The Mercedes-Benz Axor has carried off the ‘blue riband’ Fleet Truck of the Year title at the UK transport industry’s premier awards event.

The Axor beat off competition from DAF, MAN and Volvo to take the top prize at the Motor Transport Awards for Excellence 2005 gala dinner.

Ian Jones, Mercedes-Benz’s Managing Director, Commercial Vehicles, stepped up to collect the prestigious trophy. He told the 1,300 guests: “This truck was designed specifically for the fleet market and it is nice that we have been proved right. The Axor now represents half of all our truck business in the UK, and it is growing.”

MT said an impressive roster of fleet purchasers attested to the Axor’s success. The truck’s straightforward, in-line six-cylinder engine was optimised for torque and driveability, while security was another priority – Axor tractors had just received a seven-star rating from Thatcham, unmatched by any other manufacturer.

The cab had been refined to offer a comfortable, logical environment – the bunks’ new, sprung mattresses winning a special mention – while residual values were also strong, reducing whole-life costs considerably.

“Great after sales support, a very reliable product and the new facelift make it very acceptable for drivers,” declared one judge, while another pronounced it: “A strong, simple truck, ideal for national delivery.”

That’s certainly the view of supermarket giant Tesco, which has bought more than 1,500 Axor tractors since the model’s launch in 2002, over 500 of them this year!

Senior management from Tesco recently held a meeting at Mercedes-Benz HQ in Milton Keynes, where one of their Axor was on display in the foyer.