As Mercedes-Benz only have 35 Edition 1 limited edition trucks to sell in right hand drive form in the UK, you would realistically expect that all of them would be sold to loyal Mercedes truck operators.
It seems that this is not the case. After Alex Lymer bought an Edition 1 – this was his first Mercedes truck as well – AAD Transport have bought an Edition 1 as their first Mercedes truck for their 33-strong fleet.
A general haulier, AAD Transport is based in Kirriemuir, near Dundee, and runs a fleet of 33 tractor units. Its new, limited edition flagship arrived via North of Scotland Dealer BLS Truck & Van.
Its imposing GigaSpace cab is instantly recognisable thanks to the gloss black grille, darkened headlamp covers and rims, and branded sun visor incorporating four extra LED main-beam headlamps. Like most Edition 1s, AAD’s truck is powered by a 15.6-litre in-line six-cylinder engine that produces 625 hp.
The Edition 1 is a showcase for the latest Actros range, last year’s International Truck of the Year 2020. Just 400 examples have been built and of these only 35 were made available to UK customers.
MirrorCam – Driver Acceptance
AAD Transport driver Gordon Taylor may be described as “an old-school guy”, but he was quick to embrace the innovative technology as well as the sumptuous comfort and eye-catching appearance of his very special Mercedes-Benz Actros Edition 1.
“Gordon is a highly experienced driver,” said owner and Managing Director Alan Davie. “Like every member of our team, he’s also a valued employee with a ‘can-do’ approach, who will turn his hand to anything the transport game throws at him.”
The latest Mercedes-Benz Actros breaks new ground in several respects but the most talked-about development is its MirrorCam system, which replaces traditional mirrors with rear-facing cameras that relay their images to screens mounted inside the cab, on the A-pillars.
“If I’m honest I wasn’t sure how Gordon would take to MirrorCam, because it’s quite a culture change,” recalled Mr Davie. “As it turned out, I needn’t have feared.”
Gordon Taylor, who has worked for AAD Transport since 2015, said that while he loved the luxury touches and effortless power of his new Actros, MirrorCam was one of his favourite features.
“I’ve found the system very natural and easy to get along from the first day I sat in the truck,” he revealed. “The more I use it, the more I like it. The cameras and screens provide a very clear view of what I need to see, particularly when reversing or making tight turns with a trailer.”
Mr Davie continued, “We choose highly specified vehicles that are great not only to drive and also to live in. The Actros Edition 1 fits the bill perfectly. Gordon told me he wanted ‘something different’ this time, and with all of its amazing technology his new truck certainly delivers on that score.
“It’s a fantastic vehicle but we pushed the specification even further by adding an optional coffee maker, microwave oven, home cinema system and Viesa cab cooler, which provides air-conditioning at night without the need to run the engine.”
Sealing the Deal
Alan Davie added: “BLS Truck & Van Sales Executive Chris Dyer was admirably persistent in convincing me the truck would deliver the fuel economy and reliability we need. The Mercedes-Benz Finance contract hire package he put together is very competitive, while I’ve also been given all the right promises about the level of back-up we can expect.
“The manufacturer’s Zero Tolerance on Downtime commitment certainly provides reassurance, as it means that if our truck is ever off the road for more than 24 hours we’ll be supplied with a replacement or equivalent contribution towards a rented vehicle. All told, it’s an excellent proposition.”