Actros overall winner of fleet test
"The total performance of a truck must be right," is the summary of Joachim Fehrenkötter, head of Fehrenkötter Transport & Logistik GmbH, at the conclusion of his three-year fleet test with seven truck brands. To him, total performance includes a very good cab concept as well as reliable equipment, but above all service, parts supply, availability, opening hours and customer-friendliness. That is why the overall winner in the "total performance" category is Mercedes-Benz Actros. At the same time the Actros took second place in operating cost accounting.
Seven semitrailer tractors of the major brands in Europe were put into service three years ago by Fehrenkötter in order to compare their qualities in everyday haulage work over a lengthier period: DAF XF, Iveco Stralis, MAN TGA, Mercedes-Benz Actros 2, Renault Premium, Scania R and Volvo FH. During this time the trucks hauled farm machinery, tractors, trailers and vans all across Europe.
Over a period of three years the tester team of Fehrenkötter Transport & Logistik GmbH, together with ETM-Verlag publishing house and Dekra, meticulously gathered and evaluated data. The 2010 Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover is now the time for rendering account: in three years the Mercedes-Benz Actros covered exactly 400,984 kilometres; despite its big Megaspace cab it took third place in fuel consumption among the seven competitors with 33.5 l/100 km. As the cab dimensions partly did not admit of comparison between the competitors, the Actros was at a disadvantage here. On the other hand, in the category "days laid up" the Actros registered zero euros in charges in the cost accounting. That testifies to its reliability and bears out the "Trucks you can trust" claim of the Stuttgart truck people. In total operating cost it was a neck-and-neck race between the Mercedes-Benz Actros and the winner on cost. The difference of 0.41 cents per kilometre shows how close the finish was. But since the item "operating costs" does not describe all qualities of a vehicle, the Fehrenkötter fleet test awards a first place to the overall winner, according to the ETM-Verlag trade journal trans aktuell. With plus points for economic efficiency, cab concept, engineering, quality of workshops, service network and Sales, the Mercedes-Benz Actros secured first place in "total performance" to become overall winner.
