New fleet set to make waves across Medway

Working in close partnership with  Medway Norse, Medway Council awarded Dennis Eagle the contract to supply the vehicles, each configured to perform the designated household, organic and recycling rounds, making more than 17million collections each year.

As councils grapple with rising costs, new procurement rules and more demanding waste regulations, the decision to opt for Dennis Eagle was only taken after a thorough analysis of what Medway needed and how it could be achieved at a compelling cost. Councillor Simon Curry, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder covering waste, explains: “Last year we took the decision to procure a new waste fleet that is fit for the future, and it is testament to the hard work of our officers that we were able to bring this in substantially under budget.”

Medway Norse, part of Norse Group, one of the largest LATcos in the country, drew on its commercial know-how and public service values to work with Medway Council to develop the specification. A mix of 4x2, Narrow and Standard 6x2 Elite + trucks together with a compact Mini will replace an ageing fleet. All are fitted with an electric variant of Terberg’s OmniDel, OmniTrade and OmniDel Triple lifts, the latter’s fully-automatic handling for 2-wheel bins and time-saving 4-wheel auto gather mode making it ideal for Medway’s rounds.

For Medway Norse’s Darren Gardiner, being able to help specify purpose-built vehicles means Medway doesn’t have to compromise. “Too often manufacturers try to adapt their vehicles to unique demands of refuse collection but they always fall short,” says Darren. “Dennis Eagle’s are the best products for the job. The latest Elite+ is bang up to date with cutting edge features to ensure a reliable and safe fleet for Medway residents.”

To best serve those residents in some of Medway’s narrower streets, Darren and his team specified a significant number of matching ‘Narrow’ chassis with rear steer to maximise manoeuvrability. “Residents will appreciate the quieter operation of the electric bin lifter plus it will bring fuel savings, making it a clear choice,” adds Darren.

In addition to quiet and efficient operation, the fleet’s sustainability credentials were also crucial in the decision-making process. “Ensuring our new 46-vehicle fleet is climate friendly was incredibly important to us, so we were really pleased to be able secure vehicles that reduce the demand on diesel engine idling, and also use the latest Euro 6 diesel technology, electrically powered lifts and more,” explains Cllr Curry. “There are a host of other benefits as well, including improved reliability, better safety for our crews and the chance to get the messaging on our trucks updated to further encourage our residents to recycle and sort their waste properly.”

With 30 years’ experience in the industry, Medway Norse’s Darren understands the value that Dennis Eagle’s dedicated aftersales support offers in accompaniment to the new fleet. “They are just a phone call away, I know that whatever I need done, Dennis will make it happen.”

Ahead of the delivery, Darren’s team received comprehensive training, ensuring it could hit the ground running and make the most of the safety and efficiency features that are packed into the Elite+. “We had a full four hours of in-depth training on just the Terberg lifters,” adds Darren. “It gives us and the operators the confidence to work with the trucks safely plus make the most of this investment.”

“It was really satisfying to extend our relationship with Medway Council and Medway Norse,” adds Dennis Eagle’s Dan Foden. “Our comprehensive range and scale of trucks ensure Dennis Eagle is a one stop shop for any authority. We’ve been able to tailor each vehicle to Medway’s exacting needs, eliminating waste or redundancy, maximising this important capital investment. Thank you to Medway and Norse for the opportunity to support your frontline services.”