Mercedes-Benz 2646 Actros Owner Review

This particular Thursday in the pre-dawn light, the Brighton Transport hub on the Northern outskirts of Hobart bustled with trucks coming and going from the container yard.

In the distance, clouds loomed forebodingly on the horizon, hiding the towering Mount Wellington. Occasionally, the long, deep rumblings of thunder echoed in the distance.

Stuart Pearson of ‘Stu’ as he prefers, wheeled his Mercedes-Benz Actos 2644 into the parking area at the Brighton weighbridge with a loaded container he’d collected a few moments earlier.

“Been waiting long?” he asked as he stepped out of the cabin.

“Not long,” I replied before motioning to the dark clouds off to the south and asking if he thought the rain might hold long enough today to get a few reasonable photos.

Stu quickly suggested that we get going as he had a few containers to deliver in the morning before heading to the Coal Valley to load a container with export vegetable seeds bound for Holland later that afternoon.

The Mercedes-Benz Actros 2646 is aimed squarely at the single trailer market with a modest GCM (gross combination mass) of 62.5 tonnes. It is available in both sleeper cab and day cab configurations.

As one of the pioneers of vehicle safety globally and a leading voice in the safer trucks debate locally, it’s no surprise that the 2646 comes with the full suite of safety systems.

This model includes Telligent Stability Control, Telligent Brake System with ABS and ASR (anti-skid), Active Brake Assist, which applies full brake force in an emergency situation, and Proximity Control and Lane Assistant – a radar-controlled cruise control and camera to warn if the truck changes lanes without indicating respectively.

“Hop inside; in my opinion, you’ll quickly find one of the best-kitted European truck cabins on the market,” said Stu.

There is ample space inside for the driver to move through the cabin effortlessly. To maximise cabin ergonomics, the dashboard features a wraparound design. It’s equipped with all the necessary controls, which are within easy reach and have a logical layout.

The driving position comprises a traditional wraparound console, creating an authentic ‘cockpit’ feel for the driver, which has the advantage of placing all switches and buttons within easy reach.

Also dash-mounted is the park brake controller, just to the left of the wheel, allowing for quick and easy release of the brakes, while the PowerShift automated manual transmission (AMT) comes with a hill holder function. Stalks on either side of the wheel take care of wipers, indicators (left), engine retarder function and gear selector (right). The steering wheel is large but thickly padded for comfort, with a four-spoke design offering plenty of wrist support, along with thumb buttons to control audio, telephone and cruise control functions and multimedia functions.

Stu said the dash layout quickly becomes second nature, especially since the most-used buttons are placed closest to the driver.

The sleeper compartment in the MBAT 2646 Actros boasts a full inner-spring mattress. However, STU says there is little time to spend in the bunk on the short run from Hobart to Burnie but adds that it’s a handy asset.

Under the cabin is the 335kW (455hp) OM470 11-litre in-line six-cylinder engine that produces 2200Nm (1623 ft-lb) of torque at a little more than 800rpm, with nearly the entire pulling power on tap from around 900 to 1400rpm.

Getting all this power to the back wheels is the task of Mercedes-Benz G281 Powershift 3, automated manual transmission with a 12-speed direct drive. These are upgraded versions of the already successful transmissions of the previous model. These new gearboxes are tweaked to offer a faster and more precise response. On the road, the automated transmissions are a competent ally and require minimal intervention.

The rear axles are Mercedes-Benz 440-hypoid drive, that have run successfully in previous models. This particular Actros came with long legs 2.846:1 specked for optimum fuel economy.

There is no question that the vision out of the Actros is first class. The inclusion of wide mirrors gives terrific rear vision, and in addition, these can be moved in small increments for reversing. The ride in the cabin is first class. There is virtually no engine or road noise.

With the 2646, when a driver approaches a ‘Trucks Must Use Low Gear’ section of the road, they must prepare for the descent just as they would in a manual truck, selecting an appropriate gear before driving down the hill.

