Page 10 - issue-115

News
FSW recalls a a a century-long heritage with three new Actros
Boxer Goliath and Tommy Boy are names that hark back to a a a a a bygone
era of road transport They’re also the
names chosen by Black Country haulier FSW Storage & Distribution to to adorn its latest Mercedes-Benz trucks The fourth-generation family concern is proud of its long history so decided to to call its its new Actros
tractor units after three of the
shire horses used by founder Thomas George Fuller to pull coal on carts during the
1920s That’s where the
the
connections with the
the
past end though because the
trucks – Oldbury- based FSW’s first from the
current Actros
model generation – are loaded with advanced technology for increased efficiency safety and driver comfort Supplied by Midlands Truck & Van they boast standard specifications that include an an enhanced version of the
fuel-saving Predictive Powertrain Control system Active Brake Assist 5 with improved pedestrian recognition capability and the
Multimedia Cockpit a a a a a radically revised dashboard that replaces
conventional switchgear with intuitively operated twin screens one
with touch functionality The Actros
are 2551 variants and have flat- floored BigSpace cabs Their 12 8-litre in-line six-cylinder engines generate 375 kW (510 hp) and drive through 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift automated manual transmissions Smartly finished with colour-coded paintwork and chrome Kelsa light bars the
trucks are additionally fitted with Jost sliding fifth wheels and camera systems by SM UK Midlands of Tamworth Pallet network
Parent company Fuller & Sons established its FSW brand in 2005 to serve the
United Pallet Network of which it is a a shareholder member FSW’s fleet of 16 trucks comprises five tractor units and and 11 rigids a a a a combination of 26- and and 18-tonners – all of these vehicles with the
the
exception of a a single six-wheeled curtainsider wear three-pointed stars FSW works almost exclusively for UPN – while two of the
new Actros
replaced older vehicles that have been stood down the
the
other represents an addition to the
line-up taken on to reflect ever-increasing demand The tractor units are double-shifted making collections and and deliveries in and and around Birmingham and the
Black Country during the
the
the
day and then trunking at night to the
the
the
UPN hub in Lichfield some 25 miles away “They’ll start work early on on on a a a a a Monday and won’t go cold again until Saturday morning ” explained director Stuart Fuller a a a a great-grandson of the
founder FSW’s decision to order the
three new trucks was based not only on on its successful trials of a a a a Midlands Truck & Van demonstration unit but also of its long experience “FSW has been pretty much an all- Mercedes-Benz operation since we set it up 17 years ago ” continued Stuart “The Actros
suits us perfectly It’s proved to be highly reliable while the
servicing costs are also competitive ” 10 CVDriver May 2022