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Enthusiastic feedback from refuse crews to a demonstration unit supplied by Broxburn dealer Western Commercial was instrumental in persuading Fife Council to place its first order for Mercedes Econic trucks.
Fife joins a growing number of Scottish local authorities who are investing in the purpose-designed municipal chassis.
It is now running four 6x2 Econic 2629LLs with Geesink Norba compactor bodies and Combi Split Lifters capable of handling both domestic and trade bins.
The new trucks have mid-steer axles and low-emission BlueTec® Euro 4 SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) engines, as well the full air suspension that helps to make the Econic so quiet in operation.
Their low-entry cabs, meanwhile, have deep windscreens offering panoramic views, and are equipped with air-conditioning and the latest, five-speed Allison automatic gearboxes.
So it was no surprise that Western’s demonstration unit went down so well with Fife’s refuse crews. “It was certainly very well received and we’ve had no complaints since we set our own Econics on the road,” confirms Peter Findlay, Fleet Customer Manager for Fife Council.
“But, of course, as a local authority spending the public’s money, we can’t just buy a truck because our crews like it. We have to go through a formal tender procedure, with the final decision based not only on purchase price but also on several other factors, including service intervals, repair and maintenance costs, and residual values.
“Taken together they amount to a ‘best value’ calculation, and against all of these criteria the Mercedes Econic came out best.”
Fife operates a fleet of 60 refuse vehicles, the vast majority of them based on Seddon Atkinson chassis. The Econics are now running in and out of the Council’s waste transfer stations – as well as handling general household waste, they are supporting the Council’s recycling operation by collecting green garden waste and paper.
“Mercedes-Benz and Western Commercial have a great opportunity to secure further orders if these new trucks continue to perform well,” adds Mr Findlay.
Meanwhile, East Dunbartonshire Council is adding the first seven Econics, all Euro 4 models, to its Volvo-dominated fleet of refuse trucks. Four are 6x2 Econic 2629LL models with rear-steer axles and Farid compactor bodies; the other three are 8x4 Econic 3233s with Heil bodies. All seven vehicles have rear-mounted Zoeller rotary bin lifts.
East Lothian and Falkirk Councils will also soon be operating their first Mercedes refuse chassis, each having ordered two 6x2 Econic 2629LLs. East Lothian’s trucks will have rear-steer axles with Geesink bodies; Falkirk’s will be mid-steer units.
And having bought its first four rear-steer 6x2 Econic 2628LLs from Western last year, South Lanarkshire has since added another four, with a ninth in the pipeline. |
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