South Gloucestershire’s New High Spec Fleet in Service
ECON has delivered 11 brand new Low Throw gritter bodies mounted onto new Volvo chassis to South Gloucestershire Council…
, equipped with the safety and control equipment intended to make them among the most efficient and driver friendly vehicles in service in the UK.
Following a detailed evaluation of all the available chassis and gritter body types, the Council selected Volvo 6×4 and 4×4 base chassis with ECON spreaders and E-Ploughs, with a number of additional extras designed to improve the efficiency and lifespan of the vehicles.
The specifications by South Gloucestershire Council include upgraded axles and suspension; drum brakes that are more resilient to salt corrosion; automatic gearboxes to provide constant spinner speeds; rear hopper cameras and weigh cells for easier accurate loading; SPARGO controls; and vehicle tracking systems.
“Our new fleet really is specified to be the most adaptable, efficient and durable that we could possibly need over the lifetime of the fleet,” said Owen Jenkins, Highways Manager of South Gloucestershire Council.
“In recent years we have been highly praised for the quality of our winter maintenance programme, even winning the prestigious Public Service Excellence Award in 2010 and it is a service something that we take great pride in delivering for tax payers.”
“These new ECON vehicles will make salt stocks and fuel budgets stretch further, and allow for quicker reloading, that will boost the number of miles of road we can preventatively treat ice or clear snow in every shift.”
“We also provide winter maintenance services commercially for over 30 local clients, including businesses and schools, and the new improved fleet will have a vital role in getting the local community and economy moving again, after the heavy snowfalls we have seen in recent winters,” he added.
All 45 of the Council’s drivers have been fully trained in the operation of the new vehicles by ECON following their delivery, ready for the imminent winter season.
The new vehicles were showcased at a press event at Filton Airfield near Bristol on the last weekend of October, where all 11 new vehicles were unveiled to assembled media in Red Arrows formation on the runway (pictured).
Tags: Econ, Low THorw, SOuth Gloucestershire
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