Towing with blue lights.

"We are responsible for a total 25-km stretch of the South Motorway, a section of the South-East Motorway and a large part of the Vösendorf motorway interchange, and we are called out around 250 times a year to road traffic accidents and vehicle recoveries," explains fire station commander Walter Wistermayer. "But such operations never become routine."

Time and again, in addition to recovering vehicles and securing the accident site, the volunteer rescuers also have to rescue people, extricate injured people from their vehicles and, in rare cases, recover fatalities. "As a result, no two calls are the same and we repeatedly face extremely challenging situations," reports Walter Wistermayer.

To be best equipped for this type of operation, the Vienna-Neudorf volunteer fire brigade put a new recovery vehicle (or ASP, as it is known) based on a Mercedes-Benz Econic 2635 into service in autumn 2020 as a replacement for an 18-year-old Mercedes-Benz Atego 1323L. The three-axle vehicle, with its steered trailing third axle and a special body by Eberl, is powered by a six-cylinder diesel engine with an output of 354 hp (260 kW) and, thanks to its remote-controlled recovery platform and rear-mounted wheel lifts, forms an integral part of the fire service's technical line-up.

Stowed away in the large pull-out drawers of the Econic's nine equipment compartments are special tools and items of equipment, including lashing materials, sliding chocks, manoeuvring rollers, oil binding agent and a vehicle jack. Also part of the recovery equipment is a compressed-air hose reel and special retaining bars on the body for securing single-track motor vehicles (e.g. motorcycles, mopeds). Good for the environment: the completely sealed platform allows leaking operating fluids to be caught, collected and subsequently disposed of using a separate drain valve.

The fire chief is enthusiastic about the new star in his fleet: “The vehicle does it all, offers a perfect view thanks to its large panoramic glazing and is precisely tailored to our operational requirements,” he says. An important factor in the decision for the vehicle was the Palfinger loading crane with a lifting moment of 19.5 m/t. The special model PK19500T-EH High Performance is the largest crane in its series. “The old tow truck increasingly reached its limits with the ever-heavier accident vehicles in terms of lifting power and overhang and, with its short recovery platform, more and more often came up against its limits,” says Walter Wistermayer, who also points to many user-friendly detailed solutions.

The compact radio remote control of the crane, for example, provides an optimal view of the platform and the entire loading area during operations. The laterally positioned extension cylinder ensures a low overall vehicle height with the main boom extended. “In combination with the low build height of the Econic and the fully continuous air suspension, we can now also drive under the overhead motorway signs with loaded vans and tall SUVs – that was not always possible with our old vehicle.”

According to the fire chief, however, two vehicle advantages were decisive in the purchase of the Econic: "the large cab, which can accommodate up to four crew members, and the folding door on the front passenger side." This allows both the driver and the front passenger to exit on the right-hand side of the vehicle. That is not only safer, but also protects against drafts in the cab. In the past, these had often caused considerable disorder in the cab, Walter Wistermayer recalls with a smile.

The safety of other road users is also a focus for the Econic. Thanks to its low height and panoramic glazing, the DirectVision cab gives the driver a direct view of the traffic in every situation. In addition, the turning assistant and an all-round camera system ensure that there are no blind spots.

When the firefighting unit reaches the scene of the current emergency call, it stops a few meters beside the overturned vehicle. The four-person crew of the Econic exits the vehicle quickly and safely via the low passenger-side step, while the driver's door remains closed. After the accident scene has been secured and the trapped person freed, the firefighters focus on recovering the damaged van. With the well-rehearsed crew, every move is perfectly executed: after the rescuers have righted the van together, the Econic's winches, with 3.5 and 6 tonnes of pulling force respectively, assist in securing the vehicle on the recovery plateau.

Commander Walter Wistermayer is satisfied: "Thanks to our new Econic, we were able to recover and remove the flatbed truck quickly and reopen the road to traffic in no time."