2004, with Sandy Myhre, he drove a Mercedes-Benz Vito 115 CDI van to a class
win in the .... panel replacement systems, which reduce crash repair costs,
downtime and ... Backing up the new engines is a new six-speed manual
gearbox,.
ISSUE 03
SEPTEMBER 06
Issue 03 New standards of operational efficiency and occupant safety are hallmarks of the new Sprinter van.
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Close relationships with major customers have seen rapid expansion in New Zealand for Linfox. 4
Driving Towards Christmas! Wecome to the third issue of DriveLine, the magazine that's designed to keep you in touch with new developments at DaimlerChrysler and the industry generally and to give you the opportunity to have your say as well. Please don't hesitate to send your feedback or suggestions - we are always keen to hear from you. As always, we have made sure there are articles and features of interest to everyone in the transport industry - from the biggest long-haul operators to round-town delivery contractors. There's a lot of interest in the upcoming launch of the 3rd Generation Sprinter from Mercedes-Benz. If you're looking to upgrade your van in the near future, then you have to take a look at page 2. There are terrific improvements in load capacity, fuel economy and safety - all features that Sprinter was already well ahead of the competitors in! At the other end of the Mercedes-Benz spectrum, sales of the heavyweight Actros truck have been spectacular, especially since the introduction of our special Maintenance and Repair contracts. Being able to budget well in 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 interest and some points to ponder before you make your next purchasing decision. I hope you enjoy a very successful spring and summer period and, since this is our last issue for 2006, we'd like to be probably the first to wish you a prosperous, safe new year! Cheers
Hilton Haulage puts the first twin-steer Sterling tractor unit to work.
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Gran Marbello franchise holder Miles Dunnett put the safety of his Sprinter to the test – the hard way. 6 As safe as possible – the new Mercedes-Benz Actros-based Safety Truck.
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He’d rather be out on his Harley – meet Timaru truck specialist Russell Marr.
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Commercial laundry Sprinters offer cost savings and operator safety for ALSCO.
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All the news from Hannover – the world’s biggest truck show, by far.
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Sharp sign-written DB Actros truck and trailer rigs mean more beer on the move.
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Sprinters thrive in tough conditions servicing electricity wind turbines.
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The smartest rigs in the country – DaimlerChrysler’s customers’ trucks.
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Strong growth enables South Star to open a satellite service operation in Christchurch.
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Around 20,000 parts to keep DaimlerChrysler trucks and vans on the road when the worst occurs.
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Christchurch owner-driver Charlie Lamborn has 1.3 million reasons to choose Freightliner. 19 Ian Walker General Manager - Commercial Vehicles DaimlerChrysler New Zealand Limited
DriveLine Contributor Jon Addison is one of New Zealand’s most experienced motoring, motorsport and road transport journalists, whose first vehicle test was in 1967 – in a Hillman Hunter. He was the founding editor of industryleading New Zealand Trucking magazine, a role he held for 15 years. In 2004, with Sandy Myhre, he drove a Mercedes-Benz Vito 115 CDI van to a class win in the national Energywise economy rally, averaging 6.72 litres/100km (42mpg).
A premium van for a premium product range and service – why Able Appliances chooses Vito.
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A unique spec makes Mercedes-Benz Econic the ideal fire ladder truck.
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Low profile – high performance. Australian trucking company K & S in New Zealand.
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Carpet One switches to Vito vans as its range of floor covering samples hits the 1000 mark.
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Safer, More Efficient New Sprinter Van 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 diesel engines and reduced operating costs may excite the interest of van operators in the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter range, but ultimately it’s the high standard of safety that could turn out to be its trump card. The third-generation Sprinter, which will reach the New Zealand market in October, is built safer from the floorpan up. For example, the stylish lines of its new cab hide special high tensile steel sections that create a safety cell so strong it far exceeds even the strict European regulatory standards. At the same time coordinated deformation zones ensure the controlled and progressive absorption of impact energy in a crash, ensuring maximum protection of occupants. Larger footwells, which also have extensive high-strength protective sections, minimize intrusion into the vital space around the occupants’ legs in a frontal crash.
Further protection is provided by three-point seat belts for every seat, with tensioners and force limiters. A driver’s airbag is standard on all new Sprinter vans, while passenger side, thorax and window airbags are optional. Just as important as the Sprinter’s ability to protect its occupants in the event of a crash is the sophisticated systems it has to avoid one in the first place. Prime among these is a completely new generation of electronic stability program, called Adaptive ESP. In addition to the usual speed, steering angle and cornering force sensors, Adaptive ESP takes the vehicle’s load weight and centre of gravity into account before taking corrective action to avoid loss of control. The Sprinter’s powerful computer systems then apply gentle braking to individual wheels and can also reduce engine power to maintain control before the driver is even aware loss of control is threatened.
The new Sprinter also has big 16-inch wheels as standard, providing room for large disc brakes all-round. These are supported by ABS anti-lock, electronic brake force distribution and hydraulic brake assist (BAS).
The two most powerful versions of the engine, which produces up to 330Nm of torque, use twin turbochargers to ensure smooth power delivery, strong low-speed torque and high top-end performance.
While those who drive the new Sprinter will no doubt welcome the high level of safety it provides, their dispatchers and accountants are likely to be even more impressed by its working ability and operational efficiency.
While the new engines are extremely fuel efficient, operating costs and downtime have been reduced further by extension of the oil drain interval out to a class leading 40,000km.
One simple example: While designing the safety structures at the front of the new van, Mercedes-Benz engineers also designed simple panel replacement systems, which reduce crash repair costs, downtime and, potentially, insurance premiums. The new Sprinter is larger than its predecessor, so offers greater load 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 carting a 2670kg payload. Its super-high roof produces an interior height of 2040mm, while its overall body length of 7343mm is a full 750mm long than the previous biggest version. Load volumes start at 7 cubic metres, while gross weight ratings range from three tonne to five tonne – a full half a tonne up on the old model. Along with the van line-up, Mercedes-Benz will be offering bus and cab chassis versions of the new Sprinter. A large part of the $3.6 billion development cost of the new Sprinter was applied to its new power train, the heart of which is a potent but efficient 2.2 litre common rail diesel engine. Available in outputs from 65-110kW, this engine meets the Euro Four emission standard, which takes effect in New Zealand next February. It includes a particulate filter to ensure the lowest possible levels of exhaust emissions.
