The Road To Efficiency

In a recent customer-invitation event, Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK used the Millbrook Proving Ground to demonstrate not just the technology and driver orientation of its latest vehicles, but also to explain the significance of its acclaimed safety systems

- Kieron Fennelly

Safety is now a massive focus,” says Sam Whittaker, director customer service & operations at Mercedes-Benz Trucks, “but until now people have not wanted to pay for it. However, we believe there is clear demand from boardrooms in the larger 3PL and haulage companies where directors are asking whether they can afford not to specify the safety systems that are now available. Pressure is coming from urban environments and the need to improve cohabitation in tight spaces between people and trucks and every time there is a motorway smash where a truck runs into cars.”

Active and passive safety is linked with the rapid development of other systems such as Mercedes’ Uptime and Fleetboard applications, which are designed to maximise the truck’s time on the road while simplifying its compliance with third-party requirements like CLOCS and FORS.

“It’s an involved if not complex message to convey,” says Mercedes-Benz UK MD, Mike Belk, “and we felt we could not get the right level of attention at forums like the CV Show. Coming to Millbrook, we have created a specific event which we have called Road Efficiency. By bringing an invited audience – customers nominated by our sales force as well as dealers – the intention is to lay on a day’s training which is engaging, but which is also challenging intellectually.