In the case of the Actros 2646, a driver can prepare for downhill descents by dropping the cruise control down to the desired speed, for example, 40km/h; the computers will manage braking and gear shifting to maintain the set speed automatically.

This is where the AMT offers an advantage over the traditional manual drivelines, as the computers can monitor all systems on the truck simultaneously and make adjustments as needed, rather than relying on driver interaction.

“Once we had some instruction on how to set up the Actros’ ECOROLL function to operate through its maximum parameters, we really started noticing huge fuel economy gains,” Stu explained.

Container handling is a crucial aspect of the global logistics and shipping industry. Efficient and safe transportation of containers is essential for the smooth functioning of supply chains worldwide. Hammar side-loaders have emerged as a valuable solution to enhance container handling operations’ efficiency, safety, and versatility.

Stu explained that Hammar side-loaders are renowned for their speed and efficiency in container handling. His side-loader’s unique design allows him to load and unload containers from the side of the vehicle without the need for additional equipment or the repositioning of containers. This significantly reduces turnaround times, leading to faster loading and unloading operations.

The flexibility of Stu’s side-loader enables him to handle various container sizes, including standard 20-foot and 40-foot containers, as well as specialised containers such as flat racks and open-top containers. A hydraulic ram inside the trailer chassis slides the lifting rams along the chassis to suit the container length.

When Stu arrived at the Bejo Seed warehouse in Coal Valley, he lifted the 40-foot container from the trailer and placed it on the ground. As soon as the container doors were opened, forklifts hurried out from the warehouse with pallets of seed bound for Holland.

Thankfully, the threatening rain had held off. Stu returned the loaded container to his trailer and passed a few pleasantries to the forklift drivers before leaving for the container yard back at Brighton.

He admits that the ride in the Actros 2646 is by far the best he’s experienced, especially over corrugated dirt roads. The vision and driveability of the Actros have pleasantly surprised him. In the meantime, the fuel economy from the OM470 11-litre engine is among the industry’s best in this class.

Stu concedes that the ease of entry in and out of the cabin is another favourable aspect of the Actros 2646, making this an ideal truck for his metro application delivering containers and single-trailer intrastate runs.

The Actros 2646 is now a mature model in the Benz truck model line-up, and its popularity is evident in the fact that used Actros 2646 models are scarce and typically snapped up quickly once listed.

Make: Mercedes Benz
Model: Actros 2646 6×4
Engine: Mercedes-Benz OM 470
Capacity: 10.7 litres
Horsepower: 455hp (335kW) at 1600rpm
Torque: 1623lb/ft (2200Nm) at 1100rpm
Gearbox: Mercedes-Benz G281 12-speed PowerShift
Retarder: Engine brake – standard system
Front axle: Mercedes-Benz, 7.5 tonne
Front suspension: Leaf parabolic with anti-roll bar, 7.5 tonne
Rear axles: Mercedes-Benz 440 hypoid with diff locks to both axles
Rear axle ratio: 2.846:1
Rear suspension: Mercedes-Benz air suspension
Brakes: Mercedes-Benz electronically controlled disc brakes
Safety: ASR with integrated ABS and traction control
Wheelbase: 3250mm
Adblue tank: Polished stainless steel, 60 litres
Fuel tank: Brushed Alloy (290 litres)
Cabin: M-Cab Classic-Space, with 2.3m head height
Bumper: Painted

Check out the following Mercedes-Benz Actros 2646 trucks currently listed for sale on Trucksales (as of Jan 2024)

2007 Mercedes-Benz Actros 2646 $90,000

2017 Mercedes-Benz Actros 2646 $165,000

2017 Mercedes-Benz Actros 2646 $140,000

2021 Mercedes-Benz Actros 2646 $245,000

Check out the following Hammar Sideloader currently listed for sale on Trucksales (as of Jan 2024)

2004 Hammar side lifter $90,000

2006 Hammar 195 $110,000

2007 Hammar 195S $80,000

2011 Hammar 195S $120,000

2012 Hammar 195S $120,000

2013 Hammar 195s $138,000

2015 Hammar 160 $150,000