Case Study and Solution Analysis of the Dongfeng D6 Blue-Plate Sewage Treatment Vehicle Procurement in Hengyang In municipal sanitation, procurement of sewage treatment vehicles remains a key focus for grassroots units. Recently, the Urban Management Bureau of a district in Hengyang City, Hunan Province (hereinafter referred to as 'the unit') completed the procurement of a batch of sewage treatment vehicles, selecting the blue-plate Dongfeng D6 model manufactured by Chengli Special Purpose Vehicle Co., Ltd. This article uses this case as a starting point to deeply analyze the advantages of blue-plate solutions in government procurement, and compares operational cost differences against yellow-plate models, providing reference for similar procurements. I. Case Background: Why Choose the Blue-Plate Solution? The unit is responsible for river dredging, septic tank cleaning, and emergency sewage suction tasks within its jurisdiction. Previously, it relied on large-scale sewage treatment vehicles (yellow-plate, requiring Class B driver’s license), but faced challenges including driver shortages, inconvenient daily patrols, and road access restrictions. After multiple rounds of research and tendering, the unit ultimately decided to procure a batch of blue-plate sewage treatment vehicles to meet operational requirements for 'flexibility, efficiency, and low cost.' According to publicly available tender information, the project budget was capped at approximately RMB 401,000, with plans to procure two blue-plate sewage treatment vehicles. Following comprehensive evaluation, Chengli Special Purpose Vehicle Co., Ltd. won the bid with its Dongfeng D6 chassis-based blue-plate solution (model CLW5070GSSD6), at a unit price of around RMB 115,000 — fully compliant with the budget. II. Blue-Plate vs. Yellow-Plate Comparison: Core Differences and Operational Cost Analysis In government procurement, blue-plate (Class C license) and yellow-plate (Class B license) sewage treatment vehicles represent the two mainstream options. The table below compares these two solutions across multiple dimensions: | Comparison Dimension | Blue-Plate (Class C) Solution (e.g., Dongfeng D6) | Yellow-Plate (Class B) Solution (e.g., Dongfeng Duolika) | |----------------------|---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | Driver’s License Requirement | Class C (standard passenger vehicle license) | Class B (heavy-duty truck license) | | Gross Vehicle Weight | ≤4.5 tons (e.g., CLW5070GSSD6: 4,495 kg) | ≥7 tons (commonly 8–12 tons) | | Vehicle Dimensions | Length ≤6 m; highly maneuverable in narrow alleys | Length 6–8 m; more spatially restricted | | Driver Salary (Monthly) | ~RMB 5,000–6,000 (can be performed by general workers) | ~RMB 8,000–10,000 (requires Class B licensed drivers) | | Annual Inspection & Insurance | Simple annual inspection; low insurance cost (~RMB 3,000–5,000/year) | Complex annual inspection; high insurance cost (~RMB 6,000–10,000/year) | | Road Access Restrictions | Minimal urban restrictions; enables all-day operation | Subject to restrictions in some cities; permits required | | Single-Operation Efficiency | Tank capacity ~3–4 m³; suitable for small-batch, high-frequency tasks | Tank capacity 5–8 m³; suitable for large-batch, centralized treatment | | Purchase Cost (Based on Public Tender Data) | ~RMB 95,000–120,000 | ~RMB 150,000–200,000 | | Estimated Annual Operating Cost (including driver salary, fuel, maintenance) | ~RMB 100,000–120,000 | ~RMB 150,000–180,000 | As shown above, the blue-plate solution offers clear advantages in terms of driver licensing requirements, labor costs, road accessibility, and purchase price. For this unit, blue-plate vehicles enable easy recruitment of Class C licensed drivers (even general workers qualify), and eliminate concerns about traffic restrictions—significantly enhancing daily operational flexibility. III