ISSUE 03 SEPTEMBER 06

Issue 03

DriveLine Contributor

Jon Addison is one of New Zealand’s most experienced motoring,motorsport and road transport journalists, whose first vehicle test wasin 1967 – in a Hillman Hunter. He was the founding editor of industry-leading New Zealand Trucking magazine, a role he held for 15 years. In2004, with Sandy Myhre, he drove a Mercedes-Benz Vito 115 CDI van toa class win in the national Energywise economy rally, averaging 6.72litres/100km (42mpg).

New standards of operational efficiency andoccupant safety are hallmarks of the newSprinter van. 2

Close relationships with major customers haveseen rapid expansion in New Zealand for Linfox. 4

Hilton Haulage puts the first twin-steerSterling tractor unit to work. 5

Gran Marbello franchise holder Miles Dunnett putthe safety of his Sprinter to the test– the hard way. 6

As safe as possible – the new Mercedes-BenzActros-based Safety Truck. 7

He’d rather be out on his Harley – meetTimaru truck specialist Russell Marr. 8

Commercial laundry Sprinters offer costsavings and operator safety for ALSCO. 9

All the news from Hannover– the world’s biggest truck show, by far. 10

Sharp sign-written DB Actros truck andtrailer rigs mean more beer on the move. 12

Sprinters thrive in tough conditionsservicing electricity wind turbines. 13

The smartest rigs in the country– DaimlerChrysler’s customers’ trucks. 14

Strong growth enables South Star to opena satellite service operation in Christchurch. 17

Around 20,000 parts to keepDaimlerChrysler trucks and vans onthe road when the worst occurs. 18

Christchurch owner-driver Charlie Lambornhas 1.3 million reasons to choose Freightliner. 19

A premium van for a premium productrange and service – why Able Applianceschooses Vito. 20

A unique spec makes Mercedes-BenzEconic the ideal fire ladder truck. 21

Low profile – high performance. Australiantrucking company K & S in New Zealand. 23

Carpet One switches to Vito vans as its rangeof floor covering samples hits the 1000 mark. 24

Driving TowardsChristmas!Wecome to the third issue of DriveLine, the magazine that's designed tokeep you in touch with new developments at DaimlerChrysler and theindustry generally and to give you the opportunity to have your say aswell. Please don't hesitate to send your feedback or suggestions - we arealways keen to hear from you.

As always, we have made sure there are articles and features of interestto everyone in the transport industry - from the biggest long-haul operatorsto round-town delivery contractors. There's a lot of interest in the upcominglaunch of the 3rd Generation Sprinter from Mercedes-Benz. If you'relooking to upgrade your van in the near future, then you have to take alook at page 2. There are terrific improvements in load capacity, fueleconomy and safety - all features that Sprinter was already well aheadof the competitors in!

At the other end of the Mercedes-Benz spectrum, sales of the heavyweightActros truck have been spectacular, especially since the introduction ofour special Maintenance and Repair contracts. Being able to budget wellin advance and pay less than 2c a kilometre for M&R is a big advantage,especially while fuel costs continue to be so unpredictable!

Once again, welcome to DriveLine - I'm sure you'll find plenty of interestand some points to ponder before you make your next purchasing decision.I hope you enjoy a very successful spring and summer period and, sincethis is our last issue for 2006, we'd like to be probably the first to wishyou a prosperous, safe new year!

Cheers

Ian Walker

General Manager - Commercial VehiclesDaimlerChrysler New Zealand Limited

New standards of safety and operational efficiency are the hallmarks of a new

range of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans,

due to reach the New Zealand

market from November.

Greater load capacities, the efficiency of new Euro Four dieselengines and reduced operating costs may excite the interest ofvan operators in the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter range, butultimately it’s the high standard of safety that could turn out to beits trump card.

The third-generation Sprinter, which will reach the New Zealandmarket in October, is built safer from the floorpan up.

For example, the stylish lines of its new cab hide special high tensilesteel sections that create a safety cell so strong it far exceeds eventhe strict European regulatory standards.

At the same time coordinated deformation zones ensure thecontrolled and progressive absorption of impact energy in a crash,ensuring maximum protection of occupants.

Larger footwells, which also have extensive high-strength protectivesections, minimize intrusion into the vital space around theoccupants’ legs in a frontal crash.

Further protection is provided by three-point seat belts for everyseat, with tensioners and force limiters.

A driver’s airbag is standard on all new Sprinter vans, while passengerside, thorax and window airbags are optional.

Just as important as the Sprinter’s ability to protect its occupantsin the event of a crash is the sophisticated systems it has to avoidone in the first place. Prime among these is a completely newgeneration of electronic stability program, called Adaptive ESP.

In addition to the usual speed, steering angle and cornering forcesensors, Adaptive ESP takes the vehicle’s load weight and centreof gravity into account before taking corrective action to avoid lossof control. The Sprinter’s powerful computer systems then applygentle braking to individual wheels and can also reduce enginepower to maintain control before the driver is even aware loss ofcontrol is threatened.

Safer, More EfficientNew Sprinter Van

The new Sprinter also has big 16-inch wheels as standard, providingroom for large disc brakes all-round. These are supported by ABSanti-lock, electronic brake force distribution and hydraulic brakeassist (BAS).

While those who drive the new Sprinter will no doubt welcome thehigh level of safety it provides, their dispatchers and accountantsare likely to be even more impressed by its working ability andoperational efficiency.

One simple example: While designing the safety structures at thefront of the new van, Mercedes-Benz engineers also designed simplepanel replacement systems, which reduce crash repair costs,downtime and, potentially, insurance premiums.

The new Sprinter is larger than its predecessor, so offers greaterload carrying capacity. There are four body lengths and standard,high and super-high roof configurations.

At the top of the range is a 17 cubic metre van capable of cartinga 2670kg payload. Its super-high roof produces an interior heightof 2040mm, while its overall body length of 7343mm is a full 750mmlong than the previous biggest version.

Load volumes start at 7 cubic metres, while gross weight ratingsrange from three tonne to five tonne – a full half a tonne up on theold model.

Along with the van line-up, Mercedes-Benz will be offering bus andcab chassis versions of the new Sprinter.

A large part of the $3.6 billion development cost of the new Sprinterwas applied to its new power train, the heart of which is a potentbut efficient 2.2 litre common rail diesel engine.

Available in outputs from 65-110kW, this engine meets the EuroFour emission standard, which takes effect in New Zealand nextFebruary. It includes a particulate filter to ensure the lowest possiblelevels of exhaust emissions.

The two most powerful versions of the engine, which produces upto 330Nm of torque, use twin turbochargers to ensure smoothpower delivery, strong low-speed torque and high top-endperformance.

While the new engines are extremely fuel efficient, operating costsand downtime have been reduced further by extension of the oildrain interval out to a class leading 40,000km.

Although details have yet to be revealed, Mercedes-Benz will alsobe fitting the new Sprinter with a powerful 3.0 litre V6 common raildiesel, with potential for ratings as high as 135kW and 400Nm.

Backing up the new engines is a new six-speed manual gearbox,while a five-speed automatic transmission will be optional on mostversions of the van.

