Burdens is anticipating savings of up to £25,000 per vehicle in purchase and maintenance costs over the next 10 years, after investing in its first Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
The leading supplier to the infrastructure, construction and environmental markets has purchased a dozen 26-tonne crane trucks from Avonmouth dealer City West Commercials.
All are premium specification Actros 2541 models with Maxi day cabs and fuel efficient, BlueTec® Euro 5 engines which transmit their 410hp outputs via 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift automated transmissions.
The trucks’ 24ft platform bodies – by Ross Gordon Bodyworks, of Avonmouth, and AG Bracey, of Bristol – are fitted with unique removable curtain systems to meet Working at Height regulations and rear-mounted Hiab (Cargotec) XS166 HiDuo 16-tonne/metre cranes. And there is every prospect that more will follow, as Mercedes-Benz is now the operator’s approved supplier of truck chassis.
Burdens operates a fleet of some 150 trucks. The company, which can trace its roots back more than 80 years, provides service and support to its customers from a network of more than 50 specialist distribution depots covering the UK and Ireland. Its comprehensive range includes everything from gas and water pipelines to environmental management systems, such as rainwater harvesting products.
Burdens embarked last year on a fleet replacement programme and spoke initially to five manufacturers, these quickly being whittled down to three – as Group Transport & Safety Manager Ryan Coles explained: “We were not prepared to compromise on quality so wanted to stay with a recognised premium brand. He continued: “While the fleet acquisition decisions made many moons ago were born mainly of necessity and a lack of real options, this time there were more
modern factors to consider and also more choice.
“The criteria on which we focused included manufacturer reputation, product quality and safety features, environmental factors such as the percentage of the product that is recyclable, back office organisation and electronic capabilities, provision for service in the UK and Ireland, and, of course, costs, including those for repair and maintenance packages.”
After an exhaustive review of all options, Burdens announced that Mercedes-Benz and Hiab would be its new supply chain partners. “Both manufacturers have a truly worldwide presence with a full suite of products and service networks that will not only enhance what we already do but also help us to reduce costs,” said Mr Coles. “Over an expected 10-year life for the new trucks and cranes we are fully expecting to realise savings of £25,000 per truck through purchase and life maintenance costs.”
Burdens has also been conducting trials on a series of IT-based solutions designed to reduce operating cost and the environmental impact of its vehicles, and improved safety both for its own operatives and for other road-users. They include telematics, multiple vehicle cameras for improved driver vision, warning systems that are activated by cyclists approaching on the vehicle’s offside and white noise reversing alarms that limit noise pollution by getting louder only as necessary.
