Atascadero -- Commercial (WM/AWA)

As many know, Waste Management had thousands of Volvo/Wittkes across North America. In Southern California, it was an extremely common combo, and almost each yard had at least a small handful of them. As of recent, the WM yards in Santa Maria (HSS) and Atascadero (AWA) were the last two yards to have Volvo Wittkes running in them. I discovered HSS's Wittkes in particular were extremely interesting with the HSS logos and stripes on them. Given their spread out service area though, I had practically given up on finding one. With a bunch of luck and help, I actually managed to get footage of all the HSS Wittkes I wanted to see - and ironically, all were caught up at their sister yard AWA!
(0:00) 206301: This was the Wittke I wanted to see most from HSS. This Volvo had the rims I like best (for many years, the sister units had different rims), and combined with the HSS stripe, it was my favorite of the bunch. When I was in the area a few months back, Eli took me around town and we caught James in this truck doing commercial recycling. He ran the truck very nicely and was super cool with us hanging around! Thrilled to finally have caught 206301, and even more thrilled that it was ran really well too.
(4:43) - 102569: HSS had four of these Autoreaches for years. If I'm not mistaken, they once were housed at a yard on Vandenberg AFB back in the day until they merged operations with HSS. As old as this truck is, they have been kept for one reason, and one reason only - they do the yard's 300 gallon route. On the off days, they use it for the organics route that HSS runs, and on Fridays, AWA uses it for their organics route. Seen here is Mike collecting a stop. Very happy to have caught one of these old Autoreaches.
(6:34) - 207027: This truck was sitting in the yard when everything left, so we didn't think it was going to be running. When we circled back later in the day, we noticed it was gone on route! We tracked down Jorge in this truck eventually and followed him until he went on lunch. Very nice and experienced driver who has been with all the other garbage companies in the central coast! Definitely happy to catch this HSS truck as well - I've seen it at AWA several times over the years so it's great to finally film it.
(12:11) - 203591: AWA's badass commercial recycle truck. I first found this truck back in 2018 when I was up there but didn't get as much footage as I would've liked. GI repainted this truck in 2016 and the paint was still looking good after two years. It got damaged in a fire shortly after and got new logos. Terrific sounding truck so I'm glad I was able to get some footage of it.
(13:50) - 202704: Almador was running this truck from HSS on his commercial route since his FEL was down. Really nice sounding rig and Almador runs it super well. I was hoping to get more video but unfortunately he had a flat tire and had to go back to the yard.
Big thanks to the awesome Richard Rosa for all this help with routes and trucks!! And another big thanks to Eli for dragging me around to make this video possible - appreciate it man!
Enjoy! Comments are always appreciated!

[@westernwastemanagement1892]

Wow WMmaster626, this is like Sun Valley 2021! These FL's sure bring back memories from those days. All the Wittkes sound great and I'm glad all the Wittke drivers revved. I cannot recall seeing a WM Wittke with a flat cab shield like 027 in SoCal, that sure is unique and I wonder if WM ordered 027 like that? I'm glad 527 is still around, that was a surprise seeing it at GI and I enjoyed seeing it pick up a plastic dumpster. Thank goodness you caught the Autoreach, what a neat truck and that is great how it picks up 300 gallon carts. Another amazing video, and I cannot believe this was in 2021.

[@WMmaster626]

Thank you! So awesome to see Volvo Wittkes again! All of HSS's Wittkes were unique in one way or another. The Autoreach was awesome!! I was very happy to catch that. Thank you!!

[@xueyinghe9121]

Good video keep it up!

[@CTG275]

I Really Love The AutoCar/VOLVO Auto Reach🔥

[@garbage_trucksofSC]

Great video as usual! Glad to see your back

[@RecologySpencer]

Awesome video! Haven't posted in a while, so glad that you're back! Lol I put off watching this thinking it would be all FLs, but was surprised to see you include an AutoReach on food waste! The FLs, of course, were pretty entertaining as well - Volvo's have always sounded great.

[@WMmaster626]

Thank you 👍

[@Trashman242]

as usual with your wm compilations, this one did not disappoint. I was sure 207027 would be my favorite until I remembered the truck Eli thinks has an L10, just amazing the sound of that one. so the last three trucks kept me glued to the screen. really any wm wittke on commercial nowadays is worth stopping what you're doing lol what a fun yard. even the autoreach on 300s sounds like a sight to see. how many of those cans are around town (and why?)?

[@WMmaster626]

Thanks Scott!! Glad WM ran these Wittkes as long as they did, especially these ones in particular. The 300s are far and few unfortunately! Believe they have them along the beaches that they service in Jalama and outside Lompoc. I'm sure there's more I don't know of either. I'll send you a pic of one from earlier in the year

[@trashmasterlucas.]

Damn Aaron glad to see you uploaded it’s been too long. Really well put together video! 206301 sounds awesome and the driver really knows how to run it!! Especially at the 1:00 mark love how he is still moving while dumping a bin! Love how you put in some footage of the asl that does food waste! That was a nice surprise, still think it would be so awesome to see that autoreach on a residential route. Loved all the featured in this video and I sure seems like you like the area haha! Awesome video hope so see some what more frequent uploads from you! Awesome job on this one!!

[@WMmaster626]

Thank you! Thrilled to be able to catch all these oldies. Agree on the Autoreach running a resi route. Appreciate your comment as always 😊

[@MP-ph6ob]

5:14 Never seen an autoreach with those grabbers before

[@westernstategarbagetrucks]

Helll yeahhh

[@socalgarbagetrucks2585]

Well this was more than enough to brighten up my day. This was totally nut worthy!! So glad we were able to catch both 027 and 301 for you while you were in the Central Coast a couple months back, I almost forgot how well both of those were run and how good both of them sounded! Super nice drivers all around too. That was awesome finally getting to see your older footage of 591 and 704… a part of me wishes they had kept that old school signboard on 591… plus I think they might have quieted the engine down during that whole refurb lol. 704 sounded phenomenal and you were very lucky to catch that. Remind me where it is now? Its a shame that likely by the end of the year Atascadero will be all CNG FLs… so I’m definitely glad we got video when we did!

[@WMmaster626]

Haha fun morning catching all those awesome trucks!! Really happy I was able to cross off so many trucks from the list in one morning. They all were unique in their own way. 704 was scrapped sadly if I remember right, think the engine blew a couple years back. Appreciate the comment & thanks again for the help!!!

[@trashmandavid1694]

Your back

[@edwardleecaliforniausa]

Yessss dude this one is amazing

[@LangstonPerformance24]

When are you going to do Murrieta residential?

[@trashmandavid1694]

Hi

[@Amrep335]

You should come visti san deigo and make a video

[@RecologySpencer]

Seems like he only does WM

[@Mr.G626]

GAY

[@WMmaster626]

😂