Military men Forge a new future with Mercedes-Benz Actros from Ciceley Commercials
Ex-servicemen Jamie Keen and James Rose-Shaw have recruited their first truck, a striking Mercedes-Benz tractor unit, and look forward to putting nine more into action.
The former brothers-in-arms’ Actros 2548 BigSpace tractor unit wears the colours of Forge Logistics, the Preston-based firm they established 18 months ago.
The truck is powered by a 12.8-litre, in-line six-cylinder engine that generates 350 kW (476 hp). Its flat-floored cab, meanwhile, boasts a TrendLine interior with leather trim, as well as the optional twin-screen Multimedia Cockpit, interactive, which comes with a larger 12in instrument panel and extra functionality.
Like all new-generation Actros it also features the ground-breaking MirrorCam system, with streamlined rear-facing cameras in place of traditional side mirrors, and a market-leading suite of other safety and efficiency technology.
The subject of a Mercedes-Benz Finance contract hire agreement, the vehicle will be inspected and maintained in the 24-hour workshop at Ciceley Commercials’ Blackburn dealership, just off junction 4 of the M65.
James Rose-Shaw“The Dealer showed a genuine interest in understanding and supporting our business, and its flexibility in arranging services to fit in with our shift patterns has been a great help to our time-critical work.”
Jamie Keen and James Rose-Shaw launched their business after serving together in the Army Air Corps, providing ground support services for Apache attack helicopters. Both completed multiple tours of duty in Afghanistan, and on board the Royal Navy amphibious assault ship HMS Ocean.
They left the forces determined to put their experience, determination and ‘can-do’ attitudes to good use in civilian life. Forge Logistics began working for one of the home shopping sector’s leading names with five Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans. Fast forward a year-and-a-half, and the company is running a fleet of 40 Sprinters. The new tractor unit, meanwhile, will be followed shortly by another nine Actros, which are currently on order.
All work full-time for Forge’s sole customer. The vans make local deliveries while the truck transports consignments from a sorting centre near Haydock to distribution depots across the North of England.
“We chose Sprinters originally because of the very favourable terms available through our customer’s arrangement with Mercedes-Benz,” recalled James Rose-Shaw. “They have been great workhorses, while we were also impressed from the outset by the care and attention we received from Ciceley Commercials.
Jamie Keen added: “Truck Sales Executive Matt Riley and his colleagues were very helpful when we decided to take the plunge and apply for our Operator’s Licence. Having also attended the Dealer’s open day and seen the fantastic new Actros close up, there was never any doubt that our first truck would be a Mercedes-Benz. We’re still on the phone to Matt most days, with questions about all sorts of things – he’s become a firm friend and we consider him to be an integral part of our success.”
Winner of the coveted International Truck of the Year 2020 trophy, the fifth-generation Mercedes-Benz Actros has raised the bar in terms of technological innovation.
MirrorCam enhances safety by providing significantly improved visibility when cornering or reversing, especially with an articulated trailer. It also cuts fuel consumption by up to 1.5%, thanks to the compact, aerodynamic profile of the camera housings.
Previous versions of Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ emergency braking system relied solely on radar, but its successor – Active Brake Assist 5 – uses a combination of radar and cameras. The result, at speeds of up to 50 kph, is a dramatically improved response to moving pedestrians. Active Brake Assist 5 employs full braking – as opposed to the 50% achieved previously – when encountering pedestrians crossing its path.
Other developments include an enhanced version of the well proven Predictive Powertrain Control system, which now makes a greater contribution to economy, while also ensuring that life at the wheel is easier for drivers. Mercedes-Benz Uptime, meanwhile, enables the vehicle to monitor its own ‘health’ and alert Ciceley’s Service Department in advance if attention is likely to be required – this means parts can be picked and an appropriate time slot booked before the truck arrives, keeping downtime to a minimum.
“Our first 18 months in business have been something of a whirlwind,” recalled James Rose-Shaw. “We were already working long hours to get things up and running when Covid-19 hit. While many sectors saw an immediate slow-down, home shopping really took off – Jamie and I have been flat-out seven days a week, for up to 18 hours a day, to cope with the soaring demand.
“Ciceley Commercials have been fantastic throughout, despite having to contend with the social distancing and other implications of the pandemic. Now we can’t wait to get our next nine Actros units out on the road.”
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Another amazing review for our Blackburn Service Team who continue to deliver outstanding customer service and creating a welcoming experience for every customer who visits us.
From expert support in the workshop to the all-important coffee ☕ — it’s great to see the team’s hard work recognised!
BRAND NEW DIESEL OFFERS - AVAILABLE NOW!