Although details have yet to be revealed, Mercedes-Benz will also be fitting the new Sprinter with a powerful 3.0 litre V6 common rail diesel, 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 most versions of the van. The Sprinter retains rear-wheel-drive, which is the configuration favoured by most transport operators as it offers superior agility. A high level of standard equipment throughout the new Sprinter range will include remote central locking, electric windows, air conditioning and variable power steering as standard. Some options offered include alloys, electric sliding doors and a chilled glove box. In recognition of increasing amounts of night-time work as day-time traffic congestion increases and more businesses go to all-hours operation, Mercedes-Benz is also offering optional bi-xenon headlights and 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 new Sprinter equip it well to be even more successful.
Relationships Underpin Rapid Growth of Linfox Establishing and maintaining close business relationships has seen Linfox grow into one of New Zealand’s biggest trucking operations in just 17 years. Australian-based Linfox has developed close working relationships with both its major customers and with its truck supplier, DaimlerChrysler New Zealand.
He describes Linfox’s relationship with DaimlerChrysler as ”a very strong one” and now almost every heavy truck in the New Zealand fleet is either a Freightliner or a Mercedes-Benz Actros.
“We specialize in taking care of all the transport and logistics for large businesses like the Progressive Enterprises chain of stores,” explains Linfox’s Australian and New Zealand fleet manager, Mick Best. “We do very little general freight cartage.”
Even some of the smaller vehicles are Mercedes-Benz: Linfox runs several Sprinter and Vito vans.
Although the company started its New Zealand operation about 17 years ago with the acquisition of a small transport business, virtually all of its growth since then has been generated from its own resources. Now based in one of New Zealand’s largest and most modern office, freight terminal and warehouse facilities, it employs around 400 staff and operates 120 trucks. The South Auckland base, on 9.25 hectares of land, includes 36,500 square metres of 13-metre stud warehouse, 1644 square metres of temperature controlled rooms, 11,750 square metres of covered loading space and 2100 square metres 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 New Zealand, Mick Best spends more time behind a desk or in an aircraft seat than in the cab of a truck these days, but occasionally still manages to get behind the wheel. “When we got our first Freightliner with the Eaton Autoshift gearbox I drove it from Auckland to Christchurch – just makes driving that much easier,” he says. “When people ask me what I do I often tell them I’m a driver. I still love to get behind the wheel.”
Mick Best (left) talking with one of his Auckland team.
“One of the Vitos has seats in it so I used it to drive a group of people 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 where very high kilometers – 200,000km or more a year – are being covered, as the resale value of the American truck remains high beyond a million kilometers. In applications where the distances are shorter but the driver faces more getting in and out of the cab and the hazards of heavy traffic flows, the superior ergonomics and safety of the Mercedes-Benz Actros makes it the first choice. Although the Freightliners have been specced largely with Caterpillar C15 and a few Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines at around the 470hp mark, Mick Best says the new MBE4000 is another option for Linfox. The first 450hp MBE4000 has gone to work in the Linfox New Zealand fleet and we have recently purchased similar units in Australia.” Despite the close relationship with DaimlerChrysler and being able to take advantage of the Linfox Group’s international purchasing power, Mick Best still regularly runs the ruler over opposition brands before purchasing a new Freightliner or Mercedes-Benz heavy truck. Even though he’s part of a large and growing organization, he’s still a truck driver at heart.
First Twin-Steer Sterling Tractor Unit Growing 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. Shipping containers weighing more than 30 tonne can be carted on a six-axle combination rig under permits if they are being imported or exported, but increasing numbers being shipped along the coast between Auckland and Christchurch meant more axles were needed to remain legal for non-export ones. “The use of coastal ships to move the heavier forty-footers has grown steadily over the past few years,” explains Hilton Haulage Managing Director Peter McAuley. “It’s now reached the stage where a specialist unit is justified, so we set out to find a four-axle tractor unit and four-axle semi-trailer to give us a 44 tonne gross weight rating.” Even though eight axles enables the rig to cart at 44 tonne all-up, tare weight was a crucial factor in achieving potential 30-tonne payloads. The Timaru-based company was already one of the largest users of the Mercedes-Benz MBE4000 straight-six 12.8 litre diesel engine, which Peter McAuley says stacks up well for its balance of tare weight and horsepower output, so that narrowed the search down to 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 the Sterling LT9500 got the nod. A quad-axle Steelbro skeletal container semi-trailer was ordered at the same time, and the target of 14 tonne total tare weight was more than achieved, with the Sterling tipping the scales at 7900kg and 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 with a second steer axle under it, but as it turned out they needn’t have worried. “It’s surprisingly good looking,” says Peter McAuley. “It really looks quite balanced.” Paul Tengahue says the reaction he’s experienced has been positive, too. And coming from a cab-over Freightliner Argosy into the new Sterling, he’s happy to have a bonnet in front of his windscreen again. The MBE4000 engine is rated at 450hp, which Peter McAuley says is “a good size for us.” It’s not over-powered for pulling semi-trailers around at 39 tonne, yet is still capable of doing a run to Central Otago 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 Timaru and Christchurch, with container cartage a mainstay of the business. However the company carts everything except livestock and furniture and covers the entire South Island. “You can see a Hilton Haulage truck in any part of the South Island at any time of the day,” says Peter McAuley. But it’s unlikely that many more of them will be 8x4 tractor units pulling quad-axle semis like the new Sterling. “We need the rig for its particular application, but when you add up capital costs and higher running costs versus savings in Road User Charges, it’s very hard to prove on paper that the configuration is any better in general line haulage,” Peter McAuley concludes.
