Aberdeenshire Council recently added eight new refuse trucks and one new vacuum tanker truck to its fleet, all of which are Mercedes-Benz Econic 2630L models. The 6x2 trucks feature 7.7-litre, 299-horsepower (223-kilowatt) engines, six-speed Allison automatic transmissions, and rear-steer axles.
The refuse trucks all have Farid Hillend Engineering compactor bodies with an additional pod for storing recyclable food waste, and the tanker has water tanks and a vacuum system built and installed by Whale Tankers. The 26-tonne vacuum tanker can support larger tanks compared to its 18-tonne predecessor for a “combined capacity of 11,800 litres of clean and dirty water,” according to Mercedes-Benz.
Enhanced Visibility & Safety
Aberdeenshire Council is no stranger to Mercedes-Benz, and in fact has operated a fleet of 100% Econic models for seven years. One big reason for that is visibility, as the Econic features a panoramic windscreen, a glazed folding side door, and a low seating position. Other safety features include Active Brake Assist 4 with emergency braking and a Rearguard Assist system that uses radar to monitor the vehicle’s surroundings when in reverse and provides audio and visual alerts to prevent impacts.
“The Econic provides good visibility for our drivers, enhancing safety not only for our crews but also for the general public and particularly vulnerable road users,” says Paul Gray, fleet manager for Aberdeenshire Council. “The low entry step to the air-conditioned cab contributes to health and safety as well, by making life much easier for operatives who are in and out of the vehicle many times in a working day.”
Mercedes-Benz Econic Details
The versatile Econic platform is highly configurable, with four axle variants ranging from 18 to 32 tonnes in gross weight. It comes in low and high cab versions with wheelbases of 3,450 to 5,700 millimetres. Either the leading or the trailing axles can be steerable. Each axle has a full air suspension that is adjustable for height. Mercedes-Benz outfits the Econic line with 7.7-litre, inline six-cylinder engines. Diesel-burning models range from 272 to 354 hp (200 to 260 kW).
An alternative that runs on natural gas or biogas produces 302 hp (225 kW) and comes with a low 80 dB(A) noise rating. Besides the Allison automatic mentioned above, Mercedes also offers the Econic with a semi-automated PowerShift transmission with 12 forward and four reverse gears.
You will find a large selection of new and used Mercedes-Benz Econic trucks for sale every day on TruckLocator.