Roger goes one better to land Mercedes-Benz Axor X
There’s no truck like your own truck – and for Sainsbury’s newly-crowned Driver of the Year Roger Plumley, the vehicle in question is a Mercedes-Benz Axor X.
Roger, who works from the supermarket’s distribution centre at Emerald Park, Bristol, will keep his ‘personalised’ tractor unit for the next four years.
“It’s a lovely vehicle and beautiful to drive, so it’s hardly surprising that I have some very envious colleagues,” laughed Roger, who also enjoyed a luxury weekend break courtesy of Mercedes-Benz, during which he had the use of a range-topping S-Class luxury saloon.
Roger previously drove Axor 2540s with standard sleeper cabs. His new Axor X has a high-roofed sleeper and as a 2543 model produces 430hp – that’s 30 ‘horses’ more than he’s been used to. This power is transmitted via the acclaimed Mercedes PowerShift 12-speed automated transmission, which comes as standard on Axor X units but which Sainsbury’s also specifies as an option on its ‘standard’ Axors.
“The extra power is nice but it’s the bigger cab that really makes the difference – it’s a lot more spacious and the dashboard (which has a high-quality brushed steel effect trim) is very nicely finished,” affirmed Roger, who has been driving trucks for 23 years, the last six of them for Sainsbury’s.
A record total of more than 600 driver colleagues took part in Sainsbury’s 2010 Driver of the Year competition, which was supported by Mercedes-Benz UK. A series of local challenges saw them whittled down to just 19, each representing a different depot, who battled it out in a grand final staged at the Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground in Leicestershire.
The action-packed day included a series of truck manoeuvring tests as well as Skid Car, 4x4 and Westfield sprint challenges. And having finished runner-up in last year’s competition, Roger was delighted to emerge victorious this time.
Dave King, Sainsbury’s Logistics Director, said: “Our Driver of the Year competition is proving more popular each year with our driver colleagues. It’s great fun, of course, but there’s also a serious undertone to the event – our drivers are the company’s ambassadors out on the road so it’s only fitting that their contribution should be recognised.”
He continued: “Mercedes-Benz UK provided several trucks for the final and was very generous, once again, in donating a number of prizes. The manufacturer’s support is greatly appreciated.”
Sainsbury’s has ordered 212 new Mercedes-Benz Axors this year – of these, 42 Axor 2543 tractors and five Axor 2533 rigids have gone to Emerald Park. With more than 750 units in service, this fuel-efficient model now provides the backbone of the supermarket’s UK distribution operation.
Roger, who was accompanied on his weekend at the Coombe Abbey Hotel near Coventry by wife Karen and their six-month-old son Max, recalled: “Driving the S-Class was an unforgettable experience; what an incredible car! If I ever win the lottery it’s the first thing I’m going to buy.”
