Truck operators from across Yorkshire and beyond were given a dramatic insight into the latest Mercedes-Benz safety and efficiency technology at Northside Truck & Van’s first Customer Experience Day.
Held at the manufacturer’s extensive Wentworth Park complex, near Barnsley, the event provided an opportunity for established and prospective customers to get their hands on a range of trucks bearing the famous three-pointed star, learn about the products and services that support them, and meet sales and after sales staff from Northside’s network of seven branches.
Recent winner of the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Truck Dealer of the Year award for the second time running, Northside hosted 45 local truck operators who enjoyed a range of presentations and hands-on activities.
Highlight of the day was a practical demonstration of Active Brake Assist 4, a key component of the optional Safety Pack available on Mercedes-Benz Actros, Antos, and some Arocs models.
Guests sat in the cab and experienced the awesome ability of the ground-breaking system to bring the truck to a halt without braking input from the driver. Nobody was left in any doubt as to its potential to boost safety for all road users.
“That was amazing,” declared Tom Peterson, Transport Manager of Bradford-based Freightlink Europe. “To be in the truck, see the technology in action and feel its stopping power, gives you a far deeper appreciation of its potential to prevent an accident than any amount of reading.
“The Mercedes-Benz Uptime system caught my eye too,” he continued. “It’s easy to see what a contribution it could make to cutting vehicle downtime and maximising productivity by helping to ensure that a truck stays out on the road, earning its keep.”
Tom was joined on the day by Director Lesley O’Brien, who runs Freightlink Europe in partnership with her husband Kevin. “It was great to have a chance to meet members of the Northside team, as well as fellow operators, in a relaxed setting,” she said.
“I particularly appreciated being able to find out more about some of the supporting products Mercedes-Benz can offer. Most vehicles these days are well-built and can deliver good fuel economy, so an acquisition decision often comes down to back-up, and the relationship between customer and supplier.
“We don’t run any Mercedes-Benz trucks at the moment. However, having seen the quality of the vehicles and learned more about the after sales support Northside can offer, there’s every chance that could change in the future.”
The Dealer’s Truck Sales Manager Ian Farrar said: “We outlined the advantages offered by the cutting-edge technology available on today’s Mercedes-Benz trucks, including Fleetboard telematics and the innovative Uptime system, which can reduce unplanned downtime and even predict a potential breakdown before it’s happened.
“We also gave our guests a thorough insight into the competitive funding support available from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, and the guaranteed quality of pre-owned vehicles marketed through our Approved Used programme.”
Active Brake Assist 4 employs multi-mode radar to monitor moving and stationary objects in front of the vehicle from a speed of 15 km/h, and sounds an audible warning when it senses potential for a collision. If the driver takes no action, it will apply staged braking followed by full braking power to prevent a crash, or dramatically reduce the effects of an impact.
The system incorporates a ‘world first’ in the form of pedestrian recognition. On detecting a moving pedestrian – even one stepping into the truck’s path from behind a parked car – it can apply partial braking, simultaneously activating acoustic and visual warnings, up to a speed of 50 km/h.
Uptime employs an array of sensors which monitor the condition of the vehicle constantly. Armed with the data they provide, the customer’s Dealer knows precisely what is required before the truck reaches the workshop, so parts can be ordered in advance and sufficient time allocated to complete all tasks in a single visit.
