Heil, one of the nation’s largest refuse truck body manufacturers, recently released the Heil Autonomous Lift Option (HALO), an innovative technological advancement it says assists drivers by leveling, dumping and replacing front-load containers with the push of a button.
This feature allows drivers to operate their vehicle and focus on maintaining a safe work environment, Heil maintained. In addition, the HALO joystick incorporates standard front-load body packing functions, so operators don’t need to take their eyes off the road.
“With HALO, we’ve incorporated smart machine learning into Heil’s legendary Odyssey hydraulic control-equipped Half/Pack commercial front loader, making it much easier for drivers, both new and seasoned, to operate more safely and more productively,” said Pat Carroll, president of Environmental Solutions Group, parent company of Heil.
“HALO assists the driver by automatically emptying ANSI-compliant 2- through 8-yard containers and replacing them back into their original positions, all with the push of a single button. New drivers operating HALO-equipped Half/Pack front loaders are productive on Day 1, as HALO allows them to focus on driving the vehicle instead of concentrating on lifting, leveling, dumping and packing.”
Heil uses the Total Cost of Collection (TCC) performance metric to calculate the overall cost of an asset, including purchase price, fuel, maintenance and more, divided by the number of container yards serviced each day. Fleet owners are increasingly using TCC as a key factor in purchasing decisions, as the lower the TCC, the higher the overall return on investment, the company said.
“HALO virtually eliminates the costly effects of cab shield damage or broken windshields associated with improperly dumping a can—a problem we see much more frequently with newer drivers,” Carroll said. “Further, it reduces driver frustration and fatigue as they no longer have to focus on dumping the container while straining to watch for people, overhead wires or other obstacles. With HALO’s one-button controls, the operator can focus on safely maneuvering these large vehicles without having to figure out complicated levers and buttons. The integration of the packer controls onto the joystick, which allow the driver to concentrate on their surroundings without having to look at the control panel for the correct button, has received very positive operator feedback.
“Importantly, HALO-equipped Heil Front Loaders deliver a much lower Total Cost of Collection than front loaders without it.”
The Heil Automated Lift Option is offered through Parts Central as an aftermarket installation for 2018 and 2019 Half/Pack commercial front loaders with Odyssey hydraulic controls (non-residential units) only, and is available on new Half/Pack orders.
Visit heil.com/halo for more information.
“It’s really a numbers game,” Carroll said. “The less time it takes a driver per stop, and the more you can decrease equipment damage and other associated operating costs, the better the TCC.”