The FORS Gold operator was the first to add the Mercedes Benz Econic 4×2 1830L skiploaders to its fleet in 2016; more were acquired last year, followed by the latest additions in 2018.
Originally designed for municipal waste work, the Econic was remodelled to service the construction sector.
The vehicle has a wide field of vision with its deep panoramic windscreen, a fully glazed floor to ceiling ‘bus style’ nearside door and lowered driving position.
O’Donovan also specifies safety features, such as CCTV and left-hand turn audible alarms.
“We continue to make significant ongoing investments in our fleet and drivers to ensure that our commitment to road safety and direct vision is an integral part of our policy and reinforces our pledge to improve road safety for all,” says Jacqueline O’Donovan, managing director of the firm, which is also a CLOCS Champion.
She adds: “As more and more large infrastructure projects like HS2 and Thames Tideway come on-line, the need for contractors to have the safest vehicles operating on their sites is paramount and this is the ambition we aspire to.”