Make way for the Starship!
NEW ACTROS
Trucker Bradley Scott is the proud driver of a limited edition new Actros, or as he likes to call it, ‘The Starship’. He recently chatted to RoadStars about the incredible technology, including MirrorCam and what it’s like taking off in his favourite truck of all time.
Seasoned driver – new truck.
Bradley Scott is a well-seasoned trucker, having been on the road for nearly thirty years. He has driven for various companies and has even run his own haulage business with a few other truckers – he now happily works for the world-renowned preserves manufacturer and distributor, Wilkin and Sons.
“My wife Vicky used to work at Wilkin and Sons as a driver also (we met on the road!) and I worked for another company. I used to spend my weeks tramping, but after my third child was born, I decided I’d had enough and wanted to work more locally. Thankfully, Wilkin and Sons were hiring and I’ve been around the company for eighteen years so I took the job,” he explained.
“I’m approaching fifty and thought driving a truck with new technology and MirrorCam would be like trying to teach an old dog new tricks, however I literally fell in love with it after half an hour!”
- Bradley Scott, Driver, Wilkin and Sons
MirrorCam all the way!
The Essex-based business specialises in the production of jams, marmalades, savouries, sauces, puddings, liqueurs and gins. Deliveries take place across the country – as far north as Perth, Scotland and as south as Redruth, Cornwall.
Wilkin and Sons runs a fleet of twelve vehicles, eight of which bear the three-pointed star which is a testament to the business’ preference for the brand, “Our company favours Mercedes-Benz trucks as the customer service is second to none and the comfort for the drivers and fuel economy is brilliant. We find the quality of the build and cab space exceptional and overall driving the vehicles, a very satisfying and pleasurable experience,” described Bradley.
Bradley first joined in 2018 and had the opportunity to drive a new Actros demo vehicle in the summer of 2019. “I’m approaching fifty and thought driving a truck with new technology and MirrorCam would be like trying to teach an old dog new tricks, however I literally fell in love with it after half an hour,” he said.
By the second day he was completely sure he wanted to continue driving this model, “My boss said to me, would you like MirrorCam or conventional mirrors on your new truck and I replied, MirrorCam all the way!”
He didn’t have to wait long – his brand new shiny Actros Edition 1 was delivered in January 2020 – the perfect belated Christmas present. The exclusive vehicle is one of only 400 in the world and one of 35 models operating in the UK.
Sublime technology for a tech geek.
A self-confessed ‘tech geek’, Bradley couldn’t wait to get to grips with his new vehicle and has been left amazed by the innovative MirrorCam system, “You don’t need to second guess when you’re reversing – when you turn the steering wheel, the cameras pan around and you get one hundred percent vision and there’s no blind spots where the traditional mirrors would normally be,” he enthused.
His love for the vehicle doesn’t stop there, “It’s got Active Brake Assist 5 (ABA 5), and Predictive Powertrain Control too. Plus the technology reads road signs, sticks to the speed limit, speeds up or slows down when necessary, it knows when roundabouts are coming up – it’s just sublime.”
Making life easier and safer.
We asked Bradley if the new Actros’ capabilities have made the job easier in tricky situations, his response was resoundingly positive, “I have a couple of deliveries which require a blind-side reverse off a road into gateways or a loading bay – as soon as you select reverse you have panoramic vision so you never lose sight of the trailer. You don’t have to scoot over to your passenger window to see where your trailer is – it’s so easy, just brilliant.”
“The technology reads road signs, sticks to the speed limit, speeds up or slows down when necessary, it knows when roundabouts are coming up – it’s just sublime.”
- Bradley Scott, Driver, Wilkin and Sons
Why ‘The Starship’?
Bradley’s nickname for his vehicle is both impressive and unusual, so we had to find out where it originated, “My previous truck was a 2006 Actros Megaspace, also my wedding truck! It was always called ‘The Star’ and then when I tried the new Actros demo, I took a photo of it with the lights on and posted it on social media with the caption, ‘It’s time to get the Starship Enterprise on the road’ because of all the impressive technology. Once I got mine, the name ‘The Starship’ stuck.”
The number plate reads MB14 JAM – referencing the model being the company’s fourteenth Mercedes-Benz truck and the JAM is an ode to the preserves business (all of the company vehicles bear the latter on their registration plates).
Thumbs up from the family.
Although Bradley mainly works locally now, he is still asked on occasion to undertake a longer journey for the company and will spend a few nights away in his ‘Starship’. He doesn’t mind though, as the comfort is fantastic, “I absolutely love it – it’s so comfortable, especially the bed, I sleep so well. The cab has everything you need, I couldn’t ask for more.”
When he is home, his admiration for his vehicle is shared by his family. “I have three boys who are eight, six and three and they love it. On the weekends when I wash it, they’re in and out of the cab and love the touchscreen technology.” His wife Vicky is also a fan, “She was bowled over.”
Finally we had to ask, was this the best truck Bradley’s ever driven in terms of driver support and making your job easier?
“A million percent yes.”
Do you drive a ‘Starship’?
Does the technology on your Mercedes-Benz truck make driving feel out of this world? Is it a new Actros? Let us know below or via a private message – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
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