Have you noticed that press releases on Mercedes tippers are a bit like buses? You wait for weeks then they suddenly come along all at once. Nevertheless Biglorryblog is delighted to announce the arrival of the two Axor eight-leggers (its first Mercs) that have gone into service with construction and civil engineering contractor PT McWilliams www.ptmcwilliams.com. The company, which is based in Seskinore, near Omagh, has added the Thompson heavy-duty steel-bodied Axor 3236K 8x4 tippers to its 40-strong fleet.
Patrick McWilliams, (that's your man above)who founded the company with a single truck in 1972, tells me: "Mercedes-Benz have been knocking on our door for a while now and I decided it was time to give them a chance. I've talked to other operators and the Axor seems to offer exactly what we look for in a truck. Our work is predominantly muck-shifting, which is a much tougher job than delivering aggregates. "So we need strength and reliability above all, allied to good off-road performance. The vehicle must be strong enough to stand up to the punishment - that's much more important than a few extra kilogrammes of payload."
Now click through here for more teutonically tip-tastic reportage...
And following close behind is the Newcastle-upon-Tyne-based utilities contractor LP Construction Services which has bought seven eight-wheelers in one of the biggest orders it's ever placed. First to arrive were three Actros 3236Ks and an Axor 3243K. All are fitted with Thompsons Loadmaster steel bodies and Palfinger E120 grabs. They join a mixed fleet of tippers, tipper/grabs and insulated 'hot boxes' with gross weight ranging from 7.5-32 tonnes, as well as several van-based 3.5-tonne tippers. The remaining three 8x4 Actros are due to enter service soon and will raise LP's fleet strength to 18 vehicles.
Plant & Transport Manager John Morris tells Biglorryblog: "We've had several Mercedes down the years and they've always served us very well, so it's our truck of choice at the moment." LP Construction Services works for utility providers such as Scottish & Southern Electricity, and its latest trucks will spend their days lifting, carrying and tipping spoil from civil engineering sites. "It's tough work, and squeezing out the last few kilos of payload is much less important than having a vehicle that gives us the reliability and rugged construction we need," continues John, adding: "The Mercedes chassis, coupled with the heavy-duty body and grab combination that we fit, is ideal for the job."
Although LP has run Actros tippers in the past, this is its first experience of the Axor. "We chose it because it was available at short notice but the early signs are very positive," confirms John. "The cab is only slightly smaller than that of our Actros tippers, although the two models share a chassis so we know the strength is there. And with its 430hp engine it's certainly not short of performance, even fully laden." Meanwhile operations Manager Keith Kelly adds: "The key to the success of our partnership with Bells [their local Merc dealer Bell Truck & Van] is that they have the right people and the right equipment."
So all sorted then.
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