Renault Trucks has unveiled a low-entry, high-vision refuse collection vehicle with the first of its type going to Veolia for work in urban areas.
Unveiling the vehicle earlier this week, Renault said that the RCV has a “class-leading lowest entry Range D day cab” and comes as part of a £5 million investment to improve driver direct vision and increase productivity for collection operations.
Waste management companies, particularly in the London area, as well as other vehicle operators are under pressure to improve vehicle standards, primarily to cut the number of accidents involving vehicles and cyclists.
Referencing Transport for London’s ‘Construction Logistics and Community Safety’ programme (CLOCS), Nigel Butler, commercial director at Renault Trucks UK, said that company had worked with Veolia on understanding the operating environment for RCVs.
He said: “The CLOCS programme has made low-entry, high-vision vehicles a priority to minimise work-related road risk, underlined by the London Mayor’s Direct Vision Standard system.
[gallery_placement]“By working with Veolia we have been able to gain a real insight into the complexities of their operating environment and to deliver a cost-effective, ex-factory low-entry vehicle solution that requires no additional conversion and is designed around their urban cycle to improve both on road safety and operational efficiency.”
The new vehicle has been developed from a chassis range introduced by Renault Trucks in 2013/14 in line with Euro 6 diesel emission limits. The key feature enabling low entry is the front and rear air suspension with 315/60 tyres while design work has focused on visibility measures with the development of windows in the lower section of the doors. An additional ‘kneel’ function drops the front of the vehicle a further 50mm.
‘Work safe’
Estelle Brachlianoff, senior executive vice president for Veolia UK and Ireland said: “Work safe, home safe, is our guiding principle for both our teams and for the communities where we work. By introducing this development for our fleet we will help to protect other road users and help our crews. This will also help us to operate more productively for our many customers, and extend the safety aspects of our operations.”
“By introducing this development for our fleet we will help to protect other road users”
Estelle Brachlianoff
Veolia
Commenting on Veolia’s decision to take the 26-tonne Range D low 6×2 rigid onto its fleet, John Avery from Renault Trucks National Fleet says: “This project has helped us to look at how, by working with our customer and taking an innovative, solutions-based approach, we can make significant, cost-effective advances in on-road work related safety and operational performance.”
Shorter
Mike Stringer, product manager at Renault Trucks, adds: “Despite its lower bumper, the vehicle’s shorter front overhang compared with alternative low entry crew cabs on the market offers an improved approach angle for easier manoeuvrability on city streets, helps with ground clearance issues to reduce vehicle damage, and crucially, enhances the field of vision by putting the driver in direct control.”
The day cab is also seen as improving the driver position, “supporting primary awareness by giving more direct vision of other street users.”
The new low-entry vehicle is based on a Range D Wide (2.3m) cab, and is available as a 4×2 18-tonne rigid or 26-tonne 6×2 rigid tag with fixed or steered rear axle powered by a DTI 8-litre engine.
Related links
CLOCS
Renault Trucks
Veolia
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
