Transporting concrete: Construction sites are the Moris family's bread and butter

Managing Director Peter Moris was first on the construction site this morning. He has to spray concrete. The bright LED lights on his Arocs 2840 and on the mast of the concrete pump light up the entire area. He is now waiting for Robin, one of his two sons, who will soon arrive with his Arocs with a concrete mixer trailer. Robin was also up early this morning, but first had to pick up a load of fresh concrete from Interbeton’s concrete plant.

While Peter Moris waits, he explains his vision, which he has been pursuing since the company was founded in 2008: "Wherever possible, we try to offer added value to our clients’ customers. The additional LED lights on my concrete sprayer and above the windscreen of my Arocs are a good example of this. Employees on construction sites often have to cope with limited lighting equipment. Lots of light makes a big difference to work and safety."

In 2008, he started his own business, but he has still continued to work as an operator as well. "At that time, Inter-Beton took over my employer. They deliberately focused only on transporting concrete and outsourced distribution to subcontractors. By setting up my own business back then, I immediately secured a pretty full order book in the provinces of Antwerp and Flemish Brabant."

Peter Moris chose an Actros at the time. Six years later, another Mercedes‑Benz truck followed. "The trucks can be used at any time and on any terrain, and have a good resale value later", says Peter Moris, just as his son Robin arrives at the construction site.

Following in his father’s footsteps.

Robin has followed in his father's footsteps – as has his older brother Nick. At almost 19, he was the youngest concrete mixer driver in Belgium. "Even now that I'm 21, you'll probably have to spend a very long time looking for a younger colleague, because the lack of drivers is also very noticeable in the concrete industry", says Peter Moris. Robin also works exclusively for Inter-Beton. He joined the company about three years ago instead of continuing his studies in electromechanics – he had well and truly got the concrete bug! Even before he got his C driving licence, he had already passed the test for a V number, securing the company's future.

Pjorre Beton's case is a family company through and through, because as well as Peter, his two sons and an employee who operates the second concrete pump, Peter’s wife has also been working for the company for some time, while Jan, their oldest son, occasionally helps out as a carpenter when the concrete needs to be polished.

And where did the love of Mercedes‑Benz trucks come from? It's not only the Arocs' reliability and value retention that the Managing Director appreciates so much: Mercedes‑Benz’s continuous efforts to reduce fuel consumption have also played a decisive role in his choice of vehicle. "Compared with my first Actros, my current Arocs is 20 to 30% more economical when both driving and pumping are taken into account. Those are convincing figures!"

Photos: Dirk Willemen