Tough and smart: Mark Willoughby and his Arocs 3363

For a keen angler like Mark Willoughby, this fine example of a vehicle is a good catch: the strapping Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3363 tractor unit is perfectly equipped for operations with a gross combination weight of up to 80 tonnes thanks to additional reinforcements.

Mark, who happily relaxes with a spot of carp and pike fishing, works for Tamdown in Essex. The company is a service provider for public authorities and companies working in structural and civil engineering and has made itself a name in the field of development work.

– Mark Willoughby, Tamdown

The automatic transmission is a winner.

The days that Mark spends behind the wheel just got a little bit easier – his Arocs is the first Mercedes-Benz truck to join the Tamdown fleet. "I love pretty much everything about my truck," says Mark happily. "It drives really easily and comfortably, plus the StreamSpace cab gives me even more space than I will ever need."

But what has impressed Mark the most is Mercedes PowerShift 3. The 16-speed automated transmission has even changed his outlook on the world. "I always used to drive manual trucks and I have to say that I was a bit sceptical when I heard that I was getting an automatic," explains Mark. "Oh how wrong I was. We drive a lot in London, and there, this transmission is like a gift from God. It makes the job so much easier, especially at rush hour."

What's more, Mark's Arocs is also equipped with the optional Safety package featuring the ground-breaking Active Brake Assist 4 system with pedestrian detection. The 15.6-litre inline six-cylinder engine delivers an impressively powerful 460 kW. Despite the enormous power, things like the EcoRoll function help drastically reduce fuel consumption. "On average, a gallon of diesel (4.55 litres) now lasts me around three miles (4.82 kilometres) more than with the previous vehicle," says Mark. 

In a class of its own on construction sites.

Although the driving characteristics of the Arocs on the road are excellent, Mark tells us that the truck shows its true strengths on rough terrain. Especially for use on construction sites, the Arocs really impresses with its great ground clearance and Mercedes PowerShift 3 transmission. The crawler function enables excellent manoeuvrability at low speeds. "The ground on some construction sites is really uneven. But the truck has immense ground clearance so, as yet, I haven't had any problems with it," says Mark.

Besides his passion for fishing, Mark is also a big fan of Formula 1. "It's not like football where you only have one favourite team," explains Mark. "I like several Formula 1 teams to the same degree. But since having my new Arocs, I tend to look a bit more precisely at how the legendary Silver Arrows are doing."

Photos: Impact