TPA has been supplied with a new 7.5 tonne FUSO Canter 7C18 courtesy of Mecedes-Benz Mertrux Truck & Van.
The new unit features a 3.0-litre common-rail turbo-diesel engine producing 430Nm of torque and 175hp, which is put on the road via a DUONIC dual-clutch gearbox.
Neil Crosby, operations manager for TPA, said: “We were using 3.5-tonne van-based vehicles for smaller deliveries, or calling in subcontractors for anything larger. To cope with growing demand for our pontoon equipment, and to ensure that we have more control over our deliveries, it was time to invest in our own truck.”
The Canter was fitted out with Alfreton-based Plant Equipment with a 6.2-metre platform body and Cayvol crane capable of lifting 380kg at a distance of 9.8 metres, while retaining a payload of over 2.5 tonnes and can tow another 3.5 tonnes.
The FUSO is capable of carrying up to 80sq m of the company’s most popular pontoon product. TPA has also commissioned a trailer which can accommodate a further 64m of pontoon.
Crosby added: “The combined capacity of the truck and trailer is equivalent to that of a 13.6-metre semi-trailer. This represents a six-fold increase, by volume, over what we were getting on a 3.5 tonne van, while the crane significantly reduces the amount of manual handling required.”
While he admits that “these are still early days but the Canter hasn’t missed a beat – we’ve had no niggles or problems. Our colleagues appreciate the excellent visibility afforded by the driving position, while the gearbox leaves them free to concentrate on what’s going on around them. It’s a great truck and we couldn’t be happier with it.”
