Builders’ merchant Travis Perkins Group has taken delivery of the third low-entry Mercedes-Benz Econic to join its London fleet as part of its focus on road safety.

The 6x2 Econic 26-tonner will be operated within the group’s Keyline division. It features a steering rear axle for enhanced manoeuvrability, a dropside body by Massey Truck Engineering and an HMF crane.

It will be based at a depot in Canning Town, East London and will transport heavy construction and civil engineering products, such as drainage pipes, steelwork and palletised materials to construction sites across the capital.

The company’s first two Econics are also 26-tonners and work for its CCF business – one is based at Canning Town, the other at Borehamwood, Herts. Both have curtain-sided bodies and carry truck-mounted forklifts for offloading of sheeting and insulation materials.

All three trucks were supplied by Wellingborough Dealer Intercounty Truck & Van, with a fourth Econic to soon enter service in the capital featuring Travis Perkins’ familiar green and gold livery.

Travis Perkins said the Econic’s enhanced driver visibility offers major safety advantages for working in busy city centres.

The vehicles will also benefit from an array of cameras covering front, rear and both side views, as well as sidescan systems that sound an audible warning to the driver and the cyclist if a bike moves up the nearside of the truck.

Travis Perkins’ central fleet manager James Taylor, said: “The Econic is ideally suited to work in urban environments, where we share roads with cyclists and pedestrians, along with other traffic.

"The vehicles have been well received by our drivers who find the low seating position and extra all-round field of vision aids both safety and comfort.”