Premier Timber, a building materials supplier based in Queenborough, Kent, relies on its two Mitsubishi FUSO Canter trucks to deliver materials and tools to landscapers, contractors, carpenters, and other customers. The company purchased its first 3.5-tonne Canter in 2000, later replaced it with a 7.5-tonne model, and then paired it with a 3.5-tonne model after realizing a two-truck fleet was the ideal approach. Since then, Premier Timber has kept that tradition alive and recently received its newest 3.5-tonner, a 3C13 model with a 130-horsepower (97-kilowatt) 3.0-litre engine and 14-foot (4.3-metre) dropside body from C&D Fabrications.
It Takes Two
“Our Canters do exactly what we need them to do. They’re cost-effective to acquire and run, exceptionally reliable, and easily loaded and unloaded,” says Andy Hayward, founder of Premier Timber. “We tend to use the 7.5-tonner for deliveries to sites, though it’s very nimble and can get up and down narrow tracks too. We don’t go over the top, but it will carry a couple of packs of timber with a combined weight of approximately 3 tonnes and still leave us with a comfortable margin to spare. The 3.5-tonner serves more private customers, so is on and off housing estates and driveways all day. There’s nothing flimsy about it, though; the FUSO is a proper truck, very robust and well-built.”
Timing Is Everything
For Premier Timber, working with local dealerpoint Sparshatt Truck & Van has played a major role in keeping it in the FUSO family. The dealer not only supