Thought ahead instead of making it difficult.

Mike Philport, Managing Director at Precon Products, is convinced by his Econic: “The vehicle could be a real game-changer.” The special truck mainly operates in the busy city of London. “Here drivers have to deliver to many different spots, which is why easy access to the truck's cargo compartment is particularly important in order to move loads around and offload them,” Philport explains.

The expanding company, which together with three contracted hauliers has a fleet of 30 vehicles, has just moved to new headquarters. The staff have already delivered to prominent London construction sites such as The Shard and the new US embassy. “The Econic is ideal for getting safely through London's congested streets. Its particularly deep windscreen and glazed side door provide excellent all-round visibility. Because the driver sits lower than in a conventional truck, he can see other road users such as cyclists better in traffic and at junctions.”

Not only other road users but the driver himself benefits from the adaptability of the Econic. The 26-tonner from Precon Products features an innovative, fold-down side wall that makes it easier for the driver to access the loaded cargo.

Hydraulically extendable, 50 cm-wide footboards have also proved effective; they can be accessed via a folding staircase at the rear and extend along the full length of the body. This spares the driver risky climbing maneuvers when, for example, reaching hard-to-access cargo. When the footboards are in use, strobe lights are automatically activated at both ends of the platform.

The integrated fall protection system also ensures that the folding walls are always upright in this case. "I'm not an engineer, so I sat down with a bodybuilder and together we developed this design. There are already similar models on the market, but with those flatbeds the driver first has to manually position the footboard in a time-consuming way," says Mike Philpot.

The Econic used by Precon is equipped to the FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) Gold standard, a voluntary accreditation scheme from the United Kingdom that sets uniform standards for fleet managers in terms of fuel efficiency, emissions and road safety. FORS supports companies that want to guarantee customers and employees measurable, above-average safety and responsibility with regard to the quality of their vehicle fleet. This includes, among other things, the use of safety cameras and a turn assist. This puts the Econic in a strong position for the future, because compliance with standards to protect other road users and strict environmental requirements is becoming increasingly crucial in cities worldwide.