Sprinter Safety Put To The Ultimate Test 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! Gran Marbello Tauranga franchise-holder Miles Dunnett had left his Napier home in his Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van at 4.30am on a Monday morning to be in Tauranga in time for a new week’s work when 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 bit of 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 the bank was heading for us.” The Sprinter left the road, rolling twice before coming to a stop 30 metres down the bank. By then the only panel left un-damaged was the bonnet. When Miles clambered back up to the road he discovered the surface was so slippery he almost skated over. He won’t admit it, but he probably swore then. That he would have been able to swear at all at that point he puts down to two things: The strength of the Sprinter and the lucky fact that it didn’t have a load of the weighty granite bench tops he often carts. Gran Marbello is the national supplier of a range of composite, engineered stone and granite bench tops. Its franchise holders throughout the country use Sprinters for their deliveries. Miles Dunnett took over his long wheelbase 313 Sprinter around nine months and 15,000km before the crash. He was commuting from his home in Napier until his family, which includes school-age children could shift closer to the Tauranga base. Although his van was equipped with an airbag, it didn’t deploy as there was almost no impact on the front of the vehicle – as shown by the bonnet remaining the only undamaged panel. His Sprinter wasn’t fitted with the optional ESP Electronic Stability Program, which incorporates ABS anti-lock braking and ASR acceleration skid control – a suite of electronic systems that might have prevented his accident practically before it started. ESP, which is standard on the just-released NCV3 Sprinter, gently applies braking on individual wheels and if necessary throttles back engine power to help the driver maintain control before he’s even sensed 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 grip on the road. That’s where the immensely strong Sprinter cabin structure comes into play to provide maximum protection of the occupants when the worst does happen.
“It was all over very quickly, but I’m pretty sure we rolled twice on the way down the bank,” recalls Miles. “I was well locked into the seat by my seat belts, but I was still flung around.” Despite the severity of the crash his only injury was “a bit of a sore arm.” Ironically that might have been caused by his arm hitting the door latch as he was flung around inside the vehicle, causing the door to fly open during the crash. The van was written-off once an insurance assessor had seen the damage, and Miles has no doubts about what he will replace it with: another Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
This Mercedes-Benz Versatile Actros Is A Life Saver Highway Axor
Launched
A new Actros Safety Truck now available in Europe “will save lives” says Mercedes-Benz.
The new Mercedes-Benz Safety Truck has all of the driver support and safety systems currently available from the company.
However Mercedes-Benz says its ground-breaking truck safety programme 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 the Safety Truck, is Active Brake Assist, which automatically initiates emergency braking if a collision with the vehicle in front is unavoidable. Studies in Germany have shown that the most common injury accident 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 alternatively developing systems that will intervene of their own accord to significantly mitigate the direct effects of an accident. This approach has already played a significant role in reducing injury and fatal crashes in Europe, where truck fatalities fell by a quarter between 1992 and 2004 despite increased traffic volumes. Along with the Active Brake Assist, the Actros Safety Truck also features Lane Assist, which alerts the driver if the truck begins to stray outside its road lane, proximity and stability control, daytime driving lights, optimised external mirrors, hill-holder and under-guard spray suppression. Inside the cab there’s climate air-conditioning, which MercedesBenz says keeps the driver alert, seats with integral seat belts and seat belt tensioners and a driver’s airbag. The cab itself is designed to exceed regulatory requirements for sufficient strength to protect its occupants in a smash. Mercedes-Benz also rates the powerful V6 and V8 diesel engines fitted to Actros trucks as safety features because their high torque outputs 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’s workload. Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to safety isn’t restricted to the engineering, either. The company undertakes driver training, similar to that offered in New Zealand, but has also developed guidelines for rescue services to assist them in saving drivers from damaged cabs. Although the Safety Truck is at present available only in European markets, DaimlerChrysler National Sales Manager, heavy commercial
vehicles, Dave Ballantyne, says many of its safety features are already standard or optionally available on Mercedes-Benz trucks sold in New Zealand, while others are likely to be seen in the future. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz is celebrating the delivery of the 200,000th Atego truck, a 1222L that went into service with a Germany flooring and timer company with a fleet of 90 trucks serving its customers nationwide. New Zealand has played a part in the international success of the Atego with 180 sold, mainly for use as fertilizer ground spreaders. The main reason is the 4x4 ability of the trucks, which can handle New Zealand’s diverse and often challenging terrain. When launched in New Zealand in 1999, the Atego immediately set new standards in terms of overall vehicle concept, ride comfort and vehicle handling.
Mind On The Job – Heart Out On The Road The 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. Russell’s enjoyment of getting out in the open air and meeting new people goes right back to the beginning of his career when, as an apprentice diesel mechanic, he’d trip around the farms of North Canterbury servicing tractors.
Russell Marr believes people are as important as the products they represent and relies on Product Support Manager Graham Woods throughout the South Island, along with Gerald Stanley in Christchurch and Barry Sherer in Dunedin.
Now, while he does still get out to look after a handful of customers who over the years have become close friends, when he’s out on the road it’s often for leisure.
The group’s truck servicing is carried out by Timaru Motors, which is also the region’s Ford and Mazda passenger car and light commercial vehicle dealer.
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.
Although he’s now head of a large, diverse vehicle business, Russell Marr still measures his success by the long lasting relationships he’s enjoyed over the years.
From diesel mechanic to Dealer Principal and General Manager of Trucks South Ltd and Timaru Motors Ltd may seem like a huge leap, but Russell Marr has been involved in selling and servicing motor vehicles all his life.
“For example, I sold Hilton Haulage a new N-series 5032 and a Ford Trader back in 1983,” he says. “The ownership of the company has changed, but we’re still doing business with them.
His first job was with Amberley, North Canterbury, Ford dealer Palmer & Doak where he stayed 18 months before crossing the alps to join his father, Jim Marr, who had bought Kilkenny Ford in Westport.
“No doubt there’s an element of South Island loyalty involved,” he adds. “But the most important thing is to ensure that the relationship is a two-way street – there has to be win-win for both sides.”
