3 minute read
THE FLEXIBLE PERFORMER
The Iveco Eurocargo model features dual control for operators.
IVECO’S EUROCARGO MODEL IS ALREADY ONE OF EUROPE’S BEST-SELLING MEDIUM-DUTY TRUCKS. WITH ITS VERSATILITY AND MANOEUVRABILITY, IT’S ALSO GAINING POPULARITY WITHIN AUSTRALIAN WASTE OPERATIONS.
Tight streets, pedestrians and parked cars can present a range of nuisances for waste collectors.
Iveco is aiming to take the pain out of domestic waste collections for operators, with its dual control Eurocargo model truck.
Dave Hancock, the National Fleet Manager at Solo Resource Recovery, understands what is required from modern machinery to optimise a collection operation. He says Solo Resource Recovery’s trial of the Eurocargo has so far showed the value of what it can bring to an existing operation.
“The Eurocargo will be doing a full domestic collection run, anything from 1000-1500 bins a day in a fairly restricted area,” he says.
The Australian-owned company has been operating under the name Solo Resource Recovery since 1992. With 16 workshops nationally and about 750 units in its fleet, the company has offered household, business, council waste solutions, and business recycling services for more than 80 years.
In that time, urbanisation has changed the waste collection landscape. Dave says higher density living has, in many cases, altered what is required by waste collection services.
Dave Hancock, National Fleet Manager at Solo Resource Recovery
“We have an extremely tight area to pick up waste in Darebin, Melbourne,” he says. “We have a depot in Coburg which services this area. It is a very congested area.
“Small streets, along with on-street parking, can present challenges to collection. We have been doing that job since November and it is becoming an issue while using a fullsized truck.”
Dave says that the volume of collections required in the area means an operation must run efficiently to get the job done.
The Eurocargo truck was designed for just those circumstances. A compact design, featuring smaller dimensions than previous models, along with a shortened wheelbase of 4455 millimetres, gives the Eurocargo more manoeuvrability than other compactors.
A reduced turning circle allows easier access for operators in tight areas.
The Eurocargo also offers a 15-metre cubed compactor body, with five tonnes of payload, to ensure that performance is not sacrificed despite the smaller design.
Dave says that the Eurocargo’s capacity, as well as optional modifications, has allowed it to fit seamlessly into Solo Resource Recovery’s fleet.
“We’ve got a fairly large body on the truck,” Dave says. “We have had to put more work into the capacity of the body so we don’t overpack the recycling. The unit has coped really well with the change.”
The Eurocargo model also features an optional Allison S3000 five speed-automatic transmission. Just one of the many features that satisfy Dave and Solo Resource Recovery’s requirements for machinery.
Functionality also extends to the Eurocargo’s cabin, providing increased comfort for operators.
“I have driven it myself; it is very comfortable to sit in,” Dave says. “It also handles very well and is very economical. The visibility is exceptionally good out of the cabin, and it has a nice driving position.
“Operators have to sit in it eight to 10 hours a day, so it is very important to keep drivers happy. From what our records show, the Eurocargo has held up really well.”
Dave says that Solo Resource Recovery’s appreciation for Iveco machines is not purely based on performance, but also what the company is giving back to Australian industry.
“We’ve been a very big supporter of the Iveco product. Their Dandenong assembly is keeping local workers in jobs,” he says.
Solo Resource Recovery will use the Iveco Eurocargo trucks within its operation as part of a multi-year trial agreement.
Iveco’s Eurocargo offers greater manoeuvrability than conventional compactors. The Eurocargo cabin is designed for comfort and offers a high level of visibility.
For more information, visit: www.iveco.com.au
