCare. n

“We don’t just transportpeople; we care

about human beings”Stefano Pellegri, Managing Director

Transport Sanitari de Catalunya, Barcelona

www.tscambulancies.com

EFFICIENCY BOOSTTelematics was yesterday – today is all about connectivity.

Fleetboard takes advantage of the ongoing technological advances

to quickly develop new digital solutions – just like a start-up

FLEETBOARD STOREA visit to the Fleetboard Store for appswill be time well spent: a platform set upwith a deliberately open design, it allowsindustry partners and app developers toupload useful apps that can help us allmanage and simplify our working lives inthe logistics sector.www.appyourtruck.com

Taking it to a new levelFor the presentation of the newproducts, an Actros was liftedonto the roof of the event centreMünchen Hoch5

41TRANSPORT 3·2017 SERVICE

Start-up mentalityThe aim is to develop new solutions quicklyand efficiently. Fleetboard is ready to engage incooperative efforts with existing and new partners,with the emphasis always being on creating addedvalue for the customers

companies, Fleetboard is currentlydeveloping an app called Fleetboard VehicleLens. The software registers the truck’snumber plate by analysing live images. Aseach section of the vehicle is inspectedvisually, relevant information is displayedusing Augmented Reality technology. Anydefects can be tagged with a simple click.

DIGITAL VEHICLE SCANNERS: POSITIVEIDENTIFICATION OF DEFECTS

Working together with the companies JosefPaul GmbH & Co. KG and Daimler BusinessInnovation, Fleetboard is able to bring tobear its proven software competence in theform of the Digital Vehicle Scanner. Thescanning process takes places when a truckpasses through a “gate”. Working in realtime, the Digital Vehicle Scanner’s camerasand sensors quickly and efficiently checkthe vehicle’s condition, detecting defectslike scratches and scuffs. Other importantparameters like tyre pressure and treaddepth as well as parts like top and sidetarpaulins and the tipper body are alsoscanned. The Digital Vehicle Scannerdocuments the truck’s condition, identifiesthe need for repairs, and ensures a speedierand more efficient handover of the vehiclefrom one driver to the next.

FLEETBOARD HOLODECK:DISPATCH OF THE FUTURE

The aim of the HoloLens project is to developa set of Augmented Reality goggles that willenable the wearer to view and interactwith 3D projections in space. For example,an abstract road map lying flat on a tablecan be brought to life when viewed throughthe HoloLens. In the three-dimensionallandscape of the Fleetboard HoloDeck,the fleet manager of the future will be ableto monitor vehicles in real time, accessinformation about them and interact withthe display using gestures. n

Fleetboard has become one ofthe most successful and mostinnovative service providers withinthe transport and logistics sector

worldwide. Since the Daimler subsidiary wasestablished in 2000, over 7000 customerswith around 220000 vehicles worldwidehave been connected using Fleetboard.

Fleetboard is already capable of recordinga wealth of status, trip and location data foreach vehicle and transmitting it via GPRSto the relevant customers. This facilitatesmodular services covering consignment,driver and fleet management aspects –regardless of the vehicle make.

This is the status today. Big Data, theInternet of Things, artificial intelligence,the card services offered by HERE, andMicrosoft’s cloud solution Azure are nowmaking it possible for Fleetboard to go evenfurther: in the future all processes andall elements in the transport supply chainwill be integrated into the “seamlesstransportation” network. A number of newproducts – some still at the trial stage –designed to help boost efficiencies forcustomers have already been introduced thisspring.

FLEETBOARD NXTLOAD:AVOIDING EMPTY RUNS

While there are freight exchanges aplentyin the European transport and logisticsmarket, there has as yet been no networkingbetween the different platforms. EnterFleetboard nxtload: its role is precisely todo just that, and in the process it createstransparency within freight servicesavailable and the various providers. In doingso, Fleetboard nxtload does not compete withthe existing freight exchanges; instead it actsas their partner. The meta search engineis the first Fleetboard product to use theMicrosoft cloud platform Azure, and it iscurrently in the pilot phase with two majorEuropean freight exchanges.https://nxtload.fleetboard.com

FLEETBOARD FUELHUB:REFUELLING MADE EASY

Many companies operate their own refuellingstations at their freight terminals. Quotesfor replenishing their tanks are usuallyobtained by phoning multiple providers – a

time-consuming process. The digital marketplace Fleetboard FuelHub acts as an efficientmediation platform between companies withtheir own fuel tanks, and suppliers of mineraloil as well as intermediaries. The serviceimproves transparency and speeds up theordering process, both for the transportcompany and for the fuel supplier. FleetboardFuelHub is currently in the pilot phase inselected regions.https://fuelhub.fleetboard.com

FLEETBOARD VEHICLE LENS:PRE-DEPARTURE CHECK 4.0

It is commonplace in the logistics sectorthat vehicles are driven by different drivers.By law every truck driver is obliged tocarry out pre-departure checks. This includeschecking lights, tyres and indicators. Inaddition, the drivers are required to spendtime checking the vehicle for externaldamage. Working with Berlin-based start-up www.fleetboard.com

