IN one of its largest fleet deals concluded to date, Daimler Trucks and Buses Southern Africa (DTBSA) handed over 77 Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks to Bakers SA Limited, an independently owned transport and logistics services company, based in Pietermaritzburg.
“This is one of the biggest orders that we have concluded with Mercedes-Benz Trucks, and as in the past, we are sure that we will reap the benefits, especially with the latest Actros Euro V,” said Abdul Tayob, Chairman of Bakers.
All 77 trucks are Euro V emission standard. The new Euro V models have the lowest total cost of ownership and are the most environmentally friendly vehicles on offer in the new Actros range. The New Actros Euro V reduces the harmful Nox and particulate matter emissions by up to 90% in comparison to Euro II emission standards.
As the amount of C02 emitted is directly related to the amount of diesel burnt, the global average fuel saving of up to 7% of the new Euro V Actros also means that CO2 emissions are reduced by up to 7%. The only requirements is that 50ppm Low Sulphur diesel is used. This is required both technically for the vehicles and to meet emission standards.
“More attention to the environmental and safety standards is becoming the norm. These aspects are therefore becoming increasingly important to us. As well as having a bearing on a company’s image, they have tangible economic benefits,” said Tayob.
The handover of Bakers’ new fleet serves to reiterate the decades-long relationship between Daimler Trucks and Buses Southern Africa and Bakers SA Limited, which has operated 99% Mercedes-Benz trucks since its inception in the 1970s.
Maretha Gerber, Head: Mercedes-Benz Trucks said that they had plans for a pilot digitization project in collaboration with Bakers to further improve uptime. “We want to be the benchmark commercial vehicle solutions provider that makes a real difference in the lives of our stakeholders. This includes everyone from our shareholders to customers. This alignment is one of the major reasons this relationship with Bakers continues to move forward,” Gerber said.