While servicing tractors and trucks Russell Marr found the most enjoyable aspect of the work was meeting and discussing vehicles with their owners. “It was a natural progression into selling,” he recalls. So, six months out of his apprenticeship he hung up his overalls and started selling vehicles in North Canterbury. Along the way he began to realise there was a brighter future in trucks than in agricultural tractors, so in 1980 he moved to Timaru Motors, primarily to establish a truck operation. It was very much a relationship business and frequently he’d be selling cars, trucks and tractors to the same customers. There was a lot of technology cross-over, too. For example, a Ford Trader truck and Fordson Major tractor at some stages used the same engine. However the vehicles became increasingly specialised and in the early 1990s Russell moved out of the tractor business to devote his attention fully to selling and servicing heavy trucks. The mainstay then was the Ford Louisville, and the business thrived until Ford sold its heavy truck business to DaimlerChrysler in 1997. The Timaru operation’s experience with the Louisville paid off when the truck was re-engineered by DaimlerChrysler to emerge in 1999 as the new Sterling brand. Trucks South Ltd was established to represent the new brand, and is now the South Island dealer for both Sterling and Mercedes-Benz trucks.
Dealer Principal Russell Marr
Special Sprinters For Laundry Specialists 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. ALSCO NZ is one of the many divisions of the Salt Lake City, Utah, based multi-national company, but people certainly came before profits when new service bodies were being planned for MercedesBenz Sprinters entering the fleet. “We eliminated the driver having to get out of the vehicle on the right-hand side where traffic might be passing,” explains Fred Gardyne, the plant operations manager for the group in New Zealand. “And a lot of attention was paid to aspects like ensuring the floors were non-slip.” The Sprinters are progressively replacing older vehicles in a complete upgrade 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 a 412 Sprinter. Some 23 were put into service before the first of 35 413 Sprinters joined the fleet from 2002. There’s also a lone 416 Sprinter. The arrival of the Mercedes-Benz vehicles marked a major upgrade in image for the company, which traces its roots back to the New Zealand Towel Supply operation that began in 1905. Now the largest industrial laundry company in the country, ALSCO supplies services such as textile rentals, washroom services and consumables and laundry services from Whangarei to Invercargill. The new image arose from an unusual aspect of the industrial laundry business – the purpose-built van bodies cost as much as the vehicles they are built on and are highly specialized. So they remain in operation pretty well as long as their wheels keep turning. The new Sprinters therefore replaced old door-less pass-through vans, based on Commer and Bedford vehicles from the 1970s and even the 1960s. Fred Gardyne says a walk-through cab was still a major consideration when the decision was taken to standardize on Sprinters. Other factors included the weight ratings, expected long service life and nationwide network of service backup offered for the Mercedes-Benz. The Sprinters are imported in cab-and-chassis form and delivered to East Tamaki-based Boss Motorbodies Ltd, where the rear panels are cut away from the cabs and the laundry service bodies built. Although basically aluminium panels over steel framing, the bodies incorporate special composites in the linings and the non-slip floors.
While the CSRs (Customer Service Representatives - driving is only a small part of the ALSCO team members’ jobs) can still enter the Sprinter cab through the standard driver’s side door, much of the work is through a door immediately behind the cab passenger’s side door. Typically, the CSR arrives at a customer’s premises, steps through 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 bodies and the high-tech Sprinter chassis under them are playing their part in ensuring that ALSCO NZ remains high on the multi-national company’s Efficiency, Customer Service and Health & Safety charts.
Actros 8x4s Usher In New Era For DB
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. Last year saw the end of transporting bulk beer in large tankers, a practice which traces its origins back to barrels of beer on drays pulled by draught horses. This meant that DB was no longer tied to tractor units capable of pulling a variety of trailing gear. Perhaps surprisingly, the ten-truck DB fleet working throughout the South Island from its Timaru base is one of the most efficient anywhere, with the rigs back-loaded 90% of the time. “As well as supplying product, both keg and packaged direct to the customer from the brewery, and back-loading finished goods exWaitemata Brewery through the port of Lyttelton, we also back-load all 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 regularly contracted to local carriers.
some of the others makes, but when we calculated whole-of-life costs they are certainly more than competitive. “We run the trucks for a million kilometers before replacement, and on past experience we know the Benz trucks are more than reliable over those distances plus still retain a high resale value. “On top of that we have a service agent in Timaru (Trucks South Ltd) and Mercedes-Benz has more than stood behind its name when the odd problem has arisen over the years,” he adds. The decision was ultimately made to purchase Actros 3246L/48 eight-wheelers with fully automatic Telligent shift transmissions and fully electronic braking. The four-axle Fruehauf trailers also have electronic disc brakes and alloy wheels.
When the fleet included articulated beer tankers the rest of the trailing gear also had to be articulated, which meant a compromise on deck space.
The trucks and trailers are curtainsiders, and DB Breweries had Omnigraphics screen print the curtains with spectacular Tui and Export Gold graphics. The next new rig, expected to go on the road this year, will be in Monteiths colours.
By switching to four-axle trucks and four-axle trailers DB is able to maximize deck space, with each rig capable of carrying an additional six pallets. This reduces the reliance on contractors, plus lowers overall costs.
“As the other trucks in the fleet reach their million kilometers we will be replacing them with Actros eight-wheelers with truck and trailer curtains presented in a variety of DB brands,” says Ivan Poulter.
The DB South Island fleet has been 100% Mercedes-Benz for two decades, but that didn’t mean the purchase of Actros 8x4 trucks was a foregone conclusion once the decision to move to eightwheelers had been made. “It’s company policy that we do cost comparisons with other brands every time we contemplate a truck purchase,” Ivan Poulter says. “The Mercedes-Benz was marginally more expensive initially than
Each DB truck is in the hands of a single driver, working on nineweek rotating roster, which ensures they each cover the entire South Island. He explains that the variety resulting from this is good for both the trucks and their drivers. And it also ensures that everyone in the South Island gets the opportunity to see some of the most spectacular – and efficient – truck and trailer units on the road.
Sprinters Thrive In Harsh Conditions 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. Everything works against the crews that keep wind turbines supplying electricity to the national grid: High winds, naturally. High towers – up to 70 metres above ground. High-voltage electricity. Then there’s the occasional hazardous substance – it’s a tough job from any angle.
Each turbine has its own computerized monitoring system, which alerts Ian McLean or one of his crews if any problem is suspected. If a fault is detected the computer sends a text message to a technician’s cellphone, with a tentative diagnosis. This means, of course, that the Vestas team is on call around the clock.
