Like a fish in water

Gold Fish Transport has found the ideal solution in its new Econic 2630 L and 1827 L: the trucks not only move effortlessly through traffic like fish in water, but also combine visibility, ergonomics and comfort to make work and transport effortless.

The company operates a fleet of 30 trucks from its Brentwood site, which now for the first time includes two Mercedes-Benz vehicles: the 26-tonner and the 18-tonner, acquired via the dealer Motus Truck & Van with financing from Mercedes-Benz Finance, and they have been an immediate hit.

The technical basis for this is the fitment of a 7.7-litre inline six-cylinder engine with outputs of 300 hp and 272 hp respectively. In addition, the Econic trucks are driven by the automated 12-speed gearbox from Mercedes PowerShift 3. The bodies were manufactured in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, by ZJB Engineering.

The two black-painted gems were purchased primarily for their exemplary safety features. Chief among them is the uniquely good view of traffic: with the low windscreens and the specially made, fully glazed co‑driver's doors, the models offer their drivers an unparalleled overview.

For this reason, the Econic was awarded five out of five possible stars in the "Direct Vision" category by the umbrella organisation "Transport for London". The reason is clear: the panoramic glazing combined with the driver's low seating position results in direct eye contact with cyclists and pedestrians. When people can see each other, they can communicate better.

Working in the capital requires vigilance and the best possible support from technology and safety aids. Lee Nix, transport director at Gold Fish Transport, explains why these features are so indispensable: "Our trucks are used almost exclusively in London, where they deliver to large building and civil engineering sites. That's already challenging terrain, but our drivers repeatedly report: the real challenge is the countless pedestrians and cyclists."

Transport director Nix continues: "The easy access is also a big hit with our drivers – it's very comfortable to be able to get in and out over a single step." In addition, the Econic's ground clearance is ideally suited to construction sites: "How the height of the Econic can be adjusted with the air suspension is really impressive."

Lee Nix also has nothing but praise for Motus Truck & Van and their service: „Sales manager Steve Thurbon has done a fantastic job. He fully committed himself to us, explained every feature of the model to us in detail, processed the order smoothly, took care of the liaison with the bodybuilder and kept us informed at all times.”

Lee was equally impressed by the friendly and professional approach of the Truck Service under Jessica Bevan and her colleagues: „It’s only just getting started, but we have already seen how exemplary the support we receive here is in every respect.”

And what do the drivers themselves think? The smaller Econic was assigned to Alex Fenemore — and he was immediately enthusiastic about the 18-tonner: "To be honest, I liked my previous trucks a lot, but I switched to Mercedes-Benz straight away and with pleasure," he explains. "The Econic is the perfect vehicle for central London. The cab is absolutely top-notch; there is nothing comparable in terms of bodywork and equipment."

The conspicuous sign of Fenemore's enthusiasm can now also be seen on the panoramic windshield: "I love the Econic so much that I even stuck a badge with the Mercedes-Benz AMG logo on the glass!"