Gritters at Rochdale Borough Council have been better prepared than ever to tackle ice, sleet and snow this winter after the council became the first in Greater Manchester to adopt Schmidt's Autologic system, the very latest in automatic gritting technology.

The council operates a fleet of seven Schmidt Stratos gritters, each equipped with the AutoLogic system which spreads exactly the amount of salt required so gritter drivers can concentrate solely on the road and not have to focus on the vehicle's spreading settings.

Using GPS technology, the Autologic system measures the borough's exact road widths and ensure the optimal amount of salt is spread and none wasted.

Hazardous spots can be set to automatically receive additional salt even if the driver isn't familiar with the route.

Councillor Neil Emmott, cabinet member for housing and environment at Rochdale Borough Council, visited the Princess Street depot to see the system in action and said it would make gritting safer, more efficient and ensure Rochdale's roads were always properly treated.

'This state-of-the-art technology means our drivers can concentrate on driving, with the gritting process taken care of and with really clear on-screen route navigation, he said.

'Dosage, spreading widths and symmetry are taken care of automatically, so that exactly the right amount of grit is dispensed.

'We are one of the first authorities in the country to have this system across the entire fleet. In the event of a severe winter, when salt stocks could be reduced, this clever technology will be even more important as we will be ensuring our salt is dispensed in the most efficient way,' he said.

With the gritting season well under way, the council and partner Balfour Beatty have not only been monitoring weather forecasts but also road conditions, using a computerised ice detection system and cameras.

The Autologic system from Schmidt also includes the Route Creator app which allows routes and spreader settings to be altered without having to drive the route again. This is particularly useful during heavy snowfall when higher dosage levels are required.

Other benefits of the AutoLogic system include:

  • Improved road safety because the driver is free to concentrate on driving.
  • Flexibility in staff deployment
  • Off and on route recognition which guide the driver back to the right route when detours are taken
  • Dosage based on road temperature when combined with Schmidt's Thermologic system.