The Sprinter retains rear-wheel-drive, which is the configurationfavoured by most transport operators as it offers superior agility.

A high level of standard equipment throughout the new Sprinterrange will include remote central locking, electric windows, airconditioning and variable power steering as standard.

Some options offered include alloys, electric sliding doors and achilled glove box.

In recognition of increasing amounts of night-time work as day-timetraffic congestion increases and more businesses go to all-hoursoperation, Mercedes-Benz is also offering optional bi-xenon headlightsand cornering lights.

Since the launch of the current Mercedes-Benz Sprinter in 1995,more than 1.3 million units have been sold worldwide.

The higher levels of refinement, efficiency and safety of the newSprinter equip it well to be even more successful.

Mick Best (left) talking withone of his Auckland team.

Australian-based Linfox has developed close working relationshipswith both its major customers and with its truck supplier,DaimlerChrysler New Zealand.

“We specialize in taking care of all the transport and logistics forlarge businesses like the Progressive Enterprises chain of stores,”explains Linfox’s Australian and New Zealand fleet manager, MickBest. “We do very little general freight cartage.”

Although the company started its New Zealand operation about 17years ago with the acquisition of a small transport business, virtuallyall of its growth since then has been generated from its ownresources.

Now based in one of New Zealand’s largest and most modern office,freight terminal and warehouse facilities, it employs around 400staff and operates 120 trucks. The South Auckland base, on 9.25hectares of land, includes 36,500 square metres of 13-metre studwarehouse, 1644 square metres of temperature controlled rooms,11,750 square metres of covered loading space and 2100 squaremetres of offices.

Linfox also has depots at Henderson, in Palmerston North, Wellington,Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Based across the Tasman and with only a few days a month in NewZealand, Mick Best spends more time behind a desk or in an aircraftseat than in the cab of a truck these days, but occasionally stillmanages to get behind the wheel.

“When we got our first Freightliner with the Eaton Autoshift gearboxI drove it from Auckland to Christchurch – just makes driving thatmuch easier,” he says. “When people ask me what I do I often tellthem I’m a driver. I still love to get behind the wheel.”

He describes Linfox’s relationship with DaimlerChrysler as”a very strong one” and now almost every heavy truck in the NewZealand fleet is either a Freightliner or a Mercedes-Benz Actros.

Even some of the smaller vehicles are Mercedes-Benz: Linfox runsseveral Sprinter and Vito vans.

“One of the Vitos has seats in it so I used it to drive a group ofpeople from Australia down to Mount Maunganui,” says Mick Best.“It’s a very good vehicle to drive.”

In the heavy vehicle fleet the Freightliners will be specified wherevery high kilometers – 200,000km or more a year – are beingcovered, as the resale value of the American truck remains highbeyond a million kilometers.

In applications where the distances are shorter but the driver facesmore getting in and out of the cab and the hazards of heavy trafficflows, the superior ergonomics and safety of the Mercedes-BenzActros makes it the first choice.

Although the Freightliners have been specced largely with CaterpillarC15 and a few Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines at around the 470hpmark, Mick Best says the new MBE4000 is another option for Linfox.The first 450hp MBE4000 has gone to work in the Linfox NewZealand fleet and we have recently purchased similar units inAustralia.”

Despite the close relationship with DaimlerChrysler and being ableto take advantage of the Linfox Group’s international purchasingpower, Mick Best still regularly runs the ruler over opposition brandsbefore purchasing a new Freightliner or Mercedes-Benz heavy truck.

Even though he’s part of a large and growing organization, he’s stilla truck driver at heart.

Relationships UnderpinRapid Growth of LinfoxEstablishing and maintaining close business relationships has seen Linfox grow

into one of New Zealand’s biggest trucking operations in just 17 years.

Shipping containers weighing more than 30 tonne can be carted ona six-axle combination rig under permits if they are being importedor exported, but increasing numbers being shipped along the coastbetween Auckland and Christchurch meant more axles were neededto remain legal for non-export ones.

“The use of coastal ships to move the heavier forty-footers hasgrown steadily over the past few years,” explains Hilton HaulageManaging Director Peter McAuley.

“It’s now reached the stage where a specialist unit is justified, sowe set out to find a four-axle tractor unit and four-axle semi-trailerto give us a 44 tonne gross weight rating.”

Even though eight axles enables the rig to cart at 44 tonne all-up, tareweight was a crucial factor in achieving potential 30-tonne payloads.

The Timaru-based company was already one of the largest users ofthe Mercedes-Benz MBE4000 straight-six 12.8 litre diesel engine,which Peter McAuley says stacks up well for its balance of tareweight and horsepower output, so that narrowed the search downto Freightliner or Sterling, both of which offer low-tare specifications.

However, at the time the new tractor unit was being ordered,Freightliner was unable to offer a twin-steer configuration, so theSterling LT9500 got the nod.

A quad-axle Steelbro skeletal container semi-trailer was ordered atthe same time, and the target of 14 tonne total tare weight wasmore than achieved, with the Sterling tipping the scales at 7900kgand the semi at a shade under six tonne.

Both Peter McAuley and the new rig’s driver, Paul Tengahue, were

a bit apprehensive about how the bonneted Sterling would look witha second steer axle under it, but as it turned out they needn’thave worried.

“It’s surprisingly good looking,” says Peter McAuley. “It really looksquite balanced.”

Paul Tengahue says the reaction he’s experienced has been positive,too. And coming from a cab-over Freightliner Argosy into the newSterling, he’s happy to have a bonnet in front of his windscreen again.

The MBE4000 engine is rated at 450hp, which Peter McAuley saysis “a good size for us.” It’s not over-powered for pulling semi-trailersaround at 39 tonne, yet is still capable of doing a run to CentralOtago or Dunedin when required.

Behind the engine is an 18-speed Roadranger gearbox with Autoshift.

Hilton Haulage operates close to 90 trucks from bases in Timaruand Christchurch, with container cartage a mainstay of the business.However the company carts everything except livestock and furnitureand covers the entire South Island.

“You can see a Hilton Haulage truck in any part of the South Islandat any time of the day,” says Peter McAuley.

But it’s unlikely that many more of them will be 8x4 tractor unitspulling quad-axle semis like the new Sterling.

“We need the rig for its particular application, but when you add upcapital costs and higher running costs versus savings in Road UserCharges, it’s very hard to prove on paper that the configuration isany better in general line haulage,” Peter McAuley concludes.

First Twin-SteerSterling Tractor UnitGrowing numbers and increasing weights of shipping containers in the coastal

trade has led to South Island carrier Hilton Haulage Transport Ltd putting the

first Sterling twin-steer tractor unit to work.

Gran Marbello Tauranga franchise-holder Miles Dunnett had left hisNapier home in his Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van at 4.30am on aMonday morning to be in Tauranga in time for a new week’s workwhen he hit the black ice near the summit of the Napier-Taupo road.

“I was cruising along at about 80km/h and heading towards a bitof an up-hill section, so I gave the Sprinter a bit of power,” he recalls.“The back swung out a bit, went the other way and next thing thebank was heading for us.”

The Sprinter left the road, rolling twice before coming to a stop 30metres down the bank. By then the only panel left un-damaged wasthe bonnet.

