Long truck: 25.25 metres, six axles – the longer heavier Actros at Toni Hotz
Economics & Logistics
A longer heavier truck has been in the fleet at Toni Hotz Transporte since a test drive at the Applications Information Centre (BIC). Its capacity is one and half times greater than for a conventional truck.
Offenbach an der Queich is located on the southern wine route between the Rhine and Palatinate Forest. The landscape is dominated by half-timber houses, cosy wine restaurants and a sea of grapevines. It seems to be in a deep sleep – until a giant appears on the scene.
The deep-blue longer heavier Actros owned by Toni Hotz Transporte makes its rounds through the valleys and their vineyards several times a day and is a real eye-catcher in this tranquil region. This long truck has been a permanent feature in the fleet at Toni Hotz Transporte for about a year. And although a little sceptical initially, the local haulage firm is now sold on it.
“Fewer journeys, greater efficiency, greater climate protection!”
– Anton Hotz
“When I was buying the truck, I still had those usual prejudices at the back of my mind,” Anton Hotz tells us. “Increased fuel consumption, a longer braking distance, restrictions in traffic and so on.” But a first test drive at the Applications Information Centre (BIC) at the Wörth plant was enough to awaken the Managing Director’s curiosity. And not just his but that of his son Alexander Hotz too. He lives by the principle of "You can’t stand still, you need to take a risk occasionally – in the end you can only win.” And both father and son have won here.
“We now have to make fewer journeys and we transport more goods in the same amount of time,” Anton Hotz reports. “This means we save at least 20 percent CO₂, although the longer heavier truck requires more fuel.” Alexander continues: “The turning path was a very pleasant surprise. Even the braking distance is shorter, as the brake force is distributed across several axles.”
The German federal road authority determined that a longer truck travelling at 80 kilometres per hour requires a braking distance of 36 metres to come to a complete stop; the research showed that a standard truck required 44 metres. According to the federal road authority, wear and tear on roads and bridges is less because the load is distributed across several axles.
The usual permissible gross mass of 40 tonnes also applies to the longer heavier vehicles. However, for Toni Hotz Transporte the vehicle is far more profitable because of the greater volume. The company’s main freight is cardboard packaging. “As it hardly weighs anything, we can transport 56 percent more per journey and still don’t exceed the 40 tonne limit,” Hotz senior explains before coming straight to the point: “fewer journeys, greater efficiency, greater climate protection!”
“Our longer heavier Actros travels a trip of around 60 kilometres four or five times a day using an approved network of roads from Offenbach an der Queich to Pirmasens,” Hotz says and quickly calculates, “That’s around 2625 kilometres every week. And we’re still saving a lot of journeys with the longer heavier Actros.”
With 21 semitrailer trucks and 50 semitrailers, Toni Hotz Transporte mainly transports goods over short distances and for the most part carries cardboard packaging, paper rolls and automotive parts. The fleet’s vehicles are all from Mercedes‑Benz and include two workshop vehicles and a couple of Unimog. Toni Hotz Transporte has been loyal to the three-pointed star since the company was founded 30 years ago. Just like Krone Nutzfahrzeug Gruppe. The manufacturer supplied the semitrailer, the swap chassis and the swap body for the truck.
And it won’t have been the last truck either. Both father and son are so impressed with the longer heavier version of the Actros that two more longer heavier trucks will soon enhance the fleet.
Anton Hotz (r.), Managing Director at Toni Hotz Transporte, with his son Alexander.
Test drive in Wörth.
More than 180 complete vehicles are available to view and test drive at the Application Information Centre (BIC). Trained experts explain everything worth knowing about the trucks and accompany visitors through the exhibition.
Photos: Jan Potente
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4 comments
Kenne etliche Verkehrsproblematiken mit Überlängen aus dem Spezial- u. Schwertransport und da wäre so ein realer Fahrvergleich schon mal sehr interessant .
Da werd ich mich wohl auch mal im BIC-Wörth anmelden/erkundigen müssen 😉😏
Kenne etliche Verkehrsproblematiken mit Überlängen aus dem Spezial- u. Schwertransport und da wäre so ein realer Fahrvergleich schon mal sehr interessant .
Da werd ich mich wohl auch mal im BIC-Wörth anmelden/erkundigen müssen 😉😏