In these conditions safety is a primary concern and Vestas New Zealand Wind Technology Ltd, a division of Danish multi-national Vestas, sees the safety offered by the Mercedes-Benz Sprinters as an important reason for specifying them.
The teams work from a fleet of eight vehicles, four of which are Mercedes-Benz 416 Sprinters. Vestas has also ordered New Zealand’s first new Sprinter 515 vans, due at the end of this year.
Around the world Vestas has a total of 11,000 employees and there are 30,000 of the company’s wind turbines in operation. The company is standardizing on Sprinters for front-line maintenance work. New Zealand is a relative newcomer to the world of renewable electricity generation through wind turbines. Although the first was built near Wellington almost 14 years ago, the industry was really founded with the establishment of the first wind farm in the Tararua Ranges, east of Palmerston North, in 1998. Now there are 158 wind turbines in the Manawatu, with a new wind farm in Southland putting 29 turbines into operation early next year and a further 31 large turbines due to enter service in the Tararuas in the middle of next year. New Zealand service manager for Vestas is Ian McLean, who heads a team of 14 – and growing – specialists who look after all the country’s wind turbines. Their job is an unusual combination of ultrahigh technology and elemental battling of their environment.
Ian McLean says the safety features, like the standard ABS antilock braking and ESP stability control are important features of the Sprinters, but the company also stresses the value of long service intervals 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 when they’re worn out.” The long working life is sustained even under the tough conditions encountered by the Vestas vans, which routinely cart around a tonne and a half of tools, parts and safety gear and also regularly tow trailers. Because access roads to turbines can be little better than improved farm tracks, Ian McLean specified manual locking differentials – a factory option on the current Sprinter. “However the crews have found that the standard ASR traction control works almost as well as the locking diffs,” he adds. “We’ve hardly ever found it necessary to use the diff locks.”
Customer Trucks Cool Columbia Photo by Trevor McCallum The colours of Hilton Haulage Transport Ltd are among the best-known on the Mainland, but few of the carrier’s rigs look as cool as this new Freightliner Columbia. One of four new tractor units delivered to the high-profile operator, this 6x4 unit pulls a refrigerated semi-trailer throughout the South Island from its Christchurch base. Under the classy Columbia’s bonnet throbs a 450hp MBE4000 diesel engine, delivering its power through a Roadranger RTLO16918 gearbox to make short work of the South Island’s varied highways. Sales Consultant: Trevor McCallum – SouthStar Freightliner
Sterling Tractor Long-established Auckland family firm L.W. Bonney & Sons Ltd has always held a reputation for outstanding presentation of its fleet of mostly American trucks, and this new Sterling tractor unit maintains the standard. The 6x4 tractor unit works from the company’s Penrose depot, hauling bulk tankers all over the North Island. Taking the effort out of the work is the 500hp Detroit Diesel Series 60 under the bonnet. It drives through an Eaton RTLO 18918B Roadranger. Sales Consultant: Chris Mackey – Trucks & Trailers Ltd
Actros Coaster Based at the Greymouth depot of Northern Southland Transport Holdings, this new Mercedes-Benz Actros sees plenty of both coasts of the South Island as it operates between its home town and Christchurch. Driven by John Newton, the 6x4 2654LS/33 tractor unit pulls either a five-axle B-train or a 14-metre tri-axle semi-trailer on line haul freight duties. John's life is made easy by the 540hp produced by the Mercedes-Benz OM502LA V8 diesel under the Actros cab, and by the Telligent Automatic Gearshift 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 new Freightliner Argosy stock truck can be spotted anywhere around the North Island in the hands of regular drivers Casper or Woody. The new 8x4 Argosy works for Ongarue Transport Ltd, whose fleet colours are enhanced by the truck’s smart alloy bumper. Helping the twin-steer truck pull its four-axle, four-deck stock trailer is a 620hp Cummins Signature diesel engine, driving through a Eaton 20918B Roadranger gearbox. Sales Consultant: John O’Sullivan – Trucks & Trailers Ltd
Customer Trucks Pioneer Mixer This new concrete mixer truck in the familiar livery of Allied Concrete Ltd is the first Sterling LT7500 8x4 truck put into service in New Zealand. Based at the national operator’s Christchurch depot, the new Sterling works around its home city in the hands of driver Andrew Norris. The 8x4 mixer is powered by a Cummins ISC diesel engine, rated at 315hp, 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-steer Freightliner Argosy tip truck. Driven by Paul Tayles, the new machine pulls a four-axle tipping trailer on bulk cartage duties throughout the South Island. Powering the big American 8x4 truck is a potent Cummins Signature diesel rated at 520hp and driving through an 18-speed Eaton RTLO 20918 Roadranger gearbox. Sales Consultant: Trevor McCallum – SouthStar Freightliner
Sterling Tractor Already a familiar sight on the highway between its home base of Timaru and the South Island freight hub of Christchurch is this new Sterling AT9500 tractor unit. Operated by Brosnan Transport Ltd, the 6x4 tractor unit pulls a five-axle B-train and is driven by Bronson McLean. Brosnan Transport opted for Detroit Diesel Series 60 power, with the 470hp output channeled to the tandem drive axle set by an Eaton RTLO 16918 18-speed gearbox. Sales Consultant: Russell Marr – Trucks South Ltd.