42 PANORAMA TRANSPORT 3·2017

“CUTIE CAR”The food truck boom has reached Rio. One of the

pioneers below Sugarloaf Mountain is Leandro Braga

and his Sprinter

When he was a young man, Leandro Braga was jobbing in a Californianski resort. He was able to see first-hand just how food trucks werebecoming ever more popular. There was even a new form of après-ski

developing around these mobile snack shacks. Back in his home city of Rio deJaneiro, the 37-year-old remembered this early experience, and before long helaunched his Carango food truck business, based on a Sprinter. His product: tastyburgers. His regular spot: the Praça Mauá on Guanabara Bay. The Carango foodtruck team is often booked for events all over this giant metropolis, however.Leandro Braga: “The traffic and the road conditions here are quite challenging, soI need a van that is totally reliable. That is why I chose the Sprinter.” Braga hasbecome quite fond of the van, resplendent in its sunny yellow livery. You can alsotell from the name he chose for his business: “Carango” means something like“cutie car”, an expression Brazilians use to talk about a car they love. n

PREVIEWOne of the topics examinedin “Transport” 4/2017 is thecooperative venture betweenMercedes-Benz Vans and StarshipTechnologies, a start-up run bythe founder of Skype. Havingrevolutionised video telephony,this next project is focusing onautomating “the last mile”. And right inthe thick of it, fully integrated asa mobile hub for the Starship robots:the Sprinter!

Samba, burgers and a sun-yellow Sprinter – to find out moreabout Braga and his food truck, check out the Carango video atMYVAN.com!

ImprintMercedes-Benz Transport 3/2017

Published by: Daimler AGResponsible for publisher: Helge BoschCoordination/direct dispatch: Monika MezgerEditorial council: Michael Dietz, Dr. Marion FrieseResponsible for Mercedes-Benz in the UK:Mandy FreemanAddress: Daimler AG Mercedes-Benz Trucks (Europe/Latin America), postal code Z602, 70546 Stuttgart, Germany,phone coordination/direct dispatch: +49 711 17-90468Fax: +49 711 17-79090468E-mail: Monika.Mezger@daimler.comRealisation: PRH HAMBURG Kommunikation GmbHBurchardstrasse 13, 20095 Hamburg, GermanyPhone: +49 40 369676-0, Fax: +49 40 369676-39www.prhamburg.com I PRH@prhamburg.comEditors: Sven Kamin, Dr. Lars Kruse (Dir.), Florian Oertel,Ralf Poerschke, Lars Rauscher, Erik Rossel, Christian SchmidtPicture editors: Arne Fründt, Jan Reimer, Arne WolfDesign: Nikola Bare, Isabelle Lipprandt,Monika Neumeister (Dir.), Alina TregubovaProduction: Marc Feldmann (Dir.), Daniela Freitag,Elke TroschkeFinal editing: Annette Link, Thomas Mechelke (Dir.),Carolin MönterTransport online: Stefan HeinzelAdvertising: PRH Hamburg AdvertisingBurchardstrasse 13, 20095 Hamburg, GermanyPhone: +49 40 369676-23, Fax: +49 40 369676-39E-mail: advertising@prhamburg.comCorrespondents:Belgium: Dirk Willemen | dirk@dwcommunications.beCzech Republic: Karolína Stonjeková |kstonjekova@mediatrust.czFinland: Janne Jokela | janne.jokela@ammattilehti.fiFrance: Hans Müller | hans.muller@ttp-presse.infoItaly: Michele Latorre | michele.latorre@cronoart.comNetherlands: Roger de Kok | mcr@mcrreclamebureau.nlPoland: Magdalena Tokarska-Romańska | magda@tartakwyrazow.com.plSweden: Mats Genberg | mats@genberg.seSwitzerland: Florian Walz | walz@geyst.chSpain: Begoña Tremps | btremps@yahoo.esUK: Stephen Warren | steve@impactcom.co.ukAuthors in this edition:Impact Press & PR, Sven Kamin, Dr. Lars Kruse, Florian OertelPhotos: Cover: Robert Aebli, Volker Römer.Matthias Aletsee (3, 18-27, 42), Daimler (4-5, 29, 37-41),Bernhard Huber (30-33), Impact (3, 5-17),Gert Krautbauer (28-29), Roeler (34-37)English version: bromberg & friendsPrepress: Laudert GmbH + Co. KG,70771 Leinfelden-Echterdingen, GermanyPrint: NEEF + STUMME premium printing GmbH & Co. KG,Germany. Printed on recyclable paper.Copyright: No part of this publication may be reproducedwithout prior permission of the publisher and the reference“Mercedes-Benz Transport” as photo and text source.No liability is assumed for unsolicited text and photos.The articles of individual authors do not necessarily reflectthe editors’ views. “Mercedes-Benz Transport” is publishedfour times a year; the next edition will beavailable in November 2017.Printed in the Federal Republic of Germany.TE/SM3 4500.9072.1GB02Internet: www.mercedes-benz.comwww.roadstars.mercedes-benz.comE-mail: mb-transport@prhamburg.com

- Attractive discounts for filling up- pan-european toll handling - Service24h free of charge - Optimising your fleet costs by our experts

Find out more and order your card:www.MercedesServiceCard.com

Smarter and faster on the Road. Using your free MercedesServiceCard.

Our YouTube stars.Now featured on the YouTube channel of MYVAN.

youtube.com/MYVAN