Acumen Distribution, which provides transport and logistics services for the UK automotive industry, has taken delivery of 25 Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor units to support growth in its inbound business.
Acumen now has 40 tractor units specifically engaged in moving inbound parts for the automotive industry, confirmed a spokesperson for the company.
“After rigorous testing we chose the Mercedes-Benz Actros primarily on its fuel economy, but were also impressed with the innovative interior and driver comfort,” said managing director Chris Doughty. The Actros sleeper cabs have good storage capacity, comfort beds and wraparound dashboards, among other ergonomic features.
“As we have taken these new vehicles on a three-year R&M operating lease, we are able to have good visibility of our costs throughout their time with the company,” added Doughty.
The new fleet will be based at the company’s depots in Redditch, Halewood, Burton, Sunderland and Ellesmere Port to cater for inbound and outbound parts distribution for the motor industry.
The Redditch and Halewood depots will cover JIT, and sequence inbound and outbound loads. Burton, Sunderland and Ellesmere Port will cater for inbound goods.
Parent company Acumen Automotive Logistics has been steadily investing in its fleet for both inbound and outbound over the last couple of years and recently bought the enclosed finished vehicle carrier company Enable from Stobart Group.
In June this year, Acumen Distribution’s sister division, Acumen Automotive Logistics, invested £750,000 ($1.07m) in four Scania tractor units to support its finished vehicle transport contracts.
