The Constant Group has bought its first Fuso Canter 7.5-tonne truck, which it says is already maximising payload and improving operational efficiency.
The Canter 7C15 curtainsider – which arrived via Manchester Mercedes-Benz dealer Enza – can carry more than four tonnes, at least half a tonne more than could be achieved by the average 7.5-tonner.
"We'd been running 3.5-tonne vans but were looking for a truck that could carry more," explains Constant Group chairman Richard Garlick.
"The Canter chassis is very light so we knew it would be a strong contender. And when Enza sales executive James Dutton loaned us his demonstrator we could see that it was also solid and well-built, with a proper ladder-frame construction."
Constant worked with Truck Craft Bodies, of Stalybridge, on the design of the body.
"Thanks to the Canter's structural integrity, [Truck Craft was] able to construct a very light curtainsided body with alloy cross-members, a lower roof height and a roller shutter, instead of barn doors at the rear," says Garlick.
"When mounted to the chassis, this produced a vehicle with a kerb weight of only 3,200kg.
"And that gives us a cargo-carrying ability of 4,300kg, minus the driver and fuel, which is far ahead of anything we could achieve with a typical 7.5-tonne truck."
The truck is powered by a 3-litre diesel engine which drives through Fuso's Duonic dual-clutch, automated gearbox.
"Fully loaded, we're achieving a very impressive 21-23mpg," says Garlick.
As the new truck represents Constant's first foray into the 7.5-tonne sector, it also marks the first time the company has had to deal with the Operator's Licence system.
"Enza provided us with a great deal of very welcome support and assistance, helping us to fill out all the forms and making the whole process very painless," recalls Garlick.
