Deliveries in and around London are part of the everyday workload for fresh, high-quality produce provider Smith & Brock, and to improve reliability when working in the capital, the company recently commissioned its first refrigerated Fuso Canter based on the excellence of its non-refrigerated Canters. Another six of the refrigerated 3.5-tonne, 3C15 trucks will arrive from dealer Sparshatt Truck & Van with a couple of the trucks set to be in service by the end of the year.
“Smith & Brock started out with vans but the experience has proved pretty disastrous,” says Phil McElhatton, PRJ Transport Consultancy. “We’ve had all sorts of problems—engines have gone down, while clogged DPF filters have been and continue to be a particularly common problem. We’ve had the same DPF filter issues with more than one brand of van but never with the Canters. In fact, the Canter has proved to be a more reliable vehicle all round, which is why it’s now firmly established as Smith & Brock’s chassis of choice.”
Cracking The Problem
The filter clogging issues Smith & Brock experienced tended to occur more when the vans were strictly operating in London. “The manufacturer’s representative has told us to drive them down the motorway to clear the filters but that’s not a lot of help when you’re based in London, and the work entails multi-drop deliveries in and around the city,” explains McElhatton. “We’re trying to save fuel and help the environment, so the last thing we want to be doing is sending vehicles on unnecessary trips out to the M25. I don’t know what Fuso have done, but they seem to have cracked the problem.”
The new generation Fuso Canter also helps Smith & Brock meet challenging emissions standards; its all-new 2022 version includes a compact exhaust system that meets Euro 6, Step E emissions requirements.
The New 3C15 Canter
Smith & Brock configured its 3C15 with a 150-horsepower (110-kilowatt) engine, a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel that delivers 370 newton-metres (272 pounds-foot) of torque. Fuso says the power plant offers variable turbine technology to deliver high torque levels at low engine revs. The new truck is also equipped with Fuso’s Duonic automated dual-clutch transmission. The new Duonic transmission provides smooth shifting and offers Eco, Parking, and Creep functions to simplify operation in London. The new Canter and its soon-to-be-delivered cohorts feature a single-compartment body from Coolfreeze, fitted with a GAH refrigeration system. “It’s a great step forward,” says McElhatton. “I was surprised by how much more modern and attractive it looks.”
Find Your Next Fuso Canter
You’ll find a number of new and used Fuso Canter trucks for sale on Truck Locator. The Canter is a product of Daimler Trucks AG and is distributed by Mercedes-Benz in the UK, Ireland, and throughout Europe.
Source: Mercedes-Benz