ISSUE 04 APRIL 07
Issue 04
DriveLine Contributor
Jon Addison
is one of New Zealand’s most experienced motoring,motorsport and road transport journalists, whose first vehicle test wasin 1967 – in a Hillman Hunter. He was the founding editor of industry-leading New Zealand Trucking magazine, a role he held for 15 years. In2004, with Sandy Myhre, he drove a Mercedes-Benz Vito 115 CDI van toa class win in the national Energywise economy rally, averaging 6.72litres/100km (42mpg).
The world’s first Freightliner Century Class 8x4 tractor units have been put to work by cementcompany Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd.2The DaimlerChrysler Commercial VehicleDealer of the Year award was made recently,along with awards for all the group’sother top performers.4Extreme testing – putting the Mercedes-BenzSprinter’s new adapative Electronic StabilityProgram (ESP) through its paces on the race track.5Even the design of a truck’s mirrors caninfluence fuel economy, as a majorFreightliner research project has established.6Is this the most spectacular Mercedes-BenzSprinter on the road?Meet the Magwarehouse mobile billboard.7A new sales consultant at Trucks & Trailersis hoping the transport industry doesn’tgo the way it has in Britain.8Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks rarely stopmoving on the Auckland to Christchurch“bullet run.”9The new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vanrange has collected awards at opposite endsof the world.10A new generation is taking over at rural family firm Ellesmere Transport, butMercedes-Benz trucks are still the mainstay.11Long-established Parts & Services Ltd hasbecome DaimlerChrysler brands parts andservice agent for the Taupo district.12The first lot of Mercedes-Benz Sprinterambulances are due for replacement– but St John staff are sad to see them go.13Check out the sharpest rigs around– DaimlerChrysler’s customers’ trucks on show.14Cromwell-based Summerland Express Freightbought a new Sterling for low tare weight,but has been more impressed by its high power.17DaimlerChrysler’s new Assist 24/7 programmeensures Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner andSterling owners get help anywhere, any time.18Tauranga’s Luxury Airport Shuttles sticks withMercedes-Benz vehicles because they are what the customers demand.19Aaran Pascoe’s first Mercedes-Benz tipper is25-years-old – ample reason to stick with thebrand for his second one.20
1Welcome to the fourth issue of Driveline, our first for 2007. This year hasalready produced plenty of headlines for the DaimlerChrysler Group andthere's sure to be plenty more to come. We're well on track to surpasslast year's record worldwide sales for the group.Without doubt, the star performer in the DCNZ stable recently has beenthe Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, the delivery van that has featured in awardsceremonies everywhere - including the European and British Van of theYear titles for 2006. The in-depth article on page 5 will make you wonderhow van buyers anywhere could choose anything other than the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter! Also covered in this issue of Driveline is the DCNZCommercial Vehicle Dealership of the Year and profiles of the winners ofour other national awards for HCV Salesman of the Year, LCV Salesmanof the Year, HCV Tech of the Year and LCV Tech of the Year.Now we are in the end-of-financial-year season, there are big purchasingdecisions to be made by many in the transport industry. Of course, we'dlike everyone to come straight to us, but the most important thing youcan do is ensure you are fully informed on all the available options beforecommitting. Please don't hesitate to contact any of our dealerships forexpert, professional information and advice.Best wishes for a safe and successful winter!Ian WalkerGeneral Manager – Commercial VehiclesDaimlerChrysler New Zealand Limited
Still DrivingAhead!
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When national cement manufacturer and distributor Holcim (New Zealand) Ltdneeded a version of the Freightliner Century Class that didn’t exist, the companycalled on Kiwi expertise to produce it.
“We’d been operating both Freightliner Century Class and Columbia6x4 tractors units and they’d proved to be very successful for us,”explains Holcim Land Distribution Manager Sean Leahy.“But in our business every additional tonne of payload improvesoverall fleet operating efficiency, so we made the decision to moveto 8x4 tractor units pulling quad-axle semi-trailers.“I’m not particularly keen on the boxy cab-overs in front of thesphere-like cement tankers – the bonneted trucks just look betterand Holcim takes a lot of pride in its truck fleet,” he adds.Sean Leahy was keen on the Century Class for its appearance, lowtare weight and competitive specification, but unfortunately thetruck was available only in 6x4 configuration.What followed was a round of discussions that involved, amongothers, Southstar Freightliner’s Trevor McCallum and Freightliner’sexport manager Kim Misenar.The result was the construction of the first 8x4 Century Class tractorunits in New Zealand – and almost certainly in the world, as twin-steers are almost unheard-of in most other countries.Says Trevor McCallum: “We probably wouldn’t have been able toachieve it without Kim Misenar’s input. In the end he shipped overthe two 6x4 tractor units with kits of the twin-steer componentsfrom the Argosy. The extra axles and wheels were sent separatelyon pallets.“The actual conversions were carried out by Truck City, with thecertification done by Freightliner in the US,” he adds.The twin-steer Century Class tractor units have proved to be moresuccessful than anyone expected – quite apart from the increasein payload from 27 to 29 tonne.Sean Leahy says driver feedback has been excellent: “With twosteer axles on the tractor unit and two self-steer axles on the quadtrailer, the rig actually handles better than a 6x4 tractor pulling atri-axle semi, where there’s just the one axle doing the steering.”One of the drivers, Murray Edgeler says many other drivers haveasked him about the twin-steer’s ride, particularly when it’s empty.“But it rides very smoothly and it’s just the same empty or loaded,”he says.
World-first FreightlinersFor Holcim
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