In a category long associated with blind spots, close calls and fatal urban crashes, Scania has delivered a shock result: a refuse truck that ranks among the safest heavy-duty vehicles on the road.
Scania’s new L-series utility truck has stormed to a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, clinching the prestigious CitySafe award and setting a new benchmark for trucks operating in the most hazardous urban environments.
Refuse trucks perform an essential public service, but their daily reality, constant stop-start driving, workers operating close to moving traffic, pedestrians and cyclists weaving past, makes them one of the most difficult vehicles to engineer safely. Euro NCAP’s verdict makes Scania’s achievement all the more remarkable.
Tested in 6×2 rigid configuration with a refuse compactor body, Scania’s 20-tonne L-series was assessed with a 270-kW electric powertrain, mirroring real-world municipal operations. Euro NCAP experts praised the truck’s performance in both Safe Driving and Collision Avoidance, two categories directly linked to reducing deaths in cities.
At the core of the success is Scania’s decision to make a full suite of advanced driver assistance systems available, providing constant support during demanding stop-start routes in busy traffic.
Among the standout features are geofenced speed limiting, which automatically restricts speed in sensitive areas, and a cyclist dooring warning system that alerts drivers if opening a door could endanger an approaching cyclist or vehicle.
Unlike traditional high-cab trucks, the L-series adopts a low-mounted cab, dramatically improving direct visibility, one of the biggest safety failings of urban trucks. Where conventional mirrors create blind spots, camera monitoring systems deliver continuous views around the vehicle.
The truck is also equipped with a sophisticated autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, capable of monitoring nearside turns and intervening to prevent collisions with cyclists caught between the truck and the roadside, one of the deadliest urban crash scenarios.
As an electric vehicle, the L-series also meets Euro NCAP post-crash safety requirements, ensuring first responders are protected in emergency situations.
Scania’s dominance did not go unanswered. Volvo’s FH continued its safety hot streak, securing another five-star Euro NCAP rating and the CitySafe award. Alongside the FM and FH Aero, Volvo now boasts three five-star trucks, making it the only manufacturer whose entire line-up can achieve top-tier safety ratings.
Ford, still relatively new to the heavy-goods vehicle segment, earned a solid three-star rating for its F-MAX tractor unit. Euro NCAP praised its camera monitoring system but noted compromised direct visibility and the absence of nearside AEB, technology that could significantly boost its score.
IVECO’s S-WAY, previously rated at one star, improved to two stars following updates and GSR2 compliance. However, Euro NCAP stressed that the truck still falls short in protecting pedestrians and cyclists, reflecting a safety approach focused more on highways than crowded city streets.
Euro NCAP was unequivocal: the competition is heating up, and Scania has raised expectations for the entire industry.
“We see many fatal collisions with trucks in our cities. However, trucks are an essential part of daily life,” said Matthew Avery, Director of Strategic Development at Euro NCAP.
“Drivers should appreciate the benefit of this approach from their first time behind the wheel, while fleet operators have the peace of mind that they are equipping their colleagues with the safest vehicle in its class, protecting those around them.”
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With Scania redefining what is possible in urban truck safety, the message to manufacturers, fleet operators and city authorities is clear: five-star safety is no longer optional. Even for garbage trucks.
