Mercedes-Benz Econic commissioned for the UK’s city of cycling

The new trucks will spend much of their time working in and around historic Cambridge, which has been described as the UK’s ‘city of cycling’.  

The Mercedes-Benz Econic combines a panoramic windscreen and full-height glazed passenger door, with a low seating position that allows the driver to make direct eye contact with cyclists and pedestrians at junctions and in traffic.

This means the low-entry chassis offers significant safety advantages in a university city where, it has been estimated, one in five journeys is made by bike, many of them by students.

A leading supplier to the construction industry in East Anglia and the East Midlands, Huntingdon-based Mick George is the 2016 Tipper Haulier of the Year and a CLOCS (Construction Logistics and Cyclist Safety) Champion.

Like all of Mick George’s trucks, its new Econics are fitted with an additional safety armoury comprising five cameras, nearside proximity scan systems, left and right turn audible alarms and additional warning markings.

Explaining the company’s decision to purchase its first Mercedes-Benz trucks, Transport Manager Joe Gossage commented: “The Econic is one of only two bona fide low-entry urban safety vehicles currently available, and by far the more industry proven. That said, the procurement decision also came down to which manufacturer and dealer we believe can offer us the best service and breakdown provision.”

Mick George has a number of partnerships in Cambridgeshire, including a high-profile, five-year waste collection and disposal agreement signed recently with The University of Cambridge. In addition to the provision of a sustainable and fully auditable ‘zero to landfill’ waste management programme, the company’s commitment to the safety of local communities was key to its success in winning this contract.

“The safety of our staff, communities, clients, contractors and the people we work alongside is of utmost importance to Mick George,” continued Mr Gossage. “The introduction of these Econic chassis further underlines our determination to minimise the risk to vulnerable road users. The enhanced field of vision which this vehicle offers will be a real advantage to our drivers when navigating through cities or in complex situations, while its two-step, low entry minimises the possibility of injury when accessing the cab.”

Mick George invests heavily in the training and development of its drivers, all of whom receive practical and classroom-based instruction that focuses specifically on urban environments and the protection of pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. One element of this programme entails drivers getting on bikes themselves, to gain a cyclist’s perspective of what it is like to ride in heavy traffic. 

Mr Gossage added: “Low-entry, high-visibility vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz Econic will play an important part of our road transport operations future. Having made such a significant investment in these vehicles, we hope they will prove viable for future procurement decisions and can be rolled out to some of the other areas in which we operate.”

Over the last 12-18 months, the heightened focus on cyclist and pedestrian safety has enabled Mercedes-Benz to win a string of high-profile orders for Econic-based tippers, tipper-grabs, skip-loaders and mixers from construction sector operators working in London. Mick George’s are the first Econic construction vehicles to enter service outside the capital.

www.mickgeorge.co.uk