Food storage container provider Foundation Packaging has leased a new 7.5-tonne (8.3-U.S.-ton) FUSO Canter 7C15 light truck from Mercedes-Benz dealer Northside Truck & Van. The Doncaster, Yorkshire firm’s new Canter has a 10-pallet, 6.1-metre (20-foot) curtainside body built by Alloy Bodies in Manchester.
Foundation Packaging uses three FUSO Canters and some vans to distribute takeaway containers, wrappings, and storage products to foodservice manufacturers and resellers across the North of England.
“I love our FUSO trucks and so do my colleagues, who find them very easy to drive,” says Warehouse and Logistics Manager Lee Arthur.
Capacity & Agility
Foundation Packaging’s new Canter 7C15 has a 3.0-litre, common-rail turbo-diesel engine that produces 150 horsepower (110 kilowatts) and 370 newton-metres (273 pounds-foot) of torque. It has a ladder-frame chassis and a combined body and payload allowance of approximately 5 t (5.5 U.S. t), which according to Northside Truck & Van is approximately 1 t (1.1 U.S. t) more than some competitors.
This carrying capacity factored into Foundation’s decision to acquire its new FUSO Canter. “Some of our palletised products—brown paper bags, for example—are pretty heavy, so the vehicle’s high payload is a big advantage in terms of productivity,” says Arthur.
The Canter’s small footprint and nimbleness was another reason behind the new lease. “We make a high proportion of our deliveries to customers on inner city industrial estates and other urban locations,” Arthur says. “The Canter is not as physically big as most other 7.5-tonners, and is highly manoeuvrable with a very tight turning circle. This is another important plus when it comes to getting in and out of tight spots.”
As part of the deal, Foundation Packaging traded in its first Canter, which it had purchased used three years ago with 140,000 miles (225,300 kilometres) on it. “We’ve remained very busy throughout the pandemic and had put another 130,000 mi (209,200 km) on the original Canter,” says Arthur. “It had always been exceptionally reliable and certainly didn’t owe us anything.”
The FUSO Canter
The city-friendly Canter is available in 3.5-, 6.5-, 7.5-, and 8.55-tonne (3.9-, 7.2-, 8.3-, and 9.4-U.S.-ton) weight classes with single, crew, and double cabs. Its 2-m (6.6-ft)-wide cabs all provide enhanced visibility. The truck comes in five wheelbase lengths and payload capacities of 1.5 to 6 t (1.65 to 6.6 U.S. t).
The Canter’s engine features a maintenance-free diesel particulate filter (DPF), a standard exhaust brake, and standard Stop/Start functionality for fuel economy. Options include a hybrid diesel/electric drive, a crawl function, and a Hill Start Assist feature. FUSO offers the Canter with Duonic fully automated or manual transmissions.
Find The Right Mitsubishi FUSO Truck
Truck Locator offers a tipper load of new and used Canter trucks for sale under the Mitsubishi FUSO brand. FUSO is distributed in Great Britain by Mercedes-Benz Trucks; both are part of the Daimler Truck family.
Source: Mercedes-Benz