1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136 
"The drivers like the FMs a lot...they say they are comfortable the bunk is
Page 48
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
big" Nick Brackpool
Cranleigh Freight operates a mixed fleet of 125 Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Oaf trucks on UK and European long-haul and distribution work. Sixty trucks, including three Ax2 FM7s, run out of the company's HQ, which is based at Cranleigh, in leafy Surrey.
"We wanted to replace a couple of Mercedes-Benz 1820s used on distribution work. The first of the FMs was a cancelled order, offered to us at the right price," transport manager Nick Brackpool told us. "It went on the road last February, followed by a second in June, and there are some more to come next month.
"They are a bit heavier than we had hoped. With an 8.0m curtain-sided body and tail-lift, the payload is only 9.0 tonnes. We have taken them an a five-year operational lease, as we have our own workshops. They are easy to service. Both are 250s fitted with sleeper cabs and air conditioning. They will work mainly in the UK, but have the possibility of running abroad as well. On average they cover 70,00080,000km a year.
"Very early on the first one suffered from very noisy brakes. The dealer changed the linings, which sorted it out very quickly. Backup from MC Truck & Bus has been good: parts are delivered the same day or overnight, ready for use the next day.
"After driving the Mercedes the drivers like the FMs a lot. They say they are comfortable— the bunk is big. With the nine-speed box they are easy to drive; engine power is more than ample, and all-round visibility is good.
"It's a good truck for distribution—it's a bit higher than the old FL, but getting in and out of the cab is easy. It's on air at the rear, so the driver can match the platform height for docking. They are piped up for drawbar work 11 we need it," he added.