Eleven new refuse collection vehicles from Geesinknorba go into service across Dacorum Borough Council this month in the first phase of the council’s fleet standardisation programme.
Dacorum Borough Council has taken delivery of the first wave of 11 new RCVs from Geesinknorba. The 26-tonne RCVs feature a Geesinknorba GPMIV body with combi split bin lift on a Mercedes Econic chassis with a 3900 wheelbase. The order is part of Dacorum Borough Council’s ongoing programme of moving from a mixed fleet to a more standardised fleet of vehicles.
Transport Manager Simon Smith joined the council in 2017. One of Simon’s immediate roles was to oversee the fleet replacement programme. Simon said: ‘As part of this programme we are introducing fleet standardisation where possible, which will allow us to access all the benefits that come with this, including driver and technician familiarity with the vehicles, manufacturer support, and streamlining a stock of spare parts.’
The Council went out to competitive tender for the new RCVs. Simon said: ‘We put together a specification of our ideal vehicle, which not only considered its capabilities but also included vehicle design, our ability to carry out maintenance and servicing, the location of the manufacturer. It was also important how quickly they could respond to issues – and the long term reliability of the whole of the product. We are very comfortable that the combination we have chosen, a Geesinknorba body on a Mercedes Econic chassis, gives us a robust and reliable vehicle.’
The RCVs will go into service in early December across the Borough, collecting a range of trade, domestic, and green waste and operating in both urban and rural environments. As part of the contract, and to ensure that the rollout of the new vehicles goes smoothly, both Geesinknorba and Mercedes will provide initial and ongoing training for drivers, loaders, and technicians, including operational training and driver familiarisation. Geesinknorba staff, including two engineers, will also be on hand for the duration of the mobilisation to deal with any teething problems, and the engineers will spend time with workshop staff to familiarise them with the maintenance of the vehicles.
‘We listened carefully to Dacorum’s requirements and worked closely with Mercedes Benz to put together a package that not only fulfils the vehicle specifications but also provides a high level of service on an ongoing basis to support Simon and his team in their fleet modernisation strategy,’ said Geesinknorba’s corporate account manager Stuart Cudden. ‘We have worked hard to build a strong relationship with the customer. We show our commitment to the success of this contract from the point of sale to the end of the vehicle lifecycle and beyond.’
