Old School Trucks: Ellesmere Transport — Part 2
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Two frontline livestock units back in the late ’90s, both unique-looking slimline eight-wheeler Mercedes-Benz
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A smart 3244 Mercedes-Benz, which was a second-hand import into NZ
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A seven-axle bulk unit in the fore of an 1834 Mercedes
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Typical of a rural-based company, fertiliser spreaders have long been part of the fleet repertoire
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A 3244 Mercedes livestock unit fitted with fibreglass crates
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Then came the next-generation Mercedes-Benz Actros; this six-wheeler 2643 model was one of the first to enter the fleet late in 1999
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A more rugged-looking 2643 Mercedes-Benz with a slimline cab and also a 6x4 version
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A later model 3246 Mercedes Actros in 8x4 configuration
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The sister truck, identical spec but with the more common fibreglass crates in the early 2000s
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Mercedes-Benz Axors have also been popular in the more rugged applications; this 2643 six-wheeler Axor pictured on livestock is a typical example
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Mercedes-Benz did not have it all their way with FH/FM Volvos entering the fleet in the late ’90s and early 2000s, including this FM 420 Volvo
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One of several similarly spec’d FH460 Volvos put on the road in the early 2000s
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A later model facelift FH540 Volvo, which had the sleeper cab box ticked when ordered
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It did not take long for the new generation FH Volvos to find favour in the fleet
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A 540hp FH Volvo on designated livestock duties
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The big movers in the Ellesmere fleet in recent times however have been the new generation Mercedes-Benz; this 2651 model bulkie was pictured when brand-new in 2018
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An impressive state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz 1835 Arocs spreader with a three-axle self-loading trailer in tow
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No rural transport company is complete without a curtainsided freight truck or two and they don’t come much better than this 3253 model Arocs
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Livestock cartage still remains the mainstay of the Ellesmere fleet and whether a Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, or otherwise, the fleet makes for an impressive sight on our roads
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Two frontline livestock units back in the late ’90s, both unique-looking slimline eight-wheeler Mercedes-Benz
|
|
|
|
A smart 3244 Mercedes-Benz, which was a second-hand import into NZ
|
|
|
|
A seven-axle bulk unit in the fore of an 1834 Mercedes
|
|
|
|
Typical of a rural-based company, fertiliser spreaders have long been part of the fleet repertoire
|
|
|
|
A 3244 Mercedes livestock unit fitted with fibreglass crates
|
|
|
|
Then came the next-generation Mercedes-Benz Actros; this six-wheeler 2643 model was one of the first to enter the fleet late in 1999
|
|
|
|
A more rugged-looking 2643 Mercedes-Benz with a slimline cab and also a 6x4 version
|
|
|
|
A later model 3246 Mercedes Actros in 8x4 configuration
|
|
|
|
The sister truck, identical spec but with the more common fibreglass crates in the early 2000s
|
|
|
|
Mercedes-Benz Axors have also been popular in the more rugged applications; this 2643 six-wheeler Axor pictured on livestock is a typical example
|
|
|
|
Mercedes-Benz did not have it all their way with FH/FM Volvos entering the fleet in the late ’90s and early 2000s, including this FM 420 Volvo
|
|
|
|
One of several similarly spec’d FH460 Volvos put on the road in the early 2000s
|
|
|
|
A later model facelift FH540 Volvo, which had the sleeper cab box ticked when ordered
|
|
|
|
It did not take long for the new generation FH Volvos to find favour in the fleet
|
|
|
|
A 540hp FH Volvo on designated livestock duties
|
|
|
|
The big movers in the Ellesmere fleet in recent times however have been the new generation Mercedes-Benz; this 2651 model bulkie was pictured when brand-new in 2018
|
|
|
|
An impressive state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz 1835 Arocs spreader with a three-axle self-loading trailer in tow
|
|
|
|
No rural transport company is complete without a curtainsided freight truck or two and they don’t come much better than this 3253 model Arocs
|
|
|
|
Livestock cartage still remains the mainstay of the Ellesmere fleet and whether a Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, or otherwise, the fleet makes for an impressive sight on our roads
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From the late 2000s to present day, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz continued to dominate the Ellesmere Transport fleet
Leading into the 2000s until the present day, you could be forgiven for thinking that whenever you see an Ellesmere Transport unit, it will have a badge with a silver circle with a three-pointed star in the middle or a round logo with an arrow on the top right corner on a diagonal line across the grill because essentially this is more than likely going to be the case.
Of course, there have been other brands represented in the fleet, however, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz have continued to dominate the Ellesmere Transport order book for the last two decades.
SK Model Mercs gave way to the new generation Actros models and, in turn, the Arocs and new Actros trucks began to dominate the fleet.
Likewise, FM and FH models became commonplace and were followed by the new generation
FH Volvos. These German and Swedish brands certainly rule the roost.
It’s not uncommon for rural transport companies to have next generation family involved in the business and Ellesmere Transport is no different, with sons Paul and Mark Righton heavily involved alongside father Murray, and growth has ensued since within the company along with further acquisitions (and truck brand preferences), which we will explore in the next couple of Old School Trucks editions.
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