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Durham bulk tipping and heavy haulage specialist Banks Bros Transport has opened a new account with the arrival of its first Mercedes Actros Special Types tractor unit.
Plated for operation at up to 80 tonnes gvw, the 6x4 Actros 2648S was supplied to the West Cornforth, Ferryhill-based company by Billingham dealer Bell Truck and Van.
Banks Bros already runs six other 44-tonne Actros on bulk tipping duties but historically has favoured another marque for heavy haulage work.
“We’ve never had a Mercedes on the heavy side so we decided it was time to give the Actros a try,” says Operations Director Bill Unsworth. “The early signs look good. It certainly seems to be well on top of the job and driver Trevor Parnaby is very pleased.”
Banks’ drivers each have their own vehicle and one of Trevor’s regular runs in his new Actros entails transporting earth movers and other heavy plant items on a step-framed low loader, from the Caterpillar factory at Peterlee to a distribution hub in Cannock.
He is impressed with his truck’s well-appointed interior and 480hp engine. “The Actros cab is spot-on for comfort; that top bunk is brilliant,” enthuses Trevor. “The engine pulls really well while the double-drive chassis also offers excellent traction and ground clearance – some of the sites I have to go onto are a foot deep in mud but it never has any problems.”
Banks Bros Transport is a division of the Banks Group, which has interests in mining and construction. The transport arm works for its parent company but also for third-parties.
Its tipper fleet carries coal to the power station at an aluminium plant in Lynemouth, as well as transporting aggregates, animal feed and other loads for a variety of customers. The heavy haulage tractors also move dump trucks and earth movers for Komatsu, as well as carrying prototype and experimental vehicles to testing grounds for defence contractor BAE Systems. |
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