Livestock Argosy While the smart colours of Waiuku-based Knight & Dickey Ltd are probably best known around the greater Auckland region, this superb new Freightliner Argosy carries them throughout the upper North Island. The twin-steer Argosy, pulling a four-axle Fairfax trailer, is a dedicated livestock rig, serving the rural sector in a region known more for lattes than livestock. Under the comfortable Argosy cab hums a Caterpillar C15 diesel engine, rated at 550hp. It drives through an 18-speed Eaton RTLO 20918B gearbox. Sales Consultant: Ron Price – Trucks & Trailers Ltd
Smooth Spreader Photo by Ron Price Accurate spreading of fertiliser on Franklin, South Auckland, farms is ensured by the sophisticated specification of this new Mercedes-Benz Atego 1523AK/33 4x4 sower put into operation by MacGregor Naysmith Ltd. The Waiuku-based truck has the latest Transpread twin chain 730 stainlesssteel hopper spreading equipment on its chassis. Driven by Dean Naysmith, the Atego is powered by the Mercedes-Benz OM906LA diesel engine, rated at 230hp. 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 a week, on a run from its home in Greymouth to Christchurch and back, via Arthurs Pass. The 2646LS/33 6x4 tractor pulls a refrigerated tri-axle semi-trailer for Aratuna Freighters Ltd, with Bob Williamson enjoying life in the big Actros cab. The truck’s 456hp V6 Mercedes-Benz engine and Telligent auto-shift 16speed gearbox make short work of hauling loads of frozen goods, milk and other dairy products. Sales Consultant: Gerald Stanley – Trucks South Ltd
Customer Service Is Key To South Star Growth The opening of a new satellite service workshop in Hornby marks a new phase of growth for South Star Freightliner. With the multiple brands he and his 15 staff spend a considerable amount of their time on training, although increasing web-based training is at least reducing the travel component. Workshop manuals and diagnostic tools are now also usually accessed on-line. Paul Golding served his time as a car mechanic with the old New Zealand Electricity Department before heading to the big South Island power projects, where he spent nine years in Twizel, working on everything from heavy earth moving machinery to little trucks. When the power projects were completed he worked for the Ministry of Works in Timaru and Ashburton before joining South Star in 1998.
Service Manager Paul Golding
South Star Freightliner Service Manager Paul Golding says the opening of a second workshop in Christchurch reflects growth that stems from “our emphasis on providing our customers with the best possible service we can give.” The new Branston Street facility, with two drive-through service bays, is located close to the Hornby transport hub where many of South 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 Star service centre across town, close to the airport. “We also have two engineers preparing new Freightliner trucks for the road,” adds Paul Golding. This can involve anything from fitting a television set inside the cab to shortening the chassis. “We have developed a South Star accessories list, which enables purchasers to just tick the boxes for the equipment they want when ordering a new Freightliner,” he explains. “Then we set up the truck to the customer’s requirements prior to delivery.” South Star’s service for major customers, which include many of the South Island’s leading transport operators, extends to a personal visit every morning to ensure all truck servicing work is coordinated with the dispatcher’s requirements. In some cases the South Star representative will help with the management of service schedules. Although the company specializes in Freightliners, it services all brands of heavy trucks, while a separate operation at the main workshops specializes in Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Vito vans. “Our aim originally was to be a one-stop shop for Freightliner and that meant we became a service dealer for Cummins, Caterpillar and Detroit Diesel,” explains Paul Golding.
The company then employed two mechanics, but now has 15 fulltime mechanics offering a round-the-clock service from the Rakaia River to Kaikoura and across to the West Coast. Paul Golding says the growth has resulted from South Star’s customer focus 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 to spend with his family of three boys, his keen interest in following rugby and playing the occasional round of golf.
Huge Investment In Commercial Vehicle Parts 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. Whether it’s a Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner or Sterling truck or Mercedes-Benz light commercial, downtime is inevitably costly to the owner, so DaimlerChrysler has made a huge investment in after sales support to minimize downtime when the worst happens.
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.
The most visible side of this support is a 4000 square metre parts warehouse at the group’s headquarters in Mount Wellington. Housed in it are around 20,000 items of stock for heavy and light commercial vehicles, presently valued at $8.3 million. They range from tiny seals to 25 different truck cabs and whole truck engines.
Parts staff often go well beyond the normal call of duty to help get a DaimlerChrysler vehicle back on the road as quickly as possible. Take the case of Abdul Hai, who received a call-out from TRT at Mount Maunganui one Sunday morning last year. Some parts were needed urgently to repair a truck that was off the road after being involved in a crash.
“On the commercial vehicle side it’s all about back-up,” explains general manager after sales, Kevin Hayler. “When there’s a vehicle off the road it can be make or break for the transport operator.” The parts stock is monitored by a sophisticated new Incadea computer system, which enables dealers to check parts stocks on-line. It automatically re-orders parts, and will alert staff to any sudden changes in parts ordering patterns, which might indicate an in-service problem. Some 18 of Kevin Hayler’s 40 staff members work in the warehouse and take pride in being able to supply 90% of orders directly from stock. When rare parts not carried in stock are ordered, delivery of Mercedes-Benz parts is next day from Singapore, while Freightliner and Sterling parts delivery times vary depending on their location within the United States.
On his way to the warehouse Hai was himself involved in a serious accident, 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 he arranged for his wife to collect him to take him to the warehouse. When Hai and his now quite distressed wife arrived at the warehouse the customer was already waiting to collect the parts. Hai apologised to the customer for his lateness! Fortunately the customer was very understanding, and was most appreciative of Hai's devotion to duty and the fact that Hai put the customer's requirements first. The dealer passed on his sincere gratitude to DaimlerChrysler senior management the next day.
On The Way To His Second Million 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! The Christchurch-based trucker’s decision to buy the new Argosy was made relatively easy by the fact that the one he was trading in had 1.3 million kilometers of hard work behind it. “It was a 2000 model ex-Courier Post Argosy that already had more than a million kilometres on it when I bought it in September 2004,” Charlie explains. “It was still going strong when I bought the new truck 300,000km later. “I did look at some alternatives, like the Kenworth Aerodyne, but the Argosy has a lot more space inside the cab and a smarter interior that’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 the opportunity 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 stevedoring work and I was getting pretty sick of living in motels, so I took the job 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 a Detroit Diesel Series 60, rated at 550hp and driving through an 18speed Roadranger. Charlie Lamborn definitely wanted more room in the new truck, so for his new Freightliner, he specified a 110-inch high-rise cab with all the goodies, including a television and DVD player. Although he stayed with the 18-speed gearbox, he ordered a big 620hp Cummins diesel in front of it, and says the combination is awesome. “Coming out of Dunedin at 44 tonne I can come up the Kilmog two up in the high range, and going up to Blenheim I only need about six gear changes for the whole trip,” he says. “I’m even having to use the Jake brake to slow down for corners going up hill!” To ensure his new Argosy looks unique – even aside from its CHUKYS personalized plate – he had SouthStar Freightliner fit New Zealand’s first American-style twin exhaust stacks, mounted right out at the rear corners of the cab. They are laser-cut with the Freightliner brand name and Charlie Lamborn has fitted blue reflective tape behind the cut-out lettering to ensure it glows when hit by light at night.
