The truck is powered by a 7.7-litre ‘straight-six’ engine that produces 295bhp and drives through a six-speed Allison automatic transmission. The six-wheeler’s steered rear axle enhances manoeuvrability.
Fitted with water tanks and jetting/vacuum equipment by Whale Tankers, of Solihull, it has replaced Dudley Council’s previous, 18-tonne Econic gully emptier.
“The new vehicle’s extra weight capacity and longer wheelbase has allowed us to fit larger water tanks,” said highways & transport maintenance managerGraham Timmins. “This means there’s less time travelling backwards and forwards to empty and refill, so it can spend longer on the job.
“It’s a more efficient solution but one that also offers all the benefits of Econic operation, which we’ve come to appreciate in our borough over many years, as well as the excellent customer service we receive from Rygor Commercials.”
The council also runs a fleet of 35 refuse collection vehicles based on the same model. The latest, though, is used for suction cleaning of drainage gullies on roads across the metropolitan borough, and to empty septic tanks at domestic and commercial properties. It can also clear blocked drains by jetting clean water at high pressure.
“This Econic is a complex vehicle but Rygor’s fleet sales manager Jeremy Price liaised with the body equipment supplier on our behalf, as he always does. We’ll maintain the truck in-house – our workshop team receives regular parts deliveries from Rygor to ensure we’re never stuck waiting for a vital item.”