Hampshire heating oil and gas supplier HBS Fuels has taken on two new FUSO Canters to deliver bottles of LPG in a 30-mile radius from its Stockbridge base. Supplied by Marshall Truck & Van, the two 7.5-tonne Canter 7C15 units with Comfort day cabs were acquired using Mercedes-Benz Finance.
Both feature 3.0-litre 150hp diesel engines providing 370Nm of torque, and are fitted with dropside bodies from Solent Bodybuilders of Fareham, as well as 1,000kg DEL tail-lifts.
The new trucks will take on the duties of two older Canters dating back to 2006 and 2009, working alongside another 2015 Canter. The two older Canters are, however, being kept on as back-ups and for lighter work.
“The Canter is very versatile and the ideal size for our distribution operation,” said HBS Fuels operations manager, Steve Walker. “These trucks aren’t charging up and down the motorways, and they don’t do big mileages – the 2015 vehicle, for example, has only done 56,000 miles. But they are out all day on country lanes, and make multi-drop deliveries to plenty of farms and caravan parks, as well as residential and other commercial properties.
“The Canter is well liked by our drivers. It’s comfortable and easy to drive, not least because it’s smaller and more agile than most 7.5-tonners, with an excellent turning circle. The vehicle’s compact footprint and manoeuvrability are a big advantage in this part of the world,” he added.
Walker also highlighted the payload capacity of the new Canters, which can handle up to 3,250kg, allowing the firm to move up to 38 full gas bottles weighing 85kg apiece. “You wouldn’t get anything like that many bottles on the other makes of 7.5-tonne truck we’ve tried in the past,” he stated.
Year: 2024 | Body Type: Dropside | Cab Type: Day | Registration: 1253700035 | Category: Rigids
Year: 2023 | Body Type: Dropside | Cab Type: Day | Registration: WR73OKO | Mileage: 1,609 km | Power: 150 bhp
Year: 2021 | Body Type: Dropside | Registration: YC72GJO | Mileage: 9,000 km | Power: 2,998 bhp | Category: Rigids