He also had each side of the chassis made identical, with 303 litre fuel tanks and custom-made tool boxes extending right back to the alloy guards. Behind the guards is an alloy back bumper and fullwidth “road sweeper” mud flap. Charlie Lamborn is pleased with the Argosy’s 8788kg tare weight and, with road speed governed to 100km/h and plenty of use of the cruise control across the Canterbury Plains, he’s achieving 2km/litre fuel consumption despite the engine still being tight after only 43,000km. That’s a promising start – and there’s only 957,000km to go!
Vitos Ensure Premium Image For Premium Products
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. Auckland-based Able Appliances is the largest authorized independent parts and service agent for top German appliance brands such as Bosch, Miele and Gaggenau and targets an up-market clientele for its premium service for these products. “The sign written Mercedes-Benz Vito vans project the ideal image for us,” says managing director Arajan Odedra. “The main reason we chose the Vitos is the marketing opportunity they presented us with.” Arajan Odedra set up Auckland Appliance Service Ltd 15 years ago and established Able Appliances in 1994. In 2001 and 2003 the company 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 extensive spare parts inventory and a sales department. The business has expanded rapidly in the past year, moving to a new 23,000sq ft warehouse in Pakuranga at the end of 2005 and opening a new branch in Albany in the second half of this year. The new branch extends the service to cover greater Auckland from the Bombay hills to the North Shore. Despite the growth of Able Appliances, Arajan Odedra still dons his overalls and pitches in to take a share of call-outs and assists his staff with technical support. “The technology in appliances has changed with astonishing speed,” he explains. “Now a technician needs a laptop to service a washing machine.”
Like most of his staff, he drives a Vito van, although his is a new 115CD1 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 – the 115, a 109C CDi and a 109L CDi. With Auckland’s traffic congestion Arajan Odedra hopes to specify automatic transmissions on all future Vito purchases. Apart from the image presented by the Mercedes-Benz vans, he has been impressed with the service and back-up for them – an aspect he obviously knows a lot about with Able Appliance’s aim being to exceed its customers’ quality of service expectations. The extended service intervals on the new Vitos – 30,000km between oil changes and 60,000km between full services -minimizes downtime for his technicians, who rely on their vans for on-site servicing. “Anything mechanical can break down and we did have a minor issue with one of the old Vitos, but I was pleased with the backup,” Arajan Odedra says. “At the end of the day the back-up and full support for the product is what counts. “Our customers spend $2000 on a dishwasher and expect nothing but the best when it comes to back-up, so that’s what we expect when we spend $40,000 or more on a van.” Along with the image and the back-up, the Vito vans have impressed Able Appliances with their reliability and their safety features, like standard ESP stability control on the newer models.
Fire Fighting At A Higher Level A pair of Finnish Bronto heavy elevated fire fighting platforms on special MercedesBenz Econic chassis represent a new approach for the New Zealand Fire Service. Over the years the aerial platforms used by fire fighters to pour water on to flames from above and carry out rescues from high-rise buildings have been assembled locally from a range of imported truck chassis and components.
By specifying a unique hydraulically-steered pusher axle ahead of the 6x2’s single drive axle on an Econic, Graham Bidois came up with an appliance that has a tiny 18-metre turning circle, yet is as stable as a 6x4.
The result: Although the service operates only 27 aerial appliances around the country, there were 12 different types of them.
And a special low-profile version of the forward-mounted Econic cab enables the aerial to be carried above the cab while maintaining an overall height of just 3500mm, which sneaks through the standard 3600mm high standard fire station door!
“This time, rather than go for what was cheapest, we decided to standardize on what we determined was the best,” says the service’s fleet manager Graham Bidois. The choice of the 100-foot (32 metre) Bronto elevated platform was relatively straightforward. The Finnish specialist is one of the biggest manufacturers of aerial appliances in the world, building around 200 units a year in a range from 17 to 105 metres reach. The 32 metre units ordered are standard for local conditions, where their 11-storey reach will handle all requirements at their Christchurch and Wellington locations. They are rated at 400kg, enabling four fire fighters to work aloft at once. They can pump 4800 litres of water a minute and they have breathing air piped to the platform so fire fighters can work for extended periods without having to come back to the ground for new cylinders. The platforms are hydraulically raised, with primary power from a transmission power take-off. This is backed-up by a motorised onboard hydraulic pump, a battery-powered electro-hydraulic unit and a 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.
The cabs and chassis were built in Germany and sent to the Bronto plant in Finland for assembly, rather than the usual Fire Service practice of building the appliance in New Zealand. Graham Bidois then went to Finland to test the finished vehicles before they were shipped to New Zealand, and says they ended up going into service more quickly than previous locally-built units. The Econics are more nimble than the 6x4s while being just as stable. Powering the appliances are 330hp OM926 straight-six cylinder diesels, which are also available on Mercedes-Benz Axor trucks. Graham Bidois specified six-speed World Series Allison automatics with transmission retarders, which are being adopted as standard on new appliances so drivers won’t have to deal with unfamiliar gearboxes in emergency conditions. The cabs each seat just an officer and a driver as the heavy elevated platforms are not normally the first appliances to be called out, but are generally deployed when the first firemen at a blaze determine that either water is required from high above the flames, or there are people requiring rescue from upper levels.
