Bidvest 3663, Graham’s, and PRM Group use the Antos

No sector of the road transport industry is more exposed to changes in legislation and customer demand than food and drinks distribution. Manufacturers who recognise that a flexible, reliable logistics operation can give them a vital competitive edge, are relying increasingly on Mercedes-Benz Antos trucks to deliver valuable productivity gains.

The Antos has set new standards in the key 18- and 26-tonne rigid truck segments by combining practical, comfortable cabs, impressive economy and safe, assured driving characteristics, with low repair and maintenance costs. Customers can choose from three state-of-the-art six-cylinder Euro VI engines and no fewer than 13 outputs, allowing them to tailor the power and torque of their vehicles perfectly to suit any application. The standard-fit Mercedes PowerShift 3 transmission, meanwhile, delivers swift, seamless gear changes – while most Antos models employ the eight-speed version, 12- and 16-speed alternatives are also available.

Leading foodservice wholesaler Bidvest 3663 ordered its first Mercedes-Benz trucks following an impressive fuel performance by a demonstrator. Director of Fleet Graham Rennie recalls: “The move to Euro VI prompted us to take a fresh look at the market. The Antos was clearly well designed and we’d heard good things about its fuel economy. So we trialled an 18-tonner specified to match our established trucks. It certainly lived up to its billing, returning noticeably better mpg figures than our fleet average.”

On the strength of that performance Bidvest 3663 ordered 40 18-tonne Antos 1827s with Gray & Adams insulated box bodies and multi-temperature Frigoblock refrigeration units. The operator, which prides itself on being able to provide everything from a teaspoon to a complete catering solution, has based its new trucks at a depot in Bicester, Oxfordshire, from where they are serving customers across the South-East.

In contrast to Bidvest 3663, Scottish dairy Graham’s and Northern Ireland’s independent chilled and frozen food sales and distribution specialist PRM Group are well-established operators of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Both recently commissioned their first Antos – as well as smaller Atego rigids – specifying 26-tonne 2532 models with 235 kW (320 hp) engines and refrigerated bodies: Graham’s is by Tekbo, PRM’s by Gray & Adams.

All but a handful of Graham’s the Family Dairy’s 150 trucks wear three-pointed stars. Its Antos is now working with six other 26-tonners and three articulated rigs, on trunking duties between the company’s Bridge of Allan headquarters and a network of main depots across Scotland. “We’ve been buying Mercedes-Benz trucks for 15 years and they’ve proved to be competitively priced, economical to operate and extremely reliable,” says Group Transport Manager Kenny Kentley.

Lisburn-based PRM Group marked its silver anniversary by commissioning its first Euro VI vehicles. The company runs an all-Mercedes-Benz fleet of 15 rigids of varying sizes, as well as 17 tractor units. Its 6x2 Antos has a lifting tag axle and is assigned to general distribution duties. Managing Director Mr Morrow says: “Our latest Mercedes-Benz Atego and Antos trucks are a big hit with their drivers, while we’re benefiting from the fact that these vehicles consume less fuel and significantly less AdBlue than their Euro V equivalents.”

For food and drinks distributors it’s clear that, the Antos has all the answers. But its diverse model portfolio and ease of body mounting make this impressive vehicle ideally suited to a host of other applications too. Vincente Connolly, Director National Sales Mercedes-Benz and Fuso Trucks, declares: “Where heavy-duty distribution is concerned, the Mercedes-Benz Antos has set a new benchmark against which all others must now be measured. It’s a tough operating segment and the vehicles have to work hard day in day out, but we have an impressive product line-up of models built for the job so it’s very encouraging to hear such positive comments from our customers.”

www.3663.co.uk

www.grahamsfamilydairy.com

www.prmltd.co.uk

Photos: Impact