William Nicol
Aberdeen-based bulk liquid hauler William Nicol went all the way when specifying its latest truck – the company is now the proud owner of a pair of range-topping Mercedes-Benz Actros 2563 GigaSpace tractor units.
They were supplied by Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles Aberdeen and boast the most powerful, 460 kW (625 hp) version of the state-of-the-art OM473 15.6-litre, six-cylinder engine.
Resplendent in William Nicol’s traditional livery – the company celebrates its 80th anniversary this year – the new trucks also wear eye-catching extras including chrome lightbars and accessories, and haul polished stainless steel Magyar tankers.
William Nicol’s first Actros have joined a fleet of 50 tractor units and 80 tank trailers, and haul chemicals, waste oil, animal tallow and other commodities nationwide. The company is so pleased it has already returned to MBCV Aberdeen with an order for two more identical vehicles.
Keith Nicol, a Director of the family business run by his brother, Managing Director Bruce, said: “We’ve had the odd Mercedes-Benz in the past and they’ve always been good solid trucks. They also command strong residual values – I buy and sell used vehicles and there’s always competition for anything with a three-pointed star on the front.
“This also explains why we tend to specify bigger engines; they’re what second-hand buyers, particularly owner-drivers, want. But they also make short work of the hilly terrain and long distances we have to negotiate on runs to the south of England.”
He continued: “We value our drivers highly and like to provide them with the best, most comfortable vehicles. The GigaSpace cab is extremely well designed, with high quality materials and bags of storage space, and we’ve additionally equipped our Actros with microwaves, fridges and televisions.
“If you give a driver a top-quality vehicle he knows he’s highly regarded, and will take pride in the standard of service he provides, as well as looking after the truck more carefully. That’s good for our drivers, our customers and our own business too, and means the extra cost of the vehicle is a very small price to pay.”
The Actros were presented to Bruce and Keith Nicol by Vincente Connolly, Director National Sales for Mercedes-Benz & FUSO Trucks, at their headquarters in Portlethen, to the south of Aberdeen. The site is also home to the company’s ‘museum’, a collection of historic steam engines and classic trucks maintained by a team of enthusiasts, led by General Manager Gary Thomson, and regularly displayed at shows and exhibitions.
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