Kilnbridge upgrades fleet with 22 low-height Mercedes-Benz trucks

Kilnbridge has upgraded its fleet with 22 low-height Mercedes-Benz trucks. The trucks come from three model lines from Dealer S & B Commercials.

This outlines the company and its commitment to road safety and the protection of vulnerable road users (VRUs).

The vehicles will now be maintained under a five-year Mercedes-Benz Complete Service Contracts.

Kilnbridge operates from headquarters in east London, and its vehicles are now being maintained under five-year Mercedes-Benz Complete Service Contracts by supplying Dealer S & B Commercials.

Kilnbridge works alongside K-PLANT, their plant and equipment services business.

Thomas Barrett, K-PLANT director, said: “We had initial discussions with several manufacturers.

“Cost-effectiveness, particularly an analysis of fuel economy, was also a key priority. We trialled Econic and Arocs demonstrators before committing to Mercedes-Benz, and I’m delighted to report that despite some initial scepticism our drivers have now embraced their new trucks.”

“Steve Thurbon, commercial sales manager at S & B Commercials, provided exemplary support during the delivery process, working hard to co-ordinate the various bodybuilders and ensure our tight deadlines were met. Having spent time with Steve, I was impressed with his fantastic product knowledge.”

Kilnbridge works predominantly in London and the South-East of England and was established in 1992. The privately-owned company delivers ‘turnkey’ structure contracts. However, its new fleet will help it meet its VRUs targets and improvements.

Most of its new trucks are based on 18-tonne versions of the low-entry Econic, which has been awarded a five-star Direct Vision rating by Transport for London, thanks to its deep, panoramic windscreen, full-height glazed passenger door, and a seating position that allows drivers to make eye contact with cyclists and pedestrians at junctions and in traffic.

All 1827L variants with 200 kW (272 hp) six-cylinder engines and Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated transmissions.

Fourteen are fitted with Hyva skip-loading equipment, while Kilnbridge has also commissioned a single vehicle with cheese-wedge plant body by Sterling GP. Presented at the Freight in the City Expo, this is one of the first Econics to be specified for the transportation of plant.

The new fleet also consists of a pair of 330 kW (450 hp) Actros 2545 StreamSpace tractor units plated for operation at up to 68 tonnes GCW, and five 32-tonne rigid vehicles, all from the muscular Arocs construction range and powered by 290 kW (394 hp) straight-sixes. Four of these are 8x4 Arocs 3240Ks with Hyva hook-loading gear; the fifth is a low frame-height 8x2 Arocs 3240 L ENA model which also has a Sterling GP cheese-wedge plant body.