A strong team: Niels Knobbe and his Actros 4158
Vehicle & Technology
Niels Knobbe transports up to 250 tonnes of construction machinery and other heavy equipment with his Actros.
Does his work ever get boring? Niels Knobbe doesn’t know the meaning of the word. When he is transporting construction machinery, for example, he is often on the road for days on end. “And each transport job is a new challenge,” says Niels, who works as a driver for the Baetsen Group. His strong partner: an Actros 4158 up to 250 tonnes.
A special truck for special tasks.
The “star of the company” – this is what Niels Knobbe calls “his” truck. The Actros 4158 is one of two heavy-haulage tractor units owned by the Baetsen Group based in Veldhoven in the Netherlands. Baetsen operates in the fields of recycling, transport, crane hire, containers, building materials, and excavation and demolition work.
With the Actros up to 250 tonnes, the company transports large, heavy cargo for the port industry as well as construction machinery, amongst other things. “There can be up to 80 tonnes per cargo. You need a special type of truck for that,” says Niels.
Special transport.
In his everyday activities, the trucker is faced with the typical challenges involved in special transport. The safety of other road users is top priority. Consequently, he can only drive in the evening and night-time when carrying a cargo. The routes are always established precisely in advance. It is all subject to special authorisation. “It’s important to know what obstacles you will encounter along the way. I’m sometimes carrying cargoes that are up to 4.5 metres in height. And you don’t want to get stuck under an overpass,” says Niels.
Loading the truck is a complex process: “Each cargo is different, depending on its weight and centre of gravity. These factors all play a role in how a cargo is placed on the flatbed truck and fixed in place,” says Niels. “Before I set out on the road, I also need to satisfy all kinds of safety requirements. This is what makes working in special transport so challenging and exciting.”
“There can be up to 80 tonnes per cargo. You need a special type of truck for that.”
– Niels Knobbe
The strength of Mercedes-Benz.
The Actros up to 250 tonnes is essential for Niels and his work. The technology and features of the four-axle tractor unit make the truck perfect for heavy work. An example of this include the strong, efficient six-cylinder series engine and the PowerShift 3 automatic transmission. The truck is also fitted with a turbo retarder clutch. Niels can start up and easily manoeuvre with this system. “The technology in the truck makes driving feel very light, despite the heavy cargo,” Niels remarks.
If it were up to him, Niels and his Actros would continue racking up the miles: “For me, there’s nothing better than special transport. Every day is different. Every transport job is a new challenge.”
Photos: MCR
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11 comments
Schwertransport heist aber auch schweres Zurrmaterial schleppen. 💪😡
Schwertransport heist aber auch schweres Zurrmaterial schleppen. 💪😡
wens je veel veilige km's !!👍👍
wens je veel veilige km's !!👍👍
💪💪💪💪✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻👍👍👍👍
Gruss Richard
💪💪💪💪✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻👍👍👍👍
Gruss Richard
👍💪👍💪👍💪👍💪👍👌👌
Tolle Fotos und ein interessanter Artikel!
Grüße Jörg 👏👏👏👏👏👏⛟😎
👍💪👍💪👍💪👍💪👍👌👌
Tolle Fotos und ein interessanter Artikel!
Grüße Jörg 👏👏👏👏👏👏⛟😎
Wir freuen uns, dass Artikel und Thema so gut bei dir ankommen! 😊👍
Wir freuen uns, dass Artikel und Thema so gut bei dir ankommen! 😊👍