A truck for all seasons: Meet Scotland’s heroic Unimog

Winter warrior.

Last winter’s ‘Beast from the East’ weather system brought heavy snowfalls and freezing temperatures to the region. Monster drifts surrounding the Cairngorm Mountain ski centre near Aviemore threatened to thwart hopes for an excellent ski season. It was only thanks to the plucky Unimog (fitted with a snow cutter-blower and a demountable gritter body) that roads were made passable, and winter sports enthusiasts were able to take advantage of the prime skiing conditions, once the storm abated.

As any driver will know, it is crucial when facing such treacherous and icy roads to feel total confidence in your truck. What makes the Unimog so suited to council work is a semi-automatic gearbox, which allows the driver to give their full attention to the road and implement attachments, for extra concentration in the most demanding of environments.

Susan Smith, Head of Business Development at the Highlands and Islands Enterprise, was quick to highlight the invaluable role of the Unimog during the snowstorm: “In the past there have been problems with keeping the access routes clear, and this has been a source of frustration. The availability of this new equipment improved the visitor experience and attracted more tourism trade to Cairngorm.”

Keeping summer drivers safe.

The end of the snowy ski season brought a change of roles. Now equipped with a front-mounted mower and ditch-cutter attachment, the Unimog is undertaking the crucial job of trimming roadside verges and overhanging branches, to maintain sightlines and improve safety for drivers.

Highland Council Transport & Logistics Manager James MacDonald was eager to praise the hard-working truck: “The Unimog is such an effective solution for us because it can be used in a variety of roles all year round. It does so many tasks, so well.

“For example, the work ours is currently undertaking is more commonly assigned to agricultural tractors – but they can’t match the Unimog’s 56 mph on-road speed, which represents a huge advantage.

Master of all terrains.

It’s no wonder that the Unimog has adapted so well to the unpredictable UK weather, and with an unrivalled off-road heritage, it’s sure to keep the Scottish traffic moving for years to come… whatever the weather.