Sterling On Trial For K & S Freighters 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. The DaimlerChrysler group’s new 12.8 litre MBE4000 diesel engine is one of the factors that influenced K & S Freighters Ltd to trial the Sterling alongside the Freightliner Columbia and Argosy units it already operates. According to the company, the MBE engine is showing significant promise, with tare weight and performance on a par with the traditional North American Cummins and Caterpillar engines. The MBE4000 has already established an enviable record for a low number of warranty claims, although K & S says the proof of its reliability and durability will be determined over the coming years of operation. Driver acceptance has also been high and is expected to become even higher once engines fitted with the 500hp Turbo Brake enter the fleet. Increased workload in the past couple of years had seen K & S put a number of leased trucks into the fleet and in the past 12 months these have been progressively replaced with company-owned Columbia 6x4 tractor units and Argosy 8x4 rigid trucks. The 450hp MBE4000 engine has been fitted to the majority of these trucks, 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 manual 18-speed Eaton gearboxes. K & S is acknowledged as a leader in its tracking and monitoring systems, both for customer support and for analysis of the performance of the trucks carting their customers’ freight. These systems will be used to measure the fuel economy, reliability and durability of the MBE4000 against the traditional North American engine options. The same will apply to the performance of the Sterling, which K & S will measure against the Columbia tractors and other prime movers it operates. The company sees the trial of the Sterling as an opportunity to test the benefits of another brand of truck without having to go outside the proven capabilities of the DaimlerChrysler family. Initial impressions are that the Sterling looks as promising as the MBE4000 under its bonnet, with a competitive tare weight – always a vital factor for K & S – and specification. Time will confirm the truck's competitive advantage for K & S Freighters throughout New Zealand.
Carpet One Vito Vans – Style Inside And Out 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. “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 choosing the vehicle,” explains Carpet One national sales and marketing manager Phil Harrison.
Although he wanted a large vehicle capable of meeting present and future load requirements, he wasn’t keen on the appearance of traditional square box vans, so the stylish Vito proved to be in a class of its own.
Although part of the world’s largest carpet retailing group, Carpet One in New Zealand is unique in marketing floor coverings from a nation-wide fleet of vans. Everywhere else in the world the group operates from conventional stores.
Long wheelbase 111L Vito vans were eventually chosen and the first eight have already been sign written in Carpet One livery. Along with the larger load capacity and sharp styling, there turned out to be several other reasons for joining the Mercedes-Benz family.
This means the Vito vans serve as the operation’s stores, showrooms and mobile billboards, which is the reason Phil Harrison places so much importance on their image.
“An obvious one is that Mercedes-Benz is a very good brand for us to be associated with,” Phil Harrison says.
Carpet One is represented by 41 franchised owner-operators, based around the country from Kerikeri to Invercargill.
Another is the high level of safety offered by the Vito, which has features like ABS anti-lock braking and ESP electronic stability program as standard.
The representatives take samples of carpet, vinyl and engineered wood flooring to customers in their own homes. This enables the customers to see how the floor coverings will look in the environment where they will be fitted, rather than trying to choose them under the artificial lighting of a conventional showroom.
With rising fuel prices, economy is becoming increasingly important and their high-efficiency turbocharged common rail diesel engines ensure the Vito vans offer savings at the pump compared with the petrol engines they have replaced.
Once the choices have been made, Carpet One representatives will arrange delivery and installation of the new floor coverings. An expanding range of samples was among the reasons Phil Harrison sought out a larger vehicle and ultimately decided to standardize on the Vito. “There can be as many as 1000 samples in the van these days,” he explains. “There can be 400-500 carpet samples alone, so there’s quite a bit of weight involved.”
But in the final analysis it was the heart that ruled the head, just as it is most likely to be for Carpet One’s customers. While performance is important, ultimately it’s the appearance that largely determines the final choice of floor covering. And once the important parameters of size, safety and economy had been met, it was the stylish appearance that made the Vito van first choice for Carpet One.
Dealer and Service Network Trucks
Sales/Service/Parts
Trucks & Trailers Ltd (Auck) Trucks & Trailers Ltd (P.Nth) SouthStar Freightliner (Chch) Trucks South Ltd (Timaru)
Trucks
MB/S/F MB/S/F F MB/S
Ph: Ph: Ph: Ph:
09 06 03 03
262 356 359 687
2465 8589 7913 4133
Service/Parts – MB/S/F
Keith Andrews Trucks (Wang) Truck City (Auck) Tidd Ross Todd (Ham) Tidd Ross Todd (Mt Mang) Jim Young Motors (Napier) W.R. Phillips (New Plym) Highway Trucks Ltd (P.Nth) Wilmac Transport Services (Wgtn) Truck Specialists Nelson Dunedin Truck Services Invercargill Truck Servicing
Light Commercial Vans Keith Andrews Trucks (Wang) Giltrap North Shore (Auck) Trucks & Trailers Ltd (Auck) Ingham Sears (Tauranga) Ingham Booth Autohaus (Ham) Trucks & Trailers Ltd (P.Nth) Kirk Motors Lower Hutt Houston Motors (Nelson) Armstrong Prestige Chch Armstrong Prestige Dunedin
Light Commercial Vans Keri Keri Autohaus Truck City (Auck) G B Motors (Roto) Tocker Automotive (Taupo) Main Street Autos (Hast) W.R. Phillips (New Plym) Truck Specialists Nelson SouthStar Freightliner (Chch) Hansens Auto Services (Qstown) Dunedin Truck Services Invercargill Truck Servicing
Ph: 09 430 3900 Ph: 09 274 6523 Ph: 07 849 4839 Ph: 07 574 0471 Ph: 06 836 6126 Ph: 06 759 2051 Ph: 06 358 8702 Ph: 04 237 4433 Ph: 03 544 6090 Ph: 03 479 0150 Ph: 03 215 9566
Sales/Service/Parts Ph: 09 430 3900 Ph: 09 443 3808 Ph: 09 262 2465 Ph: 07 572 8260 Ph: 07 838 1317 Ph: 06 356 8589 Ph: 04 566 3903 Ph: 03 548 8204 Ph: 03 343 2468 Ph: 03 470 3030
Service/Parts – MB Ph: 09 407 8646 Ph: 09 274 6523 Ph: 07 348 7598 Ph: 07 378 9714 Ph: 06 878 5472 Ph: 06 759 2051 Ph: 03 544 6090 Ph: 03 359 7913 Ph: 03 442 9702 Ph: 03 479 0150 Ph: 03 215 9566
