MJ Slater reaches twin peaks of exclusivity with awesome Actros Edition 2s from Ciceley Commercials
Cumbria’s MJ Slater is holding a pair of aces in the shape of two stunning, limited-edition Mercedes-Benz tractor units.
Just 400 Actros Edition 2s have been built for customers worldwide, and of these a handful reached the UK. Only by getting its order in very early was MJ Slater able to bag a brace.
Having set its first Edition 2 on the road late last year, the Carlisle-based operator has now taken delivery of the second. Both arrived via the local branch of Dealer Ciceley Commercials.
Long-serving drivers David Johnston and Leszek Kozyra have been entrusted with MJ Slater’s new flagships – and earned instant bragging rights among colleagues who all enjoy top-class, highly specified trucks. The fleet also includes a three-year-old unit from the previous Actros1 line of limited-run Mercedes-Benz ‘specials’.
One of the best-looking trucks on the road, the Mercedes-Benz Actros Edition 2 showcases the manufacturer’s industry-leading efficiency and safety technology, while simultaneously elevating driver appeal to a new level.
Mick Slater“The final, and possibly most important, piece of the jigsaw, is the excellent relationship we enjoy with Ciceley Commercials. Sales Executive Mike Ferguson knows our business and understands our requirements very well, while his service department colleagues will always do their utmost to carry out any work on our vehicles at times that best suit our busy operating schedule."
Established in 1988, MJ Slater offers general and specialised haulage services, as well as next-day deliveries. Its nine trucks, the majority of which are from Mercedes-Benz, operate throughout the UK, hauling mainly steel and concrete for importers, manufacturers and stockholders, and working with standard, extendable, urban flatbed and Euroliner trailers.
Its latest trucks are easily recognisable thanks to their Moonstone Grey grilles and sun visors – each incorporating four additional LED headlights – above which are deep black panels with EDITION 2 lettering. Other external highlights include illuminated three-pointed stars in dark chrome with black closed covers, gloss black trim, stainless steel entrance steps, three more LED headlights behind the cab, and chassis frame covers.
Their Gigaspace cabs, meanwhile, are every bit as eye-catching on the inside. An abundance of stitched black Nappa leather contrasts with dashboard components in carbon. There are sliding and tilting sunroofs, eight colours of ambient lighting, and drivers’ suspension seats that incorporate climate and massage functions.
The trucks also boast rear wall locker systems complete with microwave ovens and flat screen TVs, while a brushed and polished aluminium badge on the co-driver’s side hails each Edition 2 as “One of 400”.
“We don’t hold back when it comes to choosing the best, most highly appointed trucks for our drivers,” said Managing Director Mick Slater. “We consider it only fair, as they spend so much time in their vehicles.
“Our work means the lads are almost always away all week, every week – they spend more time in the cab than they do at home, so we want to make the living experience as comfortable as possible for them.”
David Johnston, driver of the first Edition 2, said: “It’s a fantastic truck, with lots of space and a real luxury feel. Unsurprisingly, it draws a lot of attention and admiration from other drivers out on the road.”
Leszek Kozyra added: “My new cab has all the home comforts I could wish for and it looks great too. The Edition 2 is a real driver’s truck.”
The new units lead the way when it comes to safety and efficiency as well. MirrorCam, Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ pioneering alternative to conventional mirrors, is fitted as standard on all Actros. So, too, are the latest version of Predictive Powertrain Control, which manages gear changes to optimise fuel economy, and Active Brake Assist 5, the emergency braking system that outperforms its rivals, particularly in its responses to pedestrians stepping into the vehicle’s path.
Edition 2 drivers also benefit from the upgraded interactive version of the radical, twin-screen Multimedia Cockpit, which boasts a larger, 12in instrument panel and comes with extra functionality, including satellite navigation. Other items on the lengthy specification list include Proximity Control Assist, Bi-xenon headlamps with a cleaning system, and LED tail-lights.
“They’re such smart-looking trucks and very good on fuel too, even with loads that are always heavy and usually far from aerodynamic,” continued Mick Slater.
“All of this explains why, since we bought our first Actros in 2012, Mercedes-Benz has gone on to claim the lion’s share of our fleet. We also have another highly specified tractor on order from Ciceley Commercials, which is due for delivery in the autumn.”
MJ Slater boasts a strong family ethos – Mick Slater’s wife Angela runs the office, and son Callum and son-in-law Samuel are drivers. Edition 2 driver David Johnston, meanwhile, is the uncle of Traffic Manager John Johnston.
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⚽ 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
💬 More great feedback for our Carlisle team!
This is what we`re all about — great service and working to keep you moving.
👉 Book your next visit with our team by contacting them today
https://ow.ly/baCN50WXZVc
⭐ Excellent feedback for our Carlisle team! ⭐
We’re proud to support businesses in Carlisle and beyond, keeping vehicles on the road and running smoothly.
Get in touch with the team to book your vehicle in today.
https://ow.ly/eI1l50WXZPK
We were proud to play our part in powering Sam Fender’s People Watching Tour – the first live music tour in the UK & Ireland to run entirely on electric trucks ⚡🎶
When called upon to urgently mobilise an additional Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, our teams in Bolton Service, Sales Support, Accounts, and Digital Services Consultant worked flat out to register, prep and deliver the vehicle within hours – ensuring the tour stayed on schedule and made it across to Northern Ireland.
This was a landmark moment for sustainable entertainment logistics, and we’re delighted we could play a part in making it happen.
The Advantage event is here!
Pop in and see the team or book your appointment on our website. These fantastic offers are only available this week.
Come and visit us at Ciceley Commercials Ltd, Commercial Road, Darwen, BB3 0DB.
📸 Proud moment!
We’ve supplied CoolVan with their first Mercedes-Benz van — the beginning of something special.
CoolVan are experts in fridge & freezer conversions & like us, they believe in doing things properly. Together, we’ll be delivering outstanding refrigerated vehicles for customers who demand quality & sustainability.
Huge shout-out to everyone involved. More vans on the way!
Last week we were delighted to join Bardsleys Garage & Recovery in celebrating their incredible 60th anniversary 🎉.
Built on strong family values and decades of dedicated service to the Atherton community, this milestone is truly something to be proud of.
The day was filled with community spirit, from the charity raffle (where we were pleased to donate a branded jacket) to the exciting handover of two brand-new Mercedes-Benz Citan vans to support their growing operations.
A huge congratulations to the Bardsleys family on this remarkable journey—here’s to the next chapter of success and many more years at the heart of Atherton! 🚐✨
🚐✨ The Mercedes-Benz Vans Advantage Event is here! ✨🚐
From 15th – 20th September, we’re offering exclusive savings on a wide range of Mercedes-Benz vans at our Darwen dealership.
✅ Test drive the latest models
✅ Explore electric & diesel options
✅ Speak to our expert team about finance & features
✅ Grab deals only available during this event
Don’t miss out on big savings, book your appointment today.
📅 Save the date: 15–20 September 2025
⭐ Customer Spotlight ⭐
Competitive prices, five-star service, and a new Sprinter that’s a dream to drive. 🚐✨
We love helping customers find the perfect vehicle — from first enquiry to the moment they’re on the road. 💪
🏁 We made it! The eActros 600 has completed the @ev_rally, finishing at beautiful Tatton Park, Cheshire 🌳⚡
A huge thank you to everyone involved in making this journey possible 🙌
@ev_rally @greenfleet_events
#evrally #explorer #collaboration
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