Supplied by dealer Western Commercial, the Helensburgh-based operator’s new addition is a 7C18 model powered by a 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine delivering 173bhp and driving through a Duonic automated manual transmission. It also has Eco Mode, Parking and Creep functions, plus standard-fit start-stop technology.
The truck is fitted with a tipping dropside body by DPH, of Bathgate, and has a steel floor and alloy capes to maximise strength and weight advantages.
It replaces an eleven-year-old Fuso Canter which has been “tremendous”, according to the operator’s founder Raymond Grieve. “We already have a buyer lined up, but I’ll be sorry to see it go.”
As with the previous vehicle, the new addition will transport a range of materials, including timber and plywood, slabs, sand, cement and ballast, and topsoil.
“It’s our only truck, so essential to the smooth running of the business, and although we don’t cover huge mileages – our last Canter has only done 80,000km from new – we’ll certainly work it hard,” says Grieve.
“It will take significantly more weight than any other 7.5-tonner – the last truck had an all-steel body, but thanks to its aluminium dropsides we’ll get 4.2 tonnes on the back of the new one. It carries that weight really well, too, and is beautifully balanced, even when fully laden.”