Fraikin has taken delivery of 100 Mercedes-Benz Ategos, with a further 35 due to enter service before the New Year.

The first trucks are being assigned to Fraikin's rental fleet of around 1,000 vehicles.

Business users can hire these vehicles by the day or opt for a longer-term solution with the Fraikin Xtend service.

Fraikin’s new Ategos are all 816 models with S day cabs, fuel-efficient 115 kW (160 hp) engines and six-speed manual gearboxes.

Economy is further boosted and emissions reduced by the standard-fit MSS (Motor Stop Start) system, which switches off the engine whenever the vehicle is in neutral and stationary for more than three seconds(for example, in heavy traffic or at lights) then automatically restarts it as soon as the driver depresses the clutch.

The trucks’ box bodies are supplied by JC Payne, of Aldridge, West Midlands, which also fitted their Dhollandia 1.0-tonne column tail lifts.

It is the first time in recent years that Fraikin has ordered Mercedes-Benz trucks in such numbers for its rental fleet.

Nick Solomon, head of procurement and supply chain at Fraikin said: “We have a lot of experience of the Mercedes-Benz product and the 7.5-tonne Atego certainly offers the performance, fuel economy, payload and exceptional levels of driver comfort that our customers look for in a rental truck.

“From an owner’s point of view the whole life costs over the minimum five years that we’ll run these vehicles are also highly attractive.

“We enjoy strong relationships with Midlands Truck & Van and Mercedes-Benz UK, and are very happy to award these important orders to them.”