JC Balls & Sons is adding three Mercedes-Benz Arocs 6x4 trucks to its fleet.
The Derbyshire-based firm which offers excavation, earthmoving, plant hire and recycling services, chose 6x4 Arocs chassis rather than the 8x4 version preferred by most operators for its higher payload capacity.
Supplied by Derby Dealer Mertrux, its Arocs 2635Ks have ClassicSpace M-cabs and are powered by 7.7-litre engines producing 354hp. They are fitted with lightweight, all-steel Thompsons Stonemaster bodies, and tip the scales at an unladen 10,700kg.
“That translates into a highly competitive 15-tonne payload capacity,” said Jamie Balls, whose grandfather Jim founded the company in 1963 with a single digger.
“A 6x4 truck is a lot more manoeuvrable than an eight-wheeler, which is a big advantage on some of the roads in this area. Also, of course, the lighter vehicle comes at a lower purchase price, and is cheaper to operate too.”
JC Balls tends to fulfil its highways commitments during the summer months; for the remainder of the year its tippers are assigned to general duties, including aggregates and muckaway work.
The company runs a fleet of 38 trucks; most are six- and eight-wheeled tippers, some of which are also equipped with grabs, although the line-up also includes a pair of tractor units that pull low-loader trailers.
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