Mercedes-Benz Actros Fuel Challenger wins its place in HPH fleet
HPH is running its first Mercedes-Benz trucks, after an Actros Fuel Challenger trounced the operator’s fleet favourite and a vehicle by a third manufacturer.
The Preston-based haulier has now added four Actros 2545 tractor units to its 60-strong fleet. They arrived via the Blackburn branch of Dealer Ciceley Commercials and have been hailed as “absolutely fantastic” by its drivers.
HPH picked a real-life, day and night application as the battleground for its month-long, three-way fuel fight. Its new Actros have now been assigned to the same operation, which entails hauling tissue products between Cumbria, Lancashire and North Wales. Following HPH’s typical truck use pattern they will stay on this high-mileage job for a year, during which each will rack up some 250,000 km, then switch to less intensive, single-shift general work.
Steve Sugden"While I prefer not to quote specific figures, it’s fair to say that Ciceley’s Actros demonstrator performed exceptionally well, its mpg returns putting it ahead of the competition by a clear margin.”
The Actros are the subject of a CharterWay contract hire agreement which includes tyres, from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services.
General Manager Steve Sugden said: “We’d been running trucks by the same manufacturer for some years but felt the time was now right to take a look at what the competition can offer. Having also seen and heard a number of reports about other operators making significant fuel savings with the Actros, we were particularly keen to see what the
Mercedes-Benz truck could do.
He continued: “Other factors were important too, of course. The price had to be right and we wanted our drivers to be happy, while we also demand very high standards of support. Ciceley’s after sales performance will be measured carefully over the coming months and years, but we’ve been given all the right assurances and are confident that we’ve made the correct choice.”
HPH began trading as H Parkinson Haulage more than 60 years ago, and has served clients in the paper industry almost since its inception. Today, it offers transport and warehousing services to a range of sectors and is proudof its commitment to minimise impact on the environment by constant efforts to reduce consumption of fuel, water, energy and materials. The company also runs a fully equipped truck workshop with two dedicated DVSA Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) lanes.
The Mercedes-Benz Fuel Challenger programme invites operators to put an Actros to work on their fleet, then compare its diesel consumption with the best of their own vehicles. The truck bearing the three-pointed star has won 90% of the 310 Fuel Challenges completed since the first took place in 2014, achieving average fuel savings of 7.5%.
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Great feedback for our Blackburn Service Team!⭐️
A huge thank you to the customer for their fantastic feedback, you can read more of our testimonials here: https://www.ciceley.com/testimonials/
The Mercedes-Benz diesel van range is built to keep your business moving. From the compact Citan to the versatile Vito and award-winning Sprinter, we’ve got the perfect van for every job.
🔥 Exclusive offers available now:
✅ Citan from £185* per month
✅ Vito from £395* + VAT per month
✅ Sprinter from £609* + VAT per month
✅ Up to 30 years’ Roadside Assistance with MobiloVan
Don’t miss out — these deals are only available while stocks last!
https://www.ciceley.com/ciceley-vans/offers/diesel-offers/
*Terms and conditions apply, please see our website for more information.
Exciting News!
We’re thrilled to announce that we’re expanding into Scotland with a brand-new Mercedes-Benz Truck and Bus dealership at Eurocentral! 🙌
As a proud family-run business, we’ve spent over 50 years supporting operators with exceptional service, strong relationships, and continued investment in the future. This new site marks an exciting new chapter for us — bringing our people-first approach and trusted Mercedes-Benz expertise to a whole new region.
The Eurocentral dealership will feature:
🔧 12 workshop bays
🚛 Full sales, service & parts facilities for Mercedes-Benz trucks
🚌 Service and parts facilities for Mercedes-Benz buses
🧰 An Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) lane
👷 Around 40 new local jobs
Construction starts soon, with a temporary workshop opening mid-2026 and the full dealership launching autumn 2026.
Read the full story on our website.
🚛 Ciceley Commercials Joins the Actros L ProCabin Tour! 🚛
Yesterday we joined Mercedes-Benz Trucks at Route 74 Truckstop, Glasgow, for the Actros L ProCabin Tour — giving drivers the chance to step inside the next generation of comfort and innovation.
The Actros L ProCabin is more than just a truck – it’s a workspace, a rest space, and a tech hub on wheels.
✨ Here’s what makes it stand out:
🖥️ Digital Cockpit & MirrorCam for ultimate visibility
🪑 Ergonomic Design built for all-day comfort
🔋 Outstanding Efficiency that delivers every mile
We loved seeing everyone who stopped by to take a look inside, chat with the team, and experience the future of trucking first-hand.