When Miles clambered back up to the road he discovered the surfacewas so slippery he almost skated over. He won’t admit it, but heprobably swore then.

That he would have been able to swear at all at that point he putsdown to two things: The strength of the Sprinter and the lucky factthat it didn’t have a load of the weighty granite bench tops heoften carts.

Gran Marbello is the national supplier of a range of composite,engineered stone and granite bench tops. Its franchise holdersthroughout the country use Sprinters for their deliveries.

Miles Dunnett took over his long wheelbase 313 Sprinter aroundnine months and 15,000km before the crash. He was commutingfrom his home in Napier until his family, which includes school-agechildren could shift closer to the Tauranga base.

Although his van was equipped with an airbag, it didn’t deploy asthere was almost no impact on the front of the vehicle – as shownby the bonnet remaining the only undamaged panel.

His Sprinter wasn’t fitted with the optional ESP Electronic StabilityProgram, which incorporates ABS anti-lock braking and ASRacceleration skid control – a suite of electronic systems that mighthave prevented his accident practically before it started.

ESP, which is standard on the just-released NCV3 Sprinter, gentlyapplies braking on individual wheels and if necessary throttles backengine power to help the driver maintain control before he’s evensensed that he is about to lose it.

But as good as it is, even ESP can’t overcome the laws of physics,and black ice is probably the ultimate challenge to a vehicle’s gripon the road.

That’s where the immensely strong Sprinter cabin structure comesinto play to provide maximum protection of the occupants whenthe worst does happen.

“It was all over very quickly, but I’m pretty sure we rolled twice onthe way down the bank,” recalls Miles. “I was well locked into theseat by my seat belts, but I was still flung around.”

Despite the severity of the crash his only injury was “a bit of a sorearm.” Ironically that might have been caused by his arm hitting thedoor latch as he was flung around inside the vehicle, causing thedoor to fly open during the crash.

The van was written-off once an insurance assessor had seen thedamage, and Miles has no doubts about what he will replace it with:another Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

When Miles Dunnett hit black ice on the Napier-Taupo road he went over the

bank so quickly he didn’t even have time to swear!

Sprinter Safety PutTo The Ultimate Test

VersatileHighway AxorLaunchedThe new Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck has all of the driver supportand safety systems currently available from the company.

However Mercedes-Benz says its ground-breaking truck safetyprogramme doesn’t end with the production of the Safety Truck,and sophisticated new systems are already under development.

Latest system to reach the European market, and standard on theSafety Truck, is Active Brake Assist, which automatically initiatesemergency braking if a collision with the vehicle in front is unavoidable.

Studies in Germany have shown that the most common injuryaccident in trucks is a rear-end collision, especially on motorways.

Mercedes-Benz says its primary emphasis is always on active safety– preventing accidents from occurring in the first place, or alternativelydeveloping systems that will intervene of their own accord tosignificantly mitigate the direct effects of an accident.

This approach has already played a significant role in reducing injuryand fatal crashes in Europe, where truck fatalities fell by a quarterbetween 1992 and 2004 despite increased traffic volumes.

Along with the Active Brake Assist, the Actros Safety Truck alsofeatures Lane Assist, which alerts the driver if the truck begins tostray outside its road lane, proximity and stability control, daytimedriving lights, optimised external mirrors, hill-holder and under-guardspray suppression.

Inside the cab there’s climate air-conditioning, which Mercedes-Benz says keeps the driver alert, seats with integral seat belts andseat belt tensioners and a driver’s airbag.

The cab itself is designed to exceed regulatory requirements forsufficient strength to protect its occupants in a smash.

Mercedes-Benz also rates the powerful V6 and V8 diesel enginesfitted to Actros trucks as safety features because their high torqueoutputs promote a relaxed driving style.

The Safety Truck has a Telligent automatic transmission as standard,but even the manual Telligent shift aids safety by easing the driver’sworkload.

Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to safety isn’t restricted to theengineering, either. The company undertakes driver training, similarto that offered in New Zealand, but has also developed guidelinesfor rescue services to assist them in saving drivers from damagedcabs.

Although the Safety Truck is at present available only in Europeanmarkets, DaimlerChrysler National Sales Manager, heavy commercial

vehicles, Dave Ballantyne, says many of its safety features arealready standard or optionally available on Mercedes-Benz truckssold in New Zealand, while others are likely to be seen in the future.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz is celebrating the delivery of the200,000th Atego truck, a 1222L that went into service with aGermany flooring and timer company with a fleet of 90 trucks servingits customers nationwide.

New Zealand has played a part in the international success of theAtego with 180 sold, mainly for use as fertilizer ground spreaders.The main reason is the 4x4 ability of the trucks, which can handleNew Zealand’s diverse and often challenging terrain.

When launched in New Zealand in 1999, the Atego immediately setnew standards in terms of overall vehicle concept, ride comfort andvehicle handling.

A new Actros Safety Truck now available in Europe “will save lives” says

Mercedes-Benz.

This Mercedes-BenzActros Is A Life Saver

Russell’s enjoyment of getting out in the open air and meeting newpeople goes right back to the beginning of his career when, as anapprentice diesel mechanic, he’d trip around the farms of NorthCanterbury servicing tractors.

Now, while he does still get out to look after a handful of customerswho over the years have become close friends, when he’s out onthe road it’s often for leisure.

And the pace is a little quicker than a Fordson Major might manage– Russell rides a Harley Davidson Ultra Classic touring motorbike,the top-of-the-range model, which even has cruise control.

From diesel mechanic to Dealer Principal and General Manager ofTrucks South Ltd and Timaru Motors Ltd may seem like a huge leap,but Russell Marr has been involved in selling and servicing motorvehicles all his life.

His first job was with Amberley, North Canterbury, Ford dealerPalmer & Doak where he stayed 18 months before crossing the alpsto join his father, Jim Marr, who had bought Kilkenny Ford in Westport.

While servicing tractors and trucks Russell Marr found the mostenjoyable aspect of the work was meeting and discussing vehicleswith their owners.

“It was a natural progression into selling,” he recalls. So, six monthsout of his apprenticeship he hung up his overalls and started sellingvehicles in North Canterbury.

Along the way he began to realise there was a brighter future intrucks than in agricultural tractors, so in 1980 he moved to TimaruMotors, primarily to establish a truck operation.

It was very much a relationship business and frequently he’d beselling cars, trucks and tractors to the same customers. There wasa lot of technology cross-over, too. For example, a Ford Trader truckand Fordson Major tractor at some stages used the same engine.

However the vehicles became increasingly specialised and in theearly 1990s Russell moved out of the tractor business to devotehis attention fully to selling and servicing heavy trucks. The mainstaythen was the Ford Louisville, and the business thrived until Fordsold its heavy truck business to DaimlerChrysler in 1997.

The Timaru operation’s experience with the Louisville paid off whenthe truck was re-engineered by DaimlerChrysler to emerge in 1999as the new Sterling brand. Trucks South Ltd was established torepresent the new brand, and is now the South Island dealer forboth Sterling and Mercedes-Benz trucks.

