5-star award on the Thames.

"Transport for London", the umbrella organisation which has regulated the requirements concerning truck traffic in the British capital since 2001, has awarded the Econic five stars due to its extensive safety features. An important decision factor for Glencoe Plant Services when purchasing the Econic. Damian Kilcoyne, one of the operations managers, explains: "If you consider how often the vehicle will be out on the road in London and the surrounding area, the Econic can be the only choice. Safety and conformity were the very top priority in our selection process. At one of the manufacturer's events we were able to test-drive the Econic in advance and get to know all its decisive advantages."

Glencoe Plant Services is part of the Masterson Holdings Group and is headquartered in Chalfont St. Giles, about an hour's drive from London. With the Econic equipped as a roll-off dump truck, mainly recyclable construction waste will in future be transported through the urban bustle to recycling centres. "Up until now we hired roll-off dump trucks from subcontractors. The Econic makes us more flexible and more efficient," explains Damian Kilcoyne. Glencoe Plant Services maintains a fleet with a dozen vehicles, including two 26-tonne Mercedes-Benz Trucks fitted with concrete pumps.

The Econic was developed from the ground up with the aim of achieving high safety for all road users. This also includes equipping the truck with modern safety assistance systems. The Econic is fitted with the fourth-generation Active Brake Assist, which effectively warns of impending collisions and can initiate autonomous braking in the event of danger. An additional person detection feature helps to provide special protection for the most vulnerable road users.

Overview of all Econic safety assistance systems.

But the Econic also delivers decisive safety advantages by design: low panoramic windows and a fully glazed co-driver's door give the driver an all-round view of the traffic. The seating position, which is lower than in comparable trucks, puts the driver at eye level with cyclists and pedestrians even in complicated traffic situations such as intersections and tailbacks.

“Above all, the good visibility from the cab makes London’s streets safer for all road users. The fact that the driver can see more means that their time behind the wheel is also less stressful. The low entry and the easy passage through the cab provide even more safety, as they can freely choose which side to get out of and back in on,” says Damian Kilcoyne. Additionally, Econic drivers also benefit in terms of health from the low entry and the air-sprung driver's seat.

The Econic 1830 L's six-cylinder engine has a displacement of 7.7 litres and 220 kW (299 hp). The roll-off tipper is equipped with the fuel-saving automated manual transmission PowerShift 3. The hydraulic roll-off tipper comes from the body manufacturer Hyva.

"Safety was decisive in our decision, but another big advantage was the comparatively low maintenance costs and the vehicle's robustness, enabling us to support all our business areas," says Damian Kilcoyne. As a result, the first Econic is unlikely to be the last in the London haulier's fleet.