Winter fleets exist to keep roads, runways and communities moving – but the industry is increasingly recognising that the safety of the operator is just as critical as the performance of the machine. As winter managers struggle to recruit and retain HGV drivers, the focus has shifted to equipment that makes the job safer, easier and more attractive.
At Bucher Municipal, operator protection is built in from day one. Every spreader tender includes accredited City & Guilds operator training, with half-day or full-day courses delivered on site or at one of our six training centres. This ensures drivers understand not only how to run the vehicle efficiently, but how to operate confidently in the toughest winter conditions.
A major pain point for operators is cognitive overload: driving a heavy goods vehicle (HGV), monitoring routes and adjusting equipment often in darkness and bad weather. Bucher has redesigned its winter range around operator wellbeing, building in class-leading visibility, streamlined controls and intuitive technology.
Even though gritters are exempt from the Direct Vision Standard (DVS), Bucher spreaders surpass the upcoming 3-star requirement with a full 5-star DVS rating – helping reduce the risk of collisions in environments where HGVs make up only 2% of traffic but 15% of fatal accidents. Inside the cab, our single-box Eco-Sat 20 control system cuts clutter and keeps the driver focused on the road.
Beyond visibility, physical safety remains a major issue across the industry. Traditional gritters often force operators to climb onto hoppers to clear blockages – a significant working-at-height risk. Bucher solves this with a unique metal belt delivery system and roller breaker, preventing salt bridging and ensuring steady material flow. This not only minimises downtime but dramatically reduces the need for operators to leave the cab.
Our compact hopper design lowers the centre of gravity, reducing the risk of roll-over, while the UniQa’s flat 80×80 grid prevents oversized debris entering the system. And while snowploughs are less common in the UK, the same safety-first thinking applies: Bucher ploughs use deformable neoprene edges to soften impacts, while the adaptive V-shape of the Unix improves visibility by preventing snow from striking the windscreen.
Ultimately, safer operators are more confident operators, and confident operators deliver better winter resilience. By engineering safety into every component, Bucher Municipal is ensuring fleets stay productive, attractive to drivers and ready for whatever the winter brings.
This article was originally published in the Winter 2025 issue of LAPV. Sign up here to receive your free copy of future issues.