Russell Marr believes people are as important as the products theyrepresent and relies on Product Support Manager Graham Woodsthroughout the South Island, along with Gerald Stanley in Christchurchand Barry Sherer in Dunedin.

The group’s truck servicing is carried out by Timaru Motors, whichis also the region’s Ford and Mazda passenger car and lightcommercial vehicle dealer.

Although he’s now head of a large, diverse vehicle business, RussellMarr still measures his success by the long lasting relationshipshe’s enjoyed over the years.

“For example, I sold Hilton Haulage a new N-series 5032 and a FordTrader back in 1983,” he says. “The ownership of the company haschanged, but we’re still doing business with them.

“No doubt there’s an element of South Island loyalty involved,” headds. “But the most important thing is to ensure that the relationshipis a two-way street – there has to be win-win for both sides.”

Mind On The Job –Heart Out On The RoadThe demands of running successful truck and car dealerships in Timaru may

keep Russell Marr pinned behind his desk for much of the time these days, but

there’s still little he likes more than getting out on the road.

Dealer Principal Russell Marr

ALSCO NZ is one of the many divisions of the Salt Lake City, Utah,based multi-national company, but people certainly came beforeprofits when new service bodies were being planned for Mercedes-Benz Sprinters entering the fleet.

“We eliminated the driver having to get out of the vehicle on theright-hand side where traffic might be passing,” explains FredGardyne, the plant operations manager for the group in New Zealand.

“And a lot of attention was paid to aspects like ensuring the floorswere non-slip.”

The Sprinters are progressively replacing older vehicles in a completeupgrade of the ALSCO NZ fleet, which numbers 324 vehicles,including a few trailers and forklifts.

The replacement programme started in 1998 with the order of a412 Sprinter. Some 23 were put into service before the first of35 413 Sprinters joined the fleet from 2002. There’s also a lone416 Sprinter.

The arrival of the Mercedes-Benz vehicles marked a major upgradein image for the company, which traces its roots back to the NewZealand Towel Supply operation that began in 1905. Now the largestindustrial laundry company in the country, ALSCO supplies servicessuch as textile rentals, washroom services and consumables andlaundry services from Whangarei to Invercargill.

The new image arose from an unusual aspect of the industriallaundry business – the purpose-built van bodies cost as much asthe vehicles they are built on and are highly specialized. So theyremain in operation pretty well as long as their wheels keep turning.

The new Sprinters therefore replaced old door-less pass-throughvans, based on Commer and Bedford vehicles from the 1970s andeven the 1960s.

Fred Gardyne says a walk-through cab was still a major considerationwhen the decision was taken to standardize on Sprinters. Otherfactors included the weight ratings, expected long service life andnationwide network of service backup offered for the Mercedes-Benz.

The Sprinters are imported in cab-and-chassis form and deliveredto East Tamaki-based Boss Motorbodies Ltd, where the rear panelsare cut away from the cabs and the laundry service bodies built.

Although basically aluminium panels over steel framing, the bodiesincorporate special composites in the linings and the non-slip floors.

While the CSRs (Customer Service Representatives - driving is onlya small part of the ALSCO team members’ jobs) can still enter theSprinter cab through the standard driver’s side door, much of thework is through a door immediately behind the cab passenger’sside door. Typically, the CSR arrives at a customer’s premises, stepsthrough from the cab to the van body interior, assembles the order,then uses the safe side door to make the delivery.

Fred Gardyne says the image of the vehicles is important to ALSCO,and the Sprinters “project a very professional image.”

Also important is efficiency, and both the smart new service bodiesand the high-tech Sprinter chassis under them are playing their partin ensuring that ALSCO NZ remains high on the multi-nationalcompany’s Efficiency, Customer Service and Health & Safety charts.

When the New Zealand arm of international industrial laundry specialist ALSCO

developed its new service vehicle specifications, the safety of the drivers was

given as much attention as operational efficiency.

Special Sprinters ForLaundry Specialists

Last year saw the end of transporting bulk beer in large tankers, apractice which traces its origins back to barrels of beer on drayspulled by draught horses. This meant that DB was no longer tied totractor units capable of pulling a variety of trailing gear.

Perhaps surprisingly, the ten-truck DB fleet working throughout theSouth Island from its Timaru base is one of the most efficientanywhere, with the rigs back-loaded 90% of the time.

“As well as supplying product, both keg and packaged direct to thecustomer from the brewery, and back-loading finished goods ex-Waitemata Brewery through the port of Lyttelton, we also back-loadall our own raw materials (malt, sugar, glass and packaging, etc),”explains DB’s national logistics manager Ivan Poulter.

The fleet size is based on normal volumes, with overflows regularlycontracted to local carriers.

When the fleet included articulated beer tankers the rest of thetrailing gear also had to be articulated, which meant a compromiseon deck space.

By switching to four-axle trucks and four-axle trailers DB is able tomaximize deck space, with each rig capable of carrying an additionalsix pallets. This reduces the reliance on contractors, plus lowersoverall costs.

The DB South Island fleet has been 100% Mercedes-Benz for twodecades, but that didn’t mean the purchase of Actros 8x4 truckswas a foregone conclusion once the decision to move to eight-wheelers had been made.

“It’s company policy that we do cost comparisons with other brandsevery time we contemplate a truck purchase,” Ivan Poulter says.“The Mercedes-Benz was marginally more expensive initially than

some of the others makes, but when we calculated whole-of-lifecosts they are certainly more than competitive.

“We run the trucks for a million kilometers before replacement, andon past experience we know the Benz trucks are more than reliableover those distances plus still retain a high resale value.

“On top of that we have a service agent in Timaru (Trucks SouthLtd) and Mercedes-Benz has more than stood behind its name whenthe odd problem has arisen over the years,” he adds.

The decision was ultimately made to purchase Actros 3246L/48eight-wheelers with fully automatic Telligent shift transmissions andfully electronic braking.

The four-axle Fruehauf trailers also have electronic disc brakes andalloy wheels.

The trucks and trailers are curtainsiders, and DB Breweries hadOmnigraphics screen print the curtains with spectacular Tui andExport Gold graphics. The next new rig, expected to go on the roadthis year, will be in Monteiths colours.

“As the other trucks in the fleet reach their million kilometers wewill be replacing them with Actros eight-wheelers with truck andtrailer curtains presented in a variety of DB brands,” says Ivan Poulter.

Each DB truck is in the hands of a single driver, working on nine-week rotating roster, which ensures they each cover the entireSouth Island. He explains that the variety resulting from this is goodfor both the trucks and their drivers.

And it also ensures that everyone in the South Island gets theopportunity to see some of the most spectacular – and efficient –truck and trailer units on the road.

The introduction of twin-steer trucks pulling four-axle trailers to the high-profile

DB Breweries Ltd South Island truck fleet marks the end of an era that had its

roots in the days of horses and carts.

Actros 8x4s Usher In New Era For DB

Everything works against the crews that keep wind turbines supplyingelectricity to the national grid: High winds, naturally. High towers– up to 70 metres above ground. High-voltage electricity. Thenthere’s the occasional hazardous substance – it’s a tough job fromany angle.

