Wilrose Environmental has commissioned its first landmark Mercedes Econic with an entirely new chassis, just three years after it began running Approved Used Econics.

The company purchased its latest low-entry waste collection truck, pre-bodied and ready to work, from trusted supplier Refuse Vehicle Solutions (RVS).

RVS sourced the chassis from City West Commercials, the dedicated Mercedes Trucks dealer for the South West – the two businesses enjoy a long and successful partnership.

Based in Walton-on-Thames, Wilrose Environmental provides commercial waste collection services to customers from a wide range of sectors including retail, hospitality, health, education and industry, throughout its home county of Surrey, as well as Middlesex and London

‘Buying Mercedes vehicles since day one’

Husband-and-wife team Andy and Carey Bishop founded Wilrose Environmental in 2015, the same year that RVS launched RediTruck and Mr Bishop said: “We’ve been buying Mercedes vehicles since day one.

“Most have been supplied by RVS, on which we rely heavily to keep our fleet up to date and efficient. Its team are always accessible and provide a fantastic, no-nonsense service.

“If I’d tried to line up a new chassis, body and bin lift myself it would have taken an eternity. RVS relieves me of all the hassle and can invariably deliver at short notice too.”

Mr Bishop added: “We’ve bought pre-owned Econic chassis in the past, and they’ve always been reliable and cost-effective to run. 

“As it’s completely new, though, I’d like to think the maintenance costs on the one we’ve just put to work will be even more attractive.”

Its twelfth Econic refuse collection vehicle

Most of Wilrose Environmental’s 20 trucks wear three-pointed stars and the new arrival is its twelfth Econic refuse collection vehicle – all are 26-tonne six-wheelers with the exception of a single 4×2 18-tonner. 

The line-up also includes a pair of 32-tonne Mercedes Actros hook-loaders and an 18-tonne Antos skip-loader.

A 2630 L variant, the most recent addition to the fleet, is powered by a 7.7-litre in-line six-cylinder engine that transmits its 299 hp output to the road via a six-speed automatic Allison gearbox. A rear-steer axle significantly enhances manoeuvrability in areas where access is restricted.

The Econic was delivered at short notice, having been pre-built for RVS’s RediTruck programme, which provides customers with a quick and easy way of avoiding long body manufacturer lead times. 

The vehicle’s Dennis Eagle Olympus OL21 compaction body is paired with a Beta 2 trade lift with 500kg capacity, by Terberg Matec.

Equipped with Active Brake Assist 5 emergency braking technology

The new Econic is also equipped with Active Brake Assist 5 emergency braking technology, which boasts an industry-leading pedestrian recognition capability, and an Electronic Parking Brake that is applied automatically when the engine is switched off.

Active Brake Assist 5 combines camera and radar technology to detect vehicles ahead and stationary objects in its own lane, at speeds of up to 56 mph. 

Detection of a dangerous situation triggers a three-stage reaction: first, the system warns the driver with visual and audible alerts; then, if the driver fails to react, it applies partial – approximately 50% – braking; finally, if the driver has still not intervened, it initiates maximum braking to bring the truck to a halt, applying the Electronic Parking Brake and activating the hazard warning lights to alert drivers behind.

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