Efficiency at its best I'm sitting in a German truckstop,
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where I've just finished a fantastic lunch (see picture below). In fact, it isn't only the food that's good in this place. The toilets are spotless, it isn't expensive and there's an abundance of free parking. What's more, you can drive straight in and out of the spaces rather than having to reverse — which is a big deal when you're hopeless at reversing artics like me!
That said, while I'm the first to admit that I'm not the world's most experienced truck driver, today I feel like I've been driving them all my Life. That's because I've just spent the morning behind the wheel of a MercedesBenz new Actros with Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC).
It uses digital 3D GPS mapping to read the road ahead. Working in conjunction with the cruise control, it interacts with the Powershift automated transmission to adapt the truck's driving style to the given topography.
Because it knows exactly what gradient it's about to tackle, it accelerates, decelerates and applies EcoRoll accordingly. It basically makes everyone drive like the very best driver on the fleet — even me! Mercedes reckons this £1,349 option (on new Actros and Antos) will give you 5% better fuel economy, and will pay for itself within a year. It seems like a no-brainer to me.
I suppose you could argue that PPC does take some of the thoughtand decision-making processes away from the driver, turning them into little more than steering wheel attendants. But the jury's out on whether or not this is a bad thing... Will Shiers Commercial Motor — the official UK journal of the International Truck of the Year and International Van of the Year Awards