In these conditions safety is a primary concern and Vestas NewZealand Wind Technology Ltd, a division of Danish multi-nationalVestas, sees the safety offered by the Mercedes-Benz Sprinters asan important reason for specifying them.

Around the world Vestas has a total of 11,000 employees and thereare 30,000 of the company’s wind turbines in operation. The companyis standardizing on Sprinters for front-line maintenance work.

New Zealand is a relative newcomer to the world of renewableelectricity generation through wind turbines. Although the first wasbuilt near Wellington almost 14 years ago, the industry was reallyfounded with the establishment of the first wind farm in the TararuaRanges, east of Palmerston North, in 1998. Now there are 158 windturbines in the Manawatu, with a new wind farm in Southland putting29 turbines into operation early next year and a further 31 largeturbines due to enter service in the Tararuas in the middle ofnext year.

New Zealand service manager for Vestas is Ian McLean, who headsa team of 14 – and growing – specialists who look after all thecountry’s wind turbines. Their job is an unusual combination of ultra-high technology and elemental battling of their environment.

Each turbine has its own computerized monitoring system, whichalerts Ian McLean or one of his crews if any problem is suspected.If a fault is detected the computer sends a text message to atechnician’s cellphone, with a tentative diagnosis. This means, ofcourse, that the Vestas team is on call around the clock.

The teams work from a fleet of eight vehicles, four of which areMercedes-Benz 416 Sprinters. Vestas has also ordered New Zealand’sfirst new Sprinter 515 vans, due at the end of this year.

Ian McLean says the safety features, like the standard ABS anti-lock braking and ESP stability control are important features of theSprinters, but the company also stresses the value of long serviceintervals and low overall maintenance requirements.

“We also value the long life we get from the Sprinters,” he adds.“We don’t have a fixed replacement policy – we replace them whenthey’re worn out.”

The long working life is sustained even under the tough conditionsencountered by the Vestas vans, which routinely cart around a tonneand a half of tools, parts and safety gear and also regularly tow trailers.

Because access roads to turbines can be little better than improvedfarm tracks, Ian McLean specified manual locking differentials – afactory option on the current Sprinter.

“However the crews have found that the standard ASR tractioncontrol works almost as well as the locking diffs,” he adds. “We’vehardly ever found it necessary to use the diff locks.”

Servicing the growing numbers of electricity generating wind turbines must rank

as one of the toughest of occupations, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans play

an important part in it.

Sprinters Thrive InHarsh Conditions

Customer TrucksCool Columbia Photo by Trevor McCallum

The colours of Hilton Haulage Transport Ltd are among the best-knownon the Mainland, but few of the carrier’s rigs look as cool as this newFreightliner Columbia.

One of four new tractor units delivered to the high-profile operator, this6x4 unit pulls a refrigerated semi-trailer throughout the South Islandfrom its Christchurch base.

Under the classy Columbia’s bonnet throbs a 450hp MBE4000 dieselengine, delivering its power through a Roadranger RTLO16918 gearboxto make short work of the South Island’s varied highways.

Sales Consultant: Trevor McCallum – SouthStar Freightliner

Sterling TractorLong-established Auckland family firm L.W. Bonney & Sons Ltd hasalways held a reputation for outstanding presentation of its fleet ofmostly American trucks, and this new Sterling tractor unit maintains thestandard.

The 6x4 tractor unit works from the company’s Penrose depot, haulingbulk tankers all over the North Island.

Taking the effort out of the work is the 500hp Detroit Diesel Series 60under the bonnet. It drives through an Eaton RTLO 18918B Roadranger.

Sales Consultant: Chris Mackey – Trucks & Trailers Ltd

Actros CoasterBased at the Greymouth depot of Northern Southland Transport Holdings,this new Mercedes-Benz Actros sees plenty of both coasts of the SouthIsland as it operates between its home town and Christchurch.

Driven by John Newton, the 6x4 2654LS/33 tractor unit pulls either afive-axle B-train or a 14-metre tri-axle semi-trailer on line haul freightduties.

John's life is made easy by the 540hp produced by the Mercedes-BenzOM502LA V8 diesel under the Actros cab, and by the Telligent AutomaticGearshift fitted to the 16-speed G240 gearbox behind it.

Sales Consultant: Russell Marr – Trucks South Ltd

Ongarue Argosy Photo by Casper

Although its home is the King Country town of Taumarunui, this newFreightliner Argosy stock truck can be spotted anywhere around theNorth Island in the hands of regular drivers Casper or Woody.

The new 8x4 Argosy works for Ongarue Transport Ltd, whose fleet coloursare enhanced by the truck’s smart alloy bumper.

Helping the twin-steer truck pull its four-axle, four-deck stock trailer isa 620hp Cummins Signature diesel engine, driving through a Eaton20918B Roadranger gearbox.

Sales Consultant: John O’Sullivan – Trucks & Trailers Ltd

Customer TrucksPioneer MixerThis new concrete mixer truck in the familiar livery of Allied ConcreteLtd is the first Sterling LT7500 8x4 truck put into service in New Zealand.

Based at the national operator’s Christchurch depot, the new Sterlingworks around its home city in the hands of driver Andrew Norris.

The 8x4 mixer is powered by a Cummins ISC diesel engine, rated at315hp, running through an Eaton RTO11909ALL nine-speed gearbox.

Sales Consultant: Russell Marr – Trucks South Ltd

Oamaru Tipper Photo by Trevor McCallum

Oamaru is home base for this new Waitaki Transport Ltd twin-steerFreightliner Argosy tip truck.

Driven by Paul Tayles, the new machine pulls a four-axle tipping traileron bulk cartage duties throughout the South Island.

Powering the big American 8x4 truck is a potent Cummins Signaturediesel rated at 520hp and driving through an 18-speed Eaton RTLO20918 Roadranger gearbox.

Sales Consultant: Trevor McCallum – SouthStar Freightliner

Sterling TractorAlready a familiar sight on the highway between its home base of Timaruand the South Island freight hub of Christchurch is this new SterlingAT9500 tractor unit.

Operated by Brosnan Transport Ltd, the 6x4 tractor unit pulls a five-axleB-train and is driven by Bronson McLean.

Brosnan Transport opted for Detroit Diesel Series 60 power, with the470hp output channeled to the tandem drive axle set by an Eaton RTLO16918 18-speed gearbox.

Sales Consultant: Russell Marr – Trucks South Ltd.

Livestock ArgosyWhile the smart colours of Waiuku-based Knight & Dickey Ltd are probablybest known around the greater Auckland region, this superb newFreightliner Argosy carries them throughout the upper North Island.

The twin-steer Argosy, pulling a four-axle Fairfax trailer, is a dedicatedlivestock rig, serving the rural sector in a region known more for lattesthan livestock.

Under the comfortable Argosy cab hums a Caterpillar C15 diesel engine,rated at 550hp. It drives through an 18-speed Eaton RTLO 20918Bgearbox.

Sales Consultant: Ron Price – Trucks & Trailers Ltd

Alpine Actros Photo by Gerald Stanley

This new Mercedes-Benz Actros crosses the Southern Alps daily, 6 days aweek, on a run from its home in Greymouth to Christchurch and back, viaArthurs Pass.