Explore the latest offers across the Mercedes-Benz diesel van range at Ciceley Commercials
Whether you’re looking for efficiency, practicality or dependable performance, there’s never been a better time to upgrade your van.
https://www.ciceley.com/ciceley-vans/offers/diesel-offers/
For more information and full T&Cs, please visit our website.
Making new best friends at the APSE event in Aviemore. Fleet, Waste and Grounds Seminar. Proud to have partnered with @fzuk.fleetservices for this event. #municipal #council #wastemanagement #truck #mercedesbenz
HAPPY WORLD BEE DAY! Have a Bee-rilliant day 🐝 #worldbeeday #mercedesbenz #greenerbusiness #bees #honey
We’re excited to be attending the APSE Scotland Fleet, Waste & Grounds Seminar 2026 this week, at the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort!
You’ll find us on Stand 32, where our team will be on hand to chat all things fleet, commercial vehicles and support solutions. We can`t wait to meet everyone.
#APSE #FleetManagement #CommercialVehicles #WasteManagement #GroundsMaintenance #Networking
⚡ OUR NEW ELECTRIC OFFERS HAVE ARRIVED ⚡
Thinking about making the switch to electric? Now’s the perfect time to explore the Mercedes-Benz electric van range at Ciceley Commercials
Designed to keep your business moving with zero-emission driving, lower running costs and trusted Mercedes-Benz reliability.
https://www.ciceley.com/ciceley-vans/offers/electric-offers/
For more information and full T&Cs, please visit our website.
Proud to see the first Mercedes-Benz Actros 2453 LS ProCabin Stream tractor unit delivered to R J Rich & Son Ltd by Richard Wilson, Truck Sales Executive at Ciceley Commercials 🚛👏
Designed for the highly specialised bulk powder sector, this impressive new vehicle will be transporting materials including sand, cement, sawdust and crushed glass — supporting the demands of local industry with a specification tailored perfectly to the job.
Featuring the 13-litre engine and a twin PTO setup to power both blower equipment and hydraulic pumps, this Actros is built to handle demanding operations efficiently and reliably.
The ProCabin StreamSpace configuration is still a relatively new addition to the Mercedes-Benz Trucks range, making this a standout addition to the R J Rich & Son Ltd fleet and a fantastic example of modern truck technology adapted for specialist regional applications.
Congratulations to the team at R J Rich & Son Ltd — we wish you many safe and productive miles ahead! ⭐
DISCLAIMER: Our Service Managers Are Lovely! #service #mercedesbenz #apex #chemicalbrothers #officehumour
🏆 Double Award Success for Ciceley Commercials 🏆
We are incredibly proud to announce that we have been awarded both Daimler Truck Dealer of the Year and Customer Service Team of the Year at the Daimler Truck Dealer of the Year Awards held at the Voco Hotel in Leicester.
These awards are a fantastic achievement for our business and recognise the commitment, professionalism and teamwork demonstrated across every part of the organisation.
Head of Network Development at Daimler Truck UK, Leonhard Niemann, commented:
“I’m really proud of Ciceley Commercials – they truly deserve this. They’ve worked incredibly hard, consistently delivered strong customer satisfaction scores, and are investing significantly in the future.”
Ciceley Dealer Principal, Andy Heys, added:
“I am incredibly proud of the Ciceley team and everything they continue to achieve in such a challenging and demanding industry. Their passion, commitment and drive to continually improve and do more for our customers is what makes this business so special.”
These awards not only recognise what has already been achieved, but also reflect the exciting future ahead for the business. Development of our brand-new Eurocentral site is progressing exceptionally well and remains firmly on track to open in October — another major step forward in our continued growth and investment in the future.
Thank you once again to every member of the Ciceley team for your continued hard work, and thank you to our customers for your trust, support and for continually inspiring us to raise the standard in everything we do.
#CiceleyCommercials #DaimlerTruck #DealerOfTheYear #CustomerServiceExcellence #Teamwork #TruckIndustry #CustomerFirst #Eurocentral
We’re thrilled to share that the team at our site has received another incredible customer review!
Positive feedback like this is a fantastic reflection of the hard work, dedication, and excellent customer service the team provides day in and day out.
If you need to book your van, truck, car or bus in for a service or repair, or if you require parts support, please get in touch with the team today — they’ll be more than happy to help.
www.ciceley.com
Plato Racing heads to Brands Hatch this weekend!
Following an impressive debut weekend at Donington Park, where the team secured a historic Qualifying Race victory and multiple top ten finishes we wish the best of luck for Round two of the 2026 BTCC season for Plato Racing.
Take a look back at the action from the opening race weekend below 👇
https://youtu.be/NPRR5KZVdwI
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