Staying safe this winter with new Arocs gritters

- Tim McNicholas, Fleet Manager, Worcestershire County Council

Sticking with the three-pointed star.

Local authority Worcestershire County Council has been busy prepping for chilly climates over the next few months. The governing body assessed its current fleet of 40 gritters, all bearing the three-pointed star, including a pair of 3.5t models used to treat car parks and other areas with restricted access, and decided to purchase new vehicles to help clear the way for the public during hazardous conditions.

Naturally, the Mercedes-Benz brand was their first choice, as Fleet Manager Tim McNicholas explains, “Our relationship with Mercedes-Benz Trucks goes back many years, so we know its products well, as do our crews. The trucks are very well built and exceptionally reliable, which is particularly important given the job they do.”

Pioneering MirrorCam.

Three new-generation Mercedes-Benz Arocs 2630Ks with ground-breaking MirrorCam technology were purchased. Tough and resilient, the models are purpose-designed for construction and associated applications with 6x4 drivelines and full steel suspension, offering excellent ground clearance and ideally suited to winter maintenance operations.

The first gritters to be fitted with MirrorCam technology, the system offers major safety advances including eliminating forward-facing blind spots caused by conventional mirrors. High resolution screens are mounted on the A-pillars and relay clear images of panoramic views across the rear and sides of the trucks. These benefits are sure to be appreciated by drivers working in challenging conditions on cold, dark nights.

- Tim McNicholas, Fleet Manager, Worcestershire County Council

Power, precision and comfort.

Each vehicle is equipped with a ClassicSpace M-cab and 9m³ body, the latter supplied by Econ Engineering, which is operated via Spargo Touch in-cab controls, and spreads pre-wet solution carried in tanks mounted either side of the hopper.

On-board weighing systems eliminate the risk of overloading and roof-mounted Kelsa bars with four spotlights further assist drivers. The Econ E-Ploughs have ceramic edges which allow the vehicle to plough right up to the road surface, clearing it of snow and ensuring that salt treatment has the maximum effect.

Taking safety seriously.

Worcestershire County Council takes its responsibility to keep road users safe very seriously. It is important they have the best team, vehicles and equipment to ensure routes are clear, especially during the busy festive period.

“When ice or snow is threatened, we need every piece of equipment to be available to keep the roads open and safe. We keep our gritters for 10 years, and experience has proved that over this life cycle Mercedes-Benz trucks do not let us down,” said Tim.

For this reason MirrorCam was a no-brainer along with additional safety systems including Active Brake Assist 5 (ABA5). The latest version of the advanced technology, under ideal conditions and within the system’s capabilities, can perform emergency braking when the truck is approaching stationary and moving objects and can enable partial or full braking when moving pedestrians cross its path, helping to reduce collisions.

Three more please!

The trucks are on standby, ready for the dropping temperatures, at four depots strategically located across the county. The local authority has been so impressed they’ve ordered another three vehicles to be delivered by the end of the year.

The gritting fleet is maintained at the council’s main depot in Warndon, Worcester – the workshop is managed on the authority’s behalf by Ringway. The highways services leader’s technicians are Mercedes-Benz-trained and have access to the entire specialist diagnostic and other equipment needed to ensure the vehicles perform at their best, when they’re needed most.

“Gritters provide a vital service to the community and it’s gratifying that Worcestershire County Council continues to trust Mercedes-Benz vehicles backed by our Dealer Rygor, to perform this role.”

How is your company preparing for winter?

Has your business/workplace purchased new vehicles like these top-of-the-range gritters? We’d love to hear about the Mercedes-Benz models in your fleet – share with us below or via private message.