The 2646LS/33 6x4 tractor pulls a refrigerated tri-axle semi-trailer forAratuna Freighters Ltd, with Bob Williamson enjoying life in the big Actroscab.

The truck’s 456hp V6 Mercedes-Benz engine and Telligent auto-shift 16-speed gearbox make short work of hauling loads of frozen goods, milk andother dairy products.

Sales Consultant: Gerald Stanley – Trucks South Ltd

Smooth Spreader Photo by Ron Price

Accurate spreading of fertiliser on Franklin, South Auckland, farms is ensuredby the sophisticated specification of this new Mercedes-Benz Atego1523AK/33 4x4 sower put into operation by MacGregor Naysmith Ltd.

The Waiuku-based truck has the latest Transpread twin chain 730 stainless-steel hopper spreading equipment on its chassis.

Driven by Dean Naysmith, the Atego is powered by the Mercedes-BenzOM906LA diesel engine, rated at 230hp.

Sales Consultant: Ron Price – Trucks & Trailers Ltd

Service Manager Paul Golding

South Star Freightliner Service Manager Paul Golding says theopening of a second workshop in Christchurch reflects growth thatstems from “our emphasis on providing our customers with the bestpossible service we can give.”

The new Branston Street facility, with two drive-through servicebays, is located close to the Hornby transport hub where many ofSouth Star’s major customers are based.

It provides them with a truck and trailer express service operation,along with a dedicated heavy trailer repair service.

Although minor truck repairs are also carried out at the new workshop,major repair work is directed to the main seven-bay South Starservice centre across town, close to the airport.

“We also have two engineers preparing new Freightliner trucks forthe road,” adds Paul Golding. This can involve anything from fittinga television set inside the cab to shortening the chassis.

“We have developed a South Star accessories list, which enablespurchasers to just tick the boxes for the equipment they want whenordering a new Freightliner,” he explains. “Then we set up the truckto the customer’s requirements prior to delivery.”

South Star’s service for major customers, which include many ofthe South Island’s leading transport operators, extends to a personalvisit every morning to ensure all truck servicing work is coordinatedwith the dispatcher’s requirements. In some cases the South Starrepresentative will help with the management of service schedules.

Although the company specializes in Freightliners, it services allbrands of heavy trucks, while a separate operation at the mainworkshops specializes in Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Vito vans.

“Our aim originally was to be a one-stop shop for Freightliner andthat meant we became a service dealer for Cummins, Caterpillarand Detroit Diesel,” explains Paul Golding.

With the multiple brands he and his 15 staff spend a considerableamount of their time on training, although increasing web-basedtraining is at least reducing the travel component. Workshop manualsand diagnostic tools are now also usually accessed on-line.

Paul Golding served his time as a car mechanic with the old NewZealand Electricity Department before heading to the big SouthIsland power projects, where he spent nine years in Twizel, workingon everything from heavy earth moving machinery to little trucks.

When the power projects were completed he worked for the Ministryof Works in Timaru and Ashburton before joining South Star in 1998.

The company then employed two mechanics, but now has 15 full-time mechanics offering a round-the-clock service from the RakaiaRiver to Kaikoura and across to the West Coast.

Paul Golding says the growth has resulted from South Star’s customerfocus as well as from the growth in sales of Freightliner trucks.

The only drawback is that it leaves him less time than he’d like tospend with his family of three boys, his keen interest in followingrugby and playing the occasional round of golf.

Customer Service Is KeyTo South Star GrowthThe opening of a new satellite service workshop in Hornby marks a new phase

of growth for South Star Freightliner.

Whether it’s a Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner or Sterling truck orMercedes-Benz light commercial, downtime is inevitably costly tothe owner, so DaimlerChrysler has made a huge investment in aftersales support to minimize downtime when the worst happens.

The most visible side of this support is a 4000 square metre partswarehouse at the group’s headquarters in Mount Wellington. Housedin it are around 20,000 items of stock for heavy and light commercialvehicles, presently valued at $8.3 million. They range from tiny sealsto 25 different truck cabs and whole truck engines.

“On the commercial vehicle side it’s all about back-up,” explainsgeneral manager after sales, Kevin Hayler. “When there’s a vehicleoff the road it can be make or break for the transport operator.”

The parts stock is monitored by a sophisticated new Incadeacomputer system, which enables dealers to check parts stockson-line. It automatically re-orders parts, and will alert staff to anysudden changes in parts ordering patterns, which might indicatean in-service problem.

Some 18 of Kevin Hayler’s 40 staff members work in the warehouseand take pride in being able to supply 90% of orders directlyfrom stock.

When rare parts not carried in stock are ordered, delivery ofMercedes-Benz parts is next day from Singapore, while Freightlinerand Sterling parts delivery times vary depending on their locationwithin the United States.

Normal delivery of parts throughout New Zealand is overnight,provided an order is taken by 3pm. If there’s a vehicle off the road,overnight delivery can be arranged for orders made as late as 6pm.And there is always a staff member on call, around the clock.

Parts staff often go well beyond the normal call of duty to help geta DaimlerChrysler vehicle back on the road as quickly as possible.Take the case of Abdul Hai, who received a call-out from TRT atMount Maunganui one Sunday morning last year. Some parts wereneeded urgently to repair a truck that was off the road after beinginvolved in a crash.

On his way to the warehouse Hai was himself involved in a seriousaccident, caused by another driver, and his car was written off.Despite being severely shaken and suffering from a very sore neck,once he had completed the road-side formalities with the police hearranged for his wife to collect him to take him to the warehouse.

When Hai and his now quite distressed wife arrived at the warehousethe customer was already waiting to collect the parts. Hai apologisedto the customer for his lateness! Fortunately the customer was veryunderstanding, and was most appreciative of Hai's devotion to dutyand the fact that Hai put the customer's requirements first. Thedealer passed on his sincere gratitude to DaimlerChrysler seniormanagement the next day.

It requires a huge investment of money, expertise, computing power and human

resources to ensure working commercial vehicles are out of action for the

shortest possible time in the event of a crash or breakdown.

Huge Investment InCommercial Vehicle Parts

The Christchurch-based trucker’s decision to buy the new Argosywas made relatively easy by the fact that the one he was tradingin had 1.3 million kilometers of hard work behind it.

“It was a 2000 model ex-Courier Post Argosy that already had morethan a million kilometres on it when I bought it in September 2004,”Charlie explains. “It was still going strong when I bought the newtruck 300,000km later.

“I did look at some alternatives, like the Kenworth Aerodyne, butthe Argosy has a lot more space inside the cab and a smarter interiorthat’s easier to keep clean.”

Although Charlie Lamborn was a logging truck operator years ago,he was working around the country as a stevedore when theopportunity arose to put a truck to work for TNL Group in Nelson.

“I could be away from home for weeks at a time with the stevedoringwork and I was getting pretty sick of living in motels, so I took thejob on with just a verbal contract,” he says.

In the middle of this year, just after taking delivery of his new truck,Charlie Lamborn got both a written contract and a new role for TNL– carting mainly dry food between Christchurch and Dunedin.

“It’s dog biscuits and noodles mostly,” he laughs.

The first Argosy had a standard 90-inch cab and under it was aDetroit Diesel Series 60, rated at 550hp and driving through an 18-speed Roadranger.

