Milton Keynes, UK: WH Barley has taken another 10 tractors from Mercedes-Benz.
All are Actros 2545 variants with aerodynamic StreamSpace cabs and 450hp engine acquired with a Mercedes-Benz Finance contract hire agreement. Maintenance is by Intercounty Truck & Van.
WH Barley’s new tractor units haul curtainsided and refrigerated box trailers: double-shifted, and running seven days per week.
The new Actros tractors are its first since 2018. They came MirrorCam technology that replaces conventional mirrors with rear-facing cameras that relay their images to screens mounted inside the cab, on the A-pillars. As well as enhancing safety by providing much-enhanced all-round visibility, the system cuts diesel costs by an estimated 1.5% because the cameras’ compact, streamlined housings create far less wind resistance.
Predictive Powertrain Control also contributes to fuel efficiency. The optionally upgraded version of Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ dashboard comes with a larger, 12in instrument panel and additional functions.
Standard safety equipment includes a potential life saver in the form of Active Brake Assist 5, the emergency braking system that now employs cameras in addition to radar. At speeds of up to 50 kph, Active Brake Assist 5 can apply full braking automatically when encountering pedestrians crossing its path.
WH Barley director Emma Barber, whose father Peter established the business in 1970, said: “We’ve been running a pair of Actros tractor units for the last three years, and they’ve been exceptionally reliable, economical and popular with our drivers. We also enjoy a very good relationship with the service team at Intercounty Truck & Van’s local dealership, who have kept the trucks running smoothly, with minimal downtime.”
WH Barley has high hopes for its new trucks’ ground-breaking technology. “Fuel efficiency is crucial,” she said. “While our established Actros deliver excellent returns, we’re looking forward to seeing the additional contributions that MirrorCam and enhanced Predictive Powertrain Control can make toward reducing running costs.
