The six-wheelers are all 260hp Scania P94DB6x2*4NB 260s, plated at 26-tonnes gross vehicle weight and equipped with Allison World Series automatic gearboxes, Heil Powerlink 2 compaction bodies, Terberg bin-lifters, Red Forge on-board weighing equipment and Eminox vertical exhausts with Continuously Regenerating Traps (CRTs). The two eight-wheelers are both 300hp Scania P94GB8x4*4NB 300s plated at 32-tonnes gvw and fitted with the same equipment as the six-wheelers. The new fleet is being supplied to South Northamptonshire by SFS Limited, Northampton, on a seven-year contract hire agreement, including equipment maintenance, with Scania dealer Derek Jones Commercials Limited, Wellingborough, handling the maintenance of the chassis.

"Two other factors affecting our choice of vehicles are operational efficiency and economy," adds Alex Lohman. "Covering an area of some 63,000 hectares and having to use transfer stations outside of the district means fuel consumption and air pollution are issues we cannot ignore, whilst the customer service-driven need to ensure we complete each day's collection schedule without exception places a premium on reliability."

A further benefit of the easy-access Scania Lowline cab is its associated reduction in crew-fatigue, a factor that contributes positively to improved productivity. It's always been the case that a happier crew will function more effectively, something borne out by feedback from those who have tried the Lowline cab. 

"Crew satisfaction is also very important to us and Scania Lowline cabs have been chosen primarily for health and safety reasons,” says Alex Lohman. “The Lowline is a factory-built safety crew-cab which provides exceptional access and comfort levels for our drivers and loaders.”