Charlie Lamborn definitely wanted more room in the new truck, sofor his new Freightliner, he specified a 110-inch high-rise cab withall the goodies, including a television and DVD player.

Although he stayed with the 18-speed gearbox, he ordered a big620hp Cummins diesel in front of it, and says the combination isawesome.

“Coming out of Dunedin at 44 tonne I can come up the Kilmog twoup in the high range, and going up to Blenheim I only need aboutsix gear changes for the whole trip,” he says. “I’m even having touse the Jake brake to slow down for corners going up hill!”

To ensure his new Argosy looks unique – even aside from its CHUKYSpersonalized plate – he had SouthStar Freightliner fit New Zealand’sfirst American-style twin exhaust stacks, mounted right out at therear corners of the cab. They are laser-cut with the Freightlinerbrand name and Charlie Lamborn has fitted blue reflective tapebehind the cut-out lettering to ensure it glows when hit by light atnight.

He also had each side of the chassis made identical, with 303 litrefuel tanks and custom-made tool boxes extending right back to thealloy guards. Behind the guards is an alloy back bumper and full-width “road sweeper” mud flap.

Charlie Lamborn is pleased with the Argosy’s 8788kg tare weightand, with road speed governed to 100km/h and plenty of use ofthe cruise control across the Canterbury Plains, he’s achieving2km/litre fuel consumption despite the engine still being tight afteronly 43,000km.

That’s a promising start – and there’s only 957,000km to go!

South Island owner-operator Charlie Lamborn has high expectations of his

new Freightliner Argosy tractor unit – more than a million kilometers of

work for a start!

On The Way To HisSecond Million

Auckland-based Able Appliances is the largest authorized independentparts and service agent for top German appliance brands such asBosch, Miele and Gaggenau and targets an up-market clientele forits premium service for these products.

“The sign written Mercedes-Benz Vito vans project the ideal imagefor us,” says managing director Arajan Odedra. “The main reason wechose the Vitos is the marketing opportunity they presented us with.”

Arajan Odedra set up Auckland Appliance Service Ltd 15 years agoand established Able Appliances in 1994. In 2001 and 2003 thecompany won the Apex Award for excellence in appliance servicing,a New Zealand wide competition among independent dealerships.

Along with appliance servicing the company offers an extensivespare parts inventory and a sales department.

The business has expanded rapidly in the past year, moving to anew 23,000sq ft warehouse in Pakuranga at the end of 2005 andopening a new branch in Albany in the second half of this year. Thenew branch extends the service to cover greater Auckland from theBombay hills to the North Shore.

Despite the growth of Able Appliances, Arajan Odedra still dons hisoveralls and pitches in to take a share of call-outs and assists hisstaff with technical support.

“The technology in appliances has changed with astonishing speed,”he explains. “Now a technician needs a laptop to service awashing machine.”

Like most of his staff, he drives a Vito van, although his is a new115CD1 Mixlo version with Automatic transmission and rear seats.

The Able Appliances fleet is currently part-way through an upgrade,with three older 108 and 110 models and three new Vitos – the115, a 109C CDi and a 109L CDi.

With Auckland’s traffic congestion Arajan Odedra hopes to specifyautomatic transmissions on all future Vito purchases.

Apart from the image presented by the Mercedes-Benz vans, he hasbeen impressed with the service and back-up for them – an aspecthe obviously knows a lot about with Able Appliance’s aim being toexceed its customers’ quality of service expectations.

The extended service intervals on the new Vitos – 30,000km betweenoil changes and 60,000km between full services -minimizes downtimefor his technicians, who rely on their vans for on-site servicing.

“Anything mechanical can break down and we did have a minorissue with one of the old Vitos, but I was pleased with the back-up,” Arajan Odedra says. “At the end of the day the back-up andfull support for the product is what counts.

“Our customers spend $2000 on a dishwasher and expect nothingbut the best when it comes to back-up, so that’s what we expectwhen we spend $40,000 or more on a van.”

Along with the image and the back-up, the Vito vans have impressedAble Appliances with their reliability and their safety features, likestandard ESP stability control on the newer models.

Award-winning appliance specialists Able Appliances Ltd deal mainly with

the top European brands, so chose Mercedes-Benz Vito vans for the right

image on the road.

Vitos Ensure Premium ImageFor Premium Products

Over the years the aerial platforms used by fire fighters to pourwater on to flames from above and carry out rescues from high-risebuildings have been assembled locally from a range of importedtruck chassis and components.

The result: Although the service operates only 27 aerial appliancesaround the country, there were 12 different types of them.

“This time, rather than go for what was cheapest, we decided tostandardize on what we determined was the best,” says the service’sfleet manager Graham Bidois.

The choice of the 100-foot (32 metre) Bronto elevated platform wasrelatively straightforward. The Finnish specialist is one of the biggestmanufacturers of aerial appliances in the world, building around200 units a year in a range from 17 to 105 metres reach.

The 32 metre units ordered are standard for local conditions, wheretheir 11-storey reach will handle all requirements at their Christchurchand Wellington locations.

They are rated at 400kg, enabling four fire fighters to work aloft atonce. They can pump 4800 litres of water a minute and they havebreathing air piped to the platform so fire fighters can work forextended periods without having to come back to the ground fornew cylinders.

The platforms are hydraulically raised, with primary power from atransmission power take-off. This is backed-up by a motorised on-board hydraulic pump, a battery-powered electro-hydraulic unit anda manual bleed-down.

The Mercedes-Benz Econic was new to the Fire Service, however,and was chosen for its low-profile cab, stability and nimbleness.

By specifying a unique hydraulically-steered pusher axle ahead ofthe 6x2’s single drive axle on an Econic, Graham Bidois came upwith an appliance that has a tiny 18-metre turning circle, yet is asstable as a 6x4.

And a special low-profile version of the forward-mounted Econiccab enables the aerial to be carried above the cab while maintainingan overall height of just 3500mm, which sneaks through the standard3600mm high standard fire station door!

The cabs and chassis were built in Germany and sent to the Brontoplant in Finland for assembly, rather than the usual Fire Servicepractice of building the appliance in New Zealand.

Graham Bidois then went to Finland to test the finished vehiclesbefore they were shipped to New Zealand, and says they ended upgoing into service more quickly than previous locally-built units.

The Econics are more nimble than the 6x4s while being just asstable. Powering the appliances are 330hp OM926 straight-sixcylinder diesels, which are also available on Mercedes-Benz Axortrucks.

Graham Bidois specified six-speed World Series Allison automaticswith transmission retarders, which are being adopted as standardon new appliances so drivers won’t have to deal with unfamiliargearboxes in emergency conditions.

The cabs each seat just an officer and a driver as the heavy elevatedplatforms are not normally the first appliances to be called out, butare generally deployed when the first firemen at a blaze determinethat either water is required from high above the flames, or thereare people requiring rescue from upper levels.

A pair of Finnish Bronto heavy elevated fire fighting platforms on special Mercedes-

Benz Econic chassis represent a new approach for the New Zealand Fire Service.

