A winning combination of unbeatable payload and superb dealer back-up meant a new fleet of Fuso Canters was the automatic choice for hydraulic attachment supplier Sandhurst.
It has just taken delivery of eight 7.5-tonne Canter 7C15s with DUONIC transmissions. The world's first dual-clutch automatic gearbox for light trucks, DUONIC contributes to a safer, smoother drive, and is standard equipment on all 7.5-tonne Canters from the 2012 model range.
Sandhurst supplies a wide range of hydraulic breaker and excavator attachments from a network of depots across Britain. It relies on its Canters to deliver items weighing up to four tonnes, typically to customers working on construction, demolition or recycling sites.
"Payload is the critical factor for us and these Canters have the lowest unladen weight of any comparable vehicle we've found," said Transport Manager Hugh Boorman. "Most 7.5-tonne trucks can't carry anything close to four tonnes.
"The Canter also offers outstanding reliability," he continued. "We've been running them for years and have never had a mechanical failure, so have every faith that the new model will be equally dependable."
Commenting on the new DUONIC transmission, Mr Boorman said: "I've always thought of auto 'boxes as heavy, and that's in terms of fuel consumption as well as their actual weight. But the new Canter model weighs even less than its predecessor, while the official fuel economy figures are better too. So, we win on both counts, while at the same time making our drivers' lives easier."
The new trucks were supplied by Western Commercial, the Mercedes-Benz dealer for central Scotland - the German manufacturer's dealer network is also responsible for sales and support of the Canter light truck range in the UK.
"Although our headquarters are in Rochester, Kent, we're a national operation and have a depot in Fife, which is relatively close to Western Commercial's Broxburn dealership," said Mr Boorman.
"Before switching to the Canter 10 years ago we sought quotations from several suppliers for a light weight 7.5-tonne chassis and dropside body with low loading height. The package put together by Western Commercial and JWR Coachworks, of Airdrie, was the most attractive and we've stuck with them ever since.
"We now enjoy a strong working relationship with Western's Truck Sales Manager Garry Whitelock and his colleagues - the dealer's service is first class."
The 2012 Fuso Canter range offers new levels of strength, efficiency and productivity. All versions are powered by state-of-the-art, 3.0-litre, four-cylinder engines which not only meet Euro 5 emissions limits, but also the more stringent, and voluntary, EEV (Enhanced Environmentally-friendly Vehicle) standard.