Peterborough based drainage company and sewer specialist Dalrod has a new flagship, a muscular 8 x 4 Mercedes-Benz Arocs with a wind-cheating StreamSpace cab supplied by city Dealer Intercounty Truck & Van.
A third-generation family firm, which next year celebrates it’s 30th anniversary, Dalrod offers a range of services including drain cleaning, CCTV surveys, relining, sewer renovation and pump maintenance operations.
The Arocs 3236LK is a real-head turner. It is finished in eye-catching Vanda Blue paintwork with colour-coded bumpers, and has a roof-mounted Kelsa light base, air horns and protective headlight grilles.
Whale Tankers, of Solihull, West Midlands, manufactured and fitted the vehicle’s vacuum system and tank capable of carrying up to 4,000 gallons (18,000 litres) of waste; a high-pressure jetting hose is fed from a second, 250 gallon (1,100 litre) tank of clean water.
The fuel efficient 10.7 litre Euro VI engine’s 265kW (360hp) output is transmitted via an optional 16-speed manual gearbox, specified in place of the standard fit Mercedes-Benz PowerShift 3 automated transmission to the meet the requirements of the ‘split prop’ PTO arrangement that drives the sucking and jetting system.
Key to Dalrod’s decision to purchase the new 32-tonner were the outstanding performance and reliability of a 26-tonne Mercedes-Benz Axor which has been in service since 2008, and a 15-tonne Atego commissioned nearly four years ago.
“At over £200,000 this vehicle represents a very significant investment for our business,” explains Operations Manager Derek Bullivant. “Our previous Mercedes-Benz trucks have been excellent – the 2008 six-wheeler is still going strong and the service from Intercounty is very good too, so we saw no reason to look elsewhere.”
Dalrod also operates Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Vito vans fitted with small jetting units. Another recent addition to the fleet is its first example from the new Mercedes-Benz Citan small van range launched last year – a 109 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY model offering an economy figure up to 65.7mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 112g/km, it is used by the company’s fleet engineer.
Dalrod was established in 1985 by Walter and Margaret Lane. it also has four regional offices and covers the entire UK, providing customers with scheduled and round the clock emergency services. The founders’ son Dave Lane is now at the helm as Managing Director.
Meanwhile the Arocs, which carries Walter’s private registration plate and bears Magaret’s name, in tribute to the couple who passes away some years ago, is driven by their 20 year old grandson Dan.
“I’ll typically empty anything from a domestic septic tank to an oil interceptor or foul pump station,” says Dan, who joined the family firm on leaving school at 16 and has held his LGV driver’s licence since he was 18. “I’m really pleased with the Arocs and realised that I’m very lucky to be driving such a nice vehicle at such a young age.”