Mercedes-Benz Axor offers best of both worlds for John T Evans
20th October 2011
“In the old days,” recalled the proprietor of Barry-based John T Evans Haulage, “you’d either buy a ‘guvnor’s truck’ or a driver’s truck. But the Axor is both; it’s extremely cost-effective to operate yet at the same time offers high levels of comfort. So there’s no compromise to make.”
John T Evans has now bought seven new Axors this year alone. Like their predecessors, the latest pair are high-roofed 2543 models with 430hp engines mated as standard to Mercedes PowerShift automated transmissions.
“The auto ’box is excellent,” confirmed Mr Evans. “It contributes to improved fuel economy and reduces driveline stress, while also making the driver’s life easier – and safer – by leaving him free to concentrate on the road ahead, instead of worrying about which gear he’s in.”
The two new trucks are based at John T Evans’ Avonmouth depot. They trunk overnight to and from the Palletways hub in Lichfield – the operator has been a leading member of the palletised freight network since 2004 – then undertake multi-drop or general haulage duties throughout the South-West during the day.
John T Evans, which also has a depot in Newport, runs a Mercedes-Benz dominated fleet of 50 trucks. Half are rigids with gross weights of 7.5, 18 and 26 tonnes; the other half are tractor units, among them a number of premium specification Mercedes-Benz Actros.
“These vehicles are used for long distance work by guys who are away all week and therefore appreciate the extra space of their big, flat-floored MegaSpace cabs,” explained Mr Evans, who has just ordered another Actros from Euro Commercials, for delivery in November.
He continued: “My relationship with Euro goes back many years now, and the dealer has always provided a first-class service.
“The same is also true of our Mercedes-Benz trucks. We have several that have covered over a million kilometres and never missed a beat. Given their reliability, and the fact that they continue to look smart, we are perfectly happy to be running vehicles that are nine and ten years old.”
Indeed, Mr Evans has such confidence in the durability of Mercedes-Benz vehicles that he has also purchased several used trucks from Euro Commercials including, most recently, a pair of 18-tonne Axor curtainsiders which wear Palletways liveries.
John T Evans covers the BS (Bristol), CF (Cardiff) and NP (Newport) postcodes for the network. “We don’t rack up huge mileages on our palletised freight collection and delivery operations,” added Mr Evans. “So I’m quite comfortable with the idea of buying Mercedes-Benz vehicles which already have 300,000-400,000km on the clock; after all, at that stage they’re barely run in!”
Mr Evans founded the company in 1983 and continues to run it in partnership with his wife Helen, who is Financial Director.