The company acquired the vehicle from the Peterborough branch of Dealer Intercounty Truck & Van. It works from the concrete giant’s depot in Dagenham, Essex.
The new truck is fitted with an 8m3 Schwing Stetter drum. As a 3235 L variant it employs a 7.7-litre six-cylinder engine that is said to produce 260 kW (354 hp) and drive through a12-speed Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated manual transmission.
The truck’s ENA configuration – single front steer axle, double-drive bogie and rear-steer axle – is expected to give it a tight turning circle.
Best UK Transport’s Econic is also equipped with Active Brake Assist 5 emergency braking technology, which has a pedestrian recognition capability and an electronic parking brake that is applied automatically when the engine is switched off.
Active Brake Assist 5 is claimed to combine camera and radar technology to detect vehicles ahead and stationary objects in its own lane, at speeds of up to 56 mph. Detection of a dangerous situation triggers a three-stage reaction. First, the system warns the driver with visual and audible alerts; then, if the driver fails to react, it applies partial braking; finally, if the driver has still not intervened, it initiates braking to bring the truck to a halt, applying the electronic parking brake and activating the hazard warning lights to alert drivers behind.
At speeds of up to 31 mph (50 km/h), Active Brake Assist 5 is said to be capable of applying full braking when encountering pedestrians crossing its path, approaching from the front or walking ahead.
Best UK Transport’s latest truck is covered by a three-year/160,000 km warranty.