Rinus is raising the roof with two new Arocs

AROCS

Roofing suppliers Rinus are investing in safety and minimum downtime with the new additions to their fleet.

Safety and efficiency are most important to this construction business. When choosing new vehicles their drivers and other road users are always at the forefront of their purchasing decisions. We spoke to Operations & Risks Manager Martin Pollard about why the new Arocs were the ideal trucks for the growing business.


A fleet of Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Originally based in Lancashire, Rinus Roofing Supplies now operates a network of 24 additional locations, which it continues to expand. A proud member of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, it offers a reliable, efficient delivery service covering all roofing products and procedures including concrete, clay, fibre cement and slate tiles, to roof lights and insulation, guttering, coverings, ventilation, sheet materials and felt.

The company acquired its first Mercedes-Benz vehicles in 2013 and the current fleet includes a pair of 3.5-tonne Sprinters, a handful of 7.5-tonners, Atego and FUSO Canter models, as well as five 18-tonne Arocs, a single 32-tonne Arocs and a 26-tonne Arocs.


“Even more important, though, is Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ well-established leadership in the field of safety. The protection of operatives, and, indeed, of other road users, is the key driver behind the design of our vehicles, and in this respect the latest Arocs takes us another exciting step forward.”

- Martin Pollard, Operations & Risks Manager, Rinus Roofing Supplies



Keeping trucks on the road.

In 2020, Rinus welcomed its first two trucks equipped with the latest ground-breaking safety technology.

Both models are muscular Arocs rigids with ClassicSpace M-cabs, JC Payne dropside bodies, and rear-mounted Hiab cranes. Their impressive specifications include MirrorCam, the revolutionary, camera-based replacement for conventional mirrors, and the Active Brake Assist 5 emergency braking system.

The 26-tonne 2532 L model with rear-steer axle for enhanced manoeuvrability, is now working from the branch in Leeds that Rinus Roofing Supplies opened in June. The other, an 18-tonne 1827 L, is based at its depot in Bradford.

For Operations & Risks Manager Martin Pollard, the choice to add another two three-pointed star vehicles to their fleet was an obvious one thanks to their unparalleled reliability, “It was apparent from quite early on that our first Mercedes-Benz vehicles were built to a higher standard than those we’d been using, and spent more time out on the road and earning, rather than in the workshop,” he said.

In fact, the repair costs for the company’s previous trucks were a lot higher over five years than they have experienced with their Arocs models over the same time.

“This increased reliability has been invaluable in enabling us to meet our delivery commitments to customers, as the business has continued to grow.”



Protection of drivers and other road users.

However it wasn’t just dependability that keeps Rinus coming back for more Mercedes-Benz trucks.  Safety is at the forefront of everything they do and they ultimately want to keep their drivers and other road users safe.

“Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ is a well-established leader in the field of safety. The protection of operatives, and, indeed, of other road users, is the key driver behind the design of our vehicles, and in this respect the latest Arocs takes us another exciting step forward,” explained Martin.

The innovative MirrorCam system, particularly impressed him, as it provides a much-improved visibility from all angles, increasing safety when the vehicle is overtaking, or being overtaken – extremely useful in congested town and city centres where pedestrians and other vulnerable road users may be at risk.

The technology also helps to reduce damage costs incurred during low-speed manoeuvring at depots, on sites and when making deliveries.


“Technology like this gives us both confidence and reassurance that we’re doing everything we can to make our vehicles as safe as possible.”

- Martin Pollard, Operations & Risks Manager, Rinus Roofing Supplies



Increased safety for all.

The slim, roof-mounted aerodynamic camera housings also help to eliminate blindspots caused by conventional mirrors and provide added safety during manoeuvring, lane changing and at junctions, thanks to the panning function.

“The visibility is so much better, and it’s particularly noticeable, for example, when you’re approaching a roundabout. Drivers no longer have to contend with mirror covers the size of dustbin lids blocking their line of sight. MirrorCam’s cameras also make it a lot easier to judge where the truck’s rear-end is,” he enthused.

The vehicles also benefit from the latest version of Active Brake Assist technology – Active Brake Assist  5 which utilises the camera system to detect stationary and moving objects (including cyclists and pedestrians) in its path and automatically apply partial or full braking (within the system’s limits) to prevent collisions. The combined new features ultimately increase safety for both the drivers and vulnerable road users.



Road Priorities.

The tough and robust Arocs models will clearly see Rinus through their many journeys on the road, however it seems durability and minimum downtime is trumped by the safety of its team for this business, “Technology like this gives us both confidence and reassurance that we’re doing everything we can to make our vehicles as safe as possible.”

We can’t think of a better priority!


Does your business use Arocs trucks?

If yes we’d love to hear from you! We’re always on the lookout for impressive trucks to feature on RoadStars – get in touch below or via a private message.

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