Go further, cleaner, and quieter with the Mercedes-Benz electric van range. Whether it’s the eCitan, eVito, or eSprinter, enjoy zero-emission driving, impressive range, and fast charging times — all with premium Mercedes-Benz quality.
✅ The eCitan from £249* + VAT per month
✅ The eVito from £495* + VAT per month
✅ The eSprinter from £595* + VAT per month
Including:
4 FREE services
Up to 30 years’ Roadside Assistance with MobiloVan
8-year / 100,000-mile battery warranty
Switch to electric today and keep your business moving sustainably! See our website for more details.
*Terms and conditions apply, please see our website for more information.
🐝 From Hive to Jar! 🍯
Today we visited @eastlancshospice with our Beekeeper John to watch how he turns our MerceBEES hard work into delicious honey! 🌼
It was fantastic to share the experience with the hospice’s staff and patients, showing how the honeycomb is spun, sieved, and jarred to create the finished product.
This year, we’re proud to be selling our Ciceley honey with all profits donated to our charity partner, East Lancashire Hospice – supporting the incredible work they do every day. 💛
Our MerceBEES have been busy since we first introduced four hives and 320,000 bees to our Blackburn and Darwen sites as part of our ongoing sustainability journey. 🐝
🏁 On 5th September, our all-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 completed the 2025 EV Rally, driving from West Bromwich to Tatton Park, Cheshire ⚡🚛.
Along the way we:
☕ Recharged at Peak View Tea Rooms
🚚 Stopped at Sixt Van & Truck, Eccles
☀️ Showcased clean energy at Chamber House Solar Farm, Rochdale
🌳 And crossed the finish line at Tatton Park
Covering 248km fully loaded at 40t, the eActros 600 proved its range, efficiency, and cost savings – highlighting that zero-emission trucking isn’t the future, it’s here today. Get in touch with the team to put the eActros to the test
#evrally #explorer #collaboration #solarpower
✨ Another fantastic review for our Blackburn team! ✨
We’re proud to provide a service that makes things simple, stress-free and reliable for our customers.
Read more of our customer reviews here: https://www.ciceley.com/testimonials/
🍂 Autumn is here, and so are the chilly mornings!
Did you know that with the Mercedes-Benz app, you can pre-heat your electric Mercedes-Benz van before you even step outside?
✅ Warm and comfortable from the moment you get in
✅ Defrosted windows without scraping ice
All managed straight from your phone, giving you convenience and comfort whatever the weather.
❄️ A smart way to start your day as we head into winter.
⚽ Ciceley Takes on the Vantasy Football League! ⚽
Today, our Ciceley football team proudly represented us at the Mercedes-Benz Vantasy Football League at none other than St George’s Park – the home of England football!
Competing alongside eight teams made up of van drivers and Mercedes-Benz Van dealers from across the country, our squad battled hard and made it all the way to the semi-finals, finishing an impressive 3rd place overall! 🥉💪
The Vantasy Football initiative is about more than just football – it’s a fantastic campaign supporting mental health awareness for van drivers, many of whom work in isolating roles. We`re proud to support this important cause. 💙
A huge shout out to our amazing team:
Rob Claringbold, Gary Bridge, Jack Burgess, Matthew Coombe, Alex Lewis, Lee Holden, and Damian Holroyd – a brilliant mix from across our Sales, Service, IT, Accounts and Management teams.
Well played, team! 👏⚽
https://www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/vans/vantasy-football.html
#VantasyFootball #MercedesBenzVans #MentalHealthAwareness #TeamCiceley #StGeorgesPark #VanLife #FootballForGood
🌍 Tomorrow we’ll be at GreenFleet LIVE! 2025 in Rochdale!
Come and see us to explore the latest in electric vans and sustainable fleet solutions — and chat with our team about how we can support your journey to net zero. ⚡🚛
We’re looking forward to meeting fleet, transport and sustainability professionals from across the UK. See you there!
#GreenFleetLIVE #ElectricVehicles #CleanFleet #NetZero #LCV #Sustainability #CiceleyCommercials
☀️ Our eActros 400 has been out and about in sunny Scotland yesterday, with driver training sessions led by Jordan Lowe and Richard.
Great to see more drivers getting behind the wheel and experiencing the future of fully electric transport first-hand! ⚡🚛
#eActros #ElectricTrucks #DrivingTheFuture #CiceleyCommercials
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