Heavy-duty transport: Benjamín has every confidence in the power of his Actros 3363
Story
Benjamín Huerta knows what he needs for his job: experience, concentration and the power of his Actros 3363.
Benjamín Huerta closes the driver's door of his Actros. A bright white bull's head is silhouetted against the red paint – the logo of his employer, Especial Transport 2021 from Prat de Llobregat. “My Actros is really as strong as a bull,” says Benjamín and points to the “63” on the identification plate. It stands for the top-of-the-line engine variant with 460 kW. Vehicles with a high towing capacity and power reserves are required for transporting cranes, rail wagons and even helicopters. Exactly the right area of operation for the Actros 3363.
In the port of Barcelona.
Especial Transport 2021 is located in the heart of the so-called
Zona de Actividades Logísticas (ZAL) in the port of Barcelona. The
biggest logistics operations on the Iberian peninsula take place here.
More than 8000 ships make port here every year, keeping Benjamín and
his colleagues very busy.
20 years of experience with heavy-duty transport.
“Heavy-duty transport is a task which requires patience and
concentration,” he explains. And experience. Benjamin has over 20
years of that in this field. He has been working for Especial
Transport 2021 for four years. At first he drove one of the escort
vehicles and then he got behind the wheel of a “conventional” truck.
It was only after that that he took on the special transport jobs. “In
this job you need to be able to stand up for yourself and tackle
things resolutely,” Benjamin explains. And creativity is often needed
too: “Sometimes a part doesn't fit straight away. Then you have to
find a way to load it onto the load area safely,” he says whilst he
inspects the tensioning straps on his load: A hydraulic press is
strapped down on the container without sidewalls and a roof.
“My Actros is really as strong as a bull.”
– Benjamín Huerta
A hydraulic press on the way to Uruguay.
The load on the so-called flat rack is 21 metres long, 4.70 metres high and weighs 41 tonnes. Benjamín picked up the press from the factory in Lérida, secured for transport by road. On the Especial Transport 2021 premises at the port, the load was secured again – this time in accordance with the specifications for transport by sea. Once the load has been secured, Benjamín inspects the signage and documents – everything is in order. “There can never be too many precautionary measures for a transport job like this one,” the heavy-duty transport driver says. The time has come: he transports the hydraulic press to the port terminal. Destination: Uruguay.
Indispensable: the turbo retarder clutch.
Benjamin has now been driving the Actros 3363 for one and a half years. His summary: “It has never disappointed me. I have already driven 95,000 kilometres in it.”
During his 20 years as a truck driver, Benjamín has been confronted with all kinds of situations on the road and has driven several truck brands. His verdict? “Mercedes-Benz has got me convinced, especially with the turbo retarder clutch,” he says. The wear-free power transmission whilst manoeuvring or on inclines and the braking power on downhill slopes are a great help for his jobs. “It is important to have the power of a bull; but it is even more important to be able to control it,” he says. Benjamín takes off his work gloves and climbs into his Actros – its power is in demand yet again.
Photos: Begoña Tremps
Comment
Please log in to post a comment.
14 comments
Neben dem Fahren solcher Sondertransporte kommen sicher auch noch gehobenen Fähigkeiten für die Ladungssicherung hinzu.
Gruß
Klaus
Neben dem Fahren solcher Sondertransporte kommen sicher auch noch gehobenen Fähigkeiten für die Ladungssicherung hinzu.
Gruß
Klaus
Ich wünsche allzeit gute Fahrt, Benjamin👍⭐LG
Ich wünsche allzeit gute Fahrt, Benjamin👍⭐LG