Fire Fighting At A Higher Level

The DaimlerChrysler group’s new 12.8 litre MBE4000 diesel engineis one of the factors that influenced K & S Freighters Ltd to trial theSterling alongside the Freightliner Columbia and Argosy units italready operates.

According to the company, the MBE engine is showing significantpromise, with tare weight and performance on a par with thetraditional North American Cummins and Caterpillar engines.

The MBE4000 has already established an enviable record for a lownumber of warranty claims, although K & S says the proof of itsreliability and durability will be determined over the coming yearsof operation.

Driver acceptance has also been high and is expected to becomeeven higher once engines fitted with the 500hp Turbo Brake enterthe fleet.

Increased workload in the past couple of years had seen K & S puta number of leased trucks into the fleet and in the past 12 monthsthese have been progressively replaced with company-ownedColumbia 6x4 tractor units and Argosy 8x4 rigid trucks.

The 450hp MBE4000 engine has been fitted to the majority of thesetrucks, along with some ISX Cummins and Caterpillar C15 engines,depending on availability at time of purchase.

The trucks are also equipped with a mixture of Autoshift and manual18-speed Eaton gearboxes.

K & S is acknowledged as a leader in its tracking and monitoringsystems, both for customer support and for analysis of theperformance of the trucks carting their customers’ freight. Thesesystems will be used to measure the fuel economy, reliability anddurability of the MBE4000 against the traditional North Americanengine options.

The same will apply to the performance of the Sterling, which K & Swill measure against the Columbia tractors and other prime movers itoperates. The company sees the trial of the Sterling as an opportunityto test the benefits of another brand of truck without having to gooutside the proven capabilities of the DaimlerChrysler family.

Initial impressions are that the Sterling looks as promising as theMBE4000 under its bonnet, with a competitive tare weight – alwaysa vital factor for K & S – and specification.

Time will confirm the truck's competitive advantage for K & SFreighters throughout New Zealand.

Freightliner trucks are a familiar sight in the red and white colours of

K & S Freighters, and now a Sterling 6x4 tractor unit has joined them

on a trial basis.

Sterling On Trial ForK & S Freighters

“It’s our aim to achieve close to a one hundred percent Vito fleet,and the stylish appearance of the vans was a major factor in choosingthe vehicle,” explains Carpet One national sales and marketingmanager Phil Harrison.

Although part of the world’s largest carpet retailing group, CarpetOne in New Zealand is unique in marketing floor coverings from anation-wide fleet of vans. Everywhere else in the world the groupoperates from conventional stores.

This means the Vito vans serve as the operation’s stores, showroomsand mobile billboards, which is the reason Phil Harrison places somuch importance on their image.

Carpet One is represented by 41 franchised owner-operators, basedaround the country from Kerikeri to Invercargill.

The representatives take samples of carpet, vinyl and engineeredwood flooring to customers in their own homes. This enables thecustomers to see how the floor coverings will look in the environmentwhere they will be fitted, rather than trying to choose them underthe artificial lighting of a conventional showroom.

Once the choices have been made, Carpet One representatives willarrange delivery and installation of the new floor coverings.

An expanding range of samples was among the reasons Phil Harrisonsought out a larger vehicle and ultimately decided to standardizeon the Vito.

“There can be as many as 1000 samples in the van these days,” heexplains. “There can be 400-500 carpet samples alone, so there’squite a bit of weight involved.”

Although he wanted a large vehicle capable of meeting present andfuture load requirements, he wasn’t keen on the appearance oftraditional square box vans, so the stylish Vito proved to be in aclass of its own.

Long wheelbase 111L Vito vans were eventually chosen and thefirst eight have already been sign written in Carpet One livery.

Along with the larger load capacity and sharp styling, there turnedout to be several other reasons for joining the Mercedes-Benz family.

“An obvious one is that Mercedes-Benz is a very good brand for usto be associated with,” Phil Harrison says.

Another is the high level of safety offered by the Vito, which hasfeatures like ABS anti-lock braking and ESP electronic stabilityprogram as standard.

With rising fuel prices, economy is becoming increasingly importantand their high-efficiency turbocharged common rail diesel enginesensure the Vito vans offer savings at the pump compared with thepetrol engines they have replaced.

But in the final analysis it was the heart that ruled the head, just asit is most likely to be for Carpet One’s customers.

While performance is important, ultimately it’s the appearance thatlargely determines the final choice of floor covering.

And once the important parameters of size, safety and economyhad been met, it was the stylish appearance that made the Vito vanfirst choice for Carpet One.

Carpet One vans have samples of some of the most stylish floor coverings

available on the inside, so the New Zealand arm of the world-wide group has

chosen Mercedes-Benz Vito vans for an image that’s equally stylish on the road.

Carpet One Vito Vans– Style Inside And Out

Trucks Sales/Service/PartsTrucks & Trailers Ltd (Auck) MB/S/F Ph: 09 262 2465Trucks & Trailers Ltd (P.Nth) MB/S/F Ph: 06 356 8589SouthStar Freightliner (Chch) F Ph: 03 359 7913Trucks South Ltd (Timaru) MB/S Ph: 03 687 4133

Trucks Service/Parts – MB/S/FKeith Andrews Trucks (Wang) Ph: 09 430 3900Truck City (Auck) Ph: 09 274 6523Tidd Ross Todd (Ham) Ph: 07 849 4839Tidd Ross Todd (Mt Mang) Ph: 07 574 0471Jim Young Motors (Napier) Ph: 06 836 6126W.R. Phillips (New Plym) Ph: 06 759 2051Highway Trucks Ltd (P.Nth) Ph: 06 358 8702Wilmac Transport Services (Wgtn) Ph: 04 237 4433Truck Specialists Nelson Ph: 03 544 6090Dunedin Truck Services Ph: 03 479 0150Invercargill Truck Servicing Ph: 03 215 9566

Light Commercial Vans Sales/Service/PartsKeith Andrews Trucks (Wang) Ph: 09 430 3900Giltrap North Shore (Auck) Ph: 09 443 3808Trucks & Trailers Ltd (Auck) Ph: 09 262 2465Ingham Sears (Tauranga) Ph: 07 572 8260Ingham Booth Autohaus (Ham) Ph: 07 838 1317Trucks & Trailers Ltd (P.Nth) Ph: 06 356 8589Kirk Motors Lower Hutt Ph: 04 566 3903Houston Motors (Nelson) Ph: 03 548 8204Armstrong Prestige Chch Ph: 03 343 2468Armstrong Prestige Dunedin Ph: 03 470 3030

Light Commercial Vans Service/Parts – MBKeri Keri Autohaus Ph: 09 407 8646Truck City (Auck) Ph: 09 274 6523G B Motors (Roto) Ph: 07 348 7598Tocker Automotive (Taupo) Ph: 07 378 9714Main Street Autos (Hast) Ph: 06 878 5472W.R. Phillips (New Plym) Ph: 06 759 2051Truck Specialists Nelson Ph: 03 544 6090SouthStar Freightliner (Chch) Ph: 03 359 7913Hansens Auto Services (Qstown) Ph: 03 442 9702Dunedin Truck Services Ph: 03 479 0150Invercargill Truck Servicing Ph: 03 215 9566

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