Cumberland Council Strengthens Winter Resilience with Specialist Gritter Fleet Hire from NRG Riverside

Cumberland Council has boosted its winter road maintenance operations with the hire of a fleet of specialised gritters from NRG Riverside, supporting the authority’s commitment to keeping key routes open and communities safe during adverse weather. The agreement includes twelve gritters and one additional spare vehicle on a six month hire arrangement, ensuring resilience and continuity across the winter season.

The mixed fleet comprises 4×2 and 4×4 DAF XB and DAF LF models, alongside Mercedes Arocs gritters, each fitted with Bucher Municipal 6m³ Uniqa spreading bodies and Polyx ploughs. This combination offers a balance of manoeuvrability, capacity, and durability, enabling the council to respond effectively across both rural and urban road networks. The specification was selected to provide reliable performance in varying conditions, including steep gradients, exposed roads, and high-frequency priority routes.

Winter weather remains one of the most operationally challenging periods for local authorities, requiring not only the right equipment, but also the flexibility to scale resources quickly. Hiring the fleet allows Cumberland Council to ensure availability and operational readiness, without the long-term capital commitments associated with procurement. The vehicles arrive fully maintained and supported by NRG Riverside’s national service infrastructure, providing confidence that they are ready to perform throughout the winter months.

Rebecca McKevitt, Business Development Manager at NRG Riverside, said: “We’re delighted to support Cumberland Council as they get ready for the winter season ahead. The 12 new gritters ensures the fleet is ready to deliver reliable service and maintain road safety. It’s been great working with Sarah and the rest of the team, and we look forward to supporting them throughout the winter season.”

To support the deployment of the vehicles, NRG Riverside is providing ongoing maintenance, servicing, and responsive engineering support. This proactive approach helps to maximise vehicle uptime and maintain consistent winter treatment schedules when road conditions deteriorate.

Councillor Denise Rollo, Executive Member for Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places, said:

“We know how unpredictable winter can be here in Cumberland, but with the right preparation, we can face it head-on. It’s all about being ready and taking smart steps now to avoid bigger problems later. By strengthening our winter resilience with this specialist gritter fleet, we’re ensuring that key routes remain open and communities stay safe, whatever the weather throws at us. Cumberland Council is prepared and ready to respond.”

NRG Riverside continues to work closely with councils, highways contractors and winter maintenance service providers throughout the UK. With a wide range of gritters currently available for short and long-term hire, the company offers scalable solutions to help local authorities and operators maintain essential services in challenging weather conditions. Each vehicle is prepared to a high operational standard, enabling customers to deploy equipment quickly and confidently during periods of increased demand.