Low Entry Truck News (21)

The arrival of GRS Group’s latest batch of Mercedes-Benz trucks means the operator is now running the country’s biggest fleet of low-entry Econic tippers. The three new trucks take GRS Group’s Econic line-up to 15 – all are 3235 models, and were delivered by Dealers Motus Truck & Van and Sparshatt Truck & Van. Based…

There are a number of electric-only start ups that have come and gone from the electric commercial vehicle market – first was Modec which disappeared in 2011 and Volta, which has only recently been saved from bankruptcy thanks to a deal with Luxor Capital. Others remain on the scene such as Tevva and Electra, the…

Renault Trucks has revealed an all-electric line-up for waste and recycling operations at the Resource & Waste Management Expo (RWM) at the NEC in Birmingham. Making its UK debut was the new 26 tonne E-Tech D Wide 6×2 low entry cab with bus-style folding door and low step height for ease of entry and exit. …

Electric trucks are perfectly suited to refuse trucks work. Councils typically work to a green agenda. These two points alone should mean that the UK’s refuse truck fleet will be amongst the first to be totally electric. The only sticking point is the cost and therefore typical lifespan of these types of trucks. They are…

The Mercedes Econic has been built for some 25 years now. Starting off life as a 4×2 18 tonner for municipal applications, the model range has grown, as have the number of applications that the truck finds itself suited to. The low entry crew cab makes it ideal for many urban operations. Future developments see…

Prepare to see more and more electric refuse vehicles on the roads of our Towns and cities. Enfield Council’s duty cycle of just 50 miles a day for refuse collection is perfect for full BEV operation, even bearing in mind the additional power requirements of the compactor for waste use. As you would expect, the…

Gold Fish Transport saw a clear solution to the need for optimum visibility when working in the capital, in the shape of the Mercedes-Benz Econic. The construction materials distributor runs a fleet of 30 trucks from its base in Brentwood, Essex. Its first two Mercedes-Benz vehicles have just arrived via Dealer Motus Truck & Van….

Most skips are used in urban environments and the truck used to deliver and collect them can travel further than most dustcarts – with drivers in an out of the cab nearly as frequently.  This means that ease of cab access combined with excellent pedestrian visibility should be a must. It was these qualities and…

Totally Local Company Limited (TLC) had an exacting set of requirements for its latest trucks, and a pair of Mercedes-Benz Econics met or exceeded every one of them. The Stockport-based operator’s 32-tonne tipper-grabs were supplied by North West Dealer eStar Truck & Van and are now hard at work on a range of construction projects…

Mercedes has a goal in sight – which usually means the company will achieve it.  They are in the final stages of testing their electric Econic for refuse applications and plan to have it in full series production sometime next year. At the moment, the testing is being carried out by engineers with customer tests…

Expect to see more trucks of this type appearing on our streets – low entry cabs are better for the driver and crew and better for pedestrians thanks to the improved visibility over a standard truck cab.  They are no longer simply the domain of refuse trucks. Expect to see at least three more on…

The workshop is familiar with them, they are reliable over a ten-year working life, but the key factor in Moray council choosing four new Econics was the safety features. All but three of Moray Council’s 29 refuse collection trucks are Mercedes trucks. Vehicle Services & Compliance Manager John Pearson said: “We know from experience that…

It makes perfect sense for a council to buy the truck that is safest to use – especially when the truck is involved with erecting safety cones and other traffic management duties. That’s what Cardiff Council procurement chiefs did when they ordered two new Mercedes-Benz Econics to help traffic flow smoothly in and around the…

First Scania launched the City Safe window which was fitted in the passenger door of its low-entry L-Series cab.  Now the L-Series benefits from an optional ‘Scania City Door’ – an inward swinging glass door improving access and visibility for the driver. No news whether this will be made available in right hand drive form…

Greener Ealing is a brand new trading company belonging to Ealing Council (West London) and has commissioned 32 Econic refuse collection vehicles as part of a major investment in new equipment. The Econic Specification Supplied by Dealer S & B Commercials, the 26-tonne 6×2 chassis have rear-steer axles that enhance manoeuvrability and are fitted with…

The most impressive piece of news is that local councils are actually investing in infrastructure for providing services to the residents of the borough. Many councils will outsource the work or underinvest in a fleet renewal programme, but the ULEZ is forcing the hands of some boroughs. Lewisham has acquired no fewer than 39 Econics…

Scania has embarked on its electric journey with the trucks most used for local distribution and municipal roles – the P – Series and low entry cabbed L-Series. The company says that it will roll out new models every year from now on until the range is complete – including long distance haulage. For the…

Most people looking at the front of an Econic would think “Refuse Truck”.  There are an increasing number of operators recognising the benefits in terms of cab access and all-round visibility that these low entry cabs can offer. Of course, they are not ideal for every operation, but one involving a crew and local work…

If there’s one type of business that should be using gas-powered trucks, it’s the waste business.  Methane was an unwanted byproduct of running a landfill site.  As a gas it is worse for the environment than releasing carbon dioxide.  This is why it used to be flared off at source. Imagine capturing this waste resource…

In order to appeal to a broader range of customers, Scania has added their 7-litre D07 engine to their urban, low entry L Series truck that they launched as recently as 2017. Originally available only with the 5-cylinder, 9-litre Scania unit, the L Series was carrying quite a bit of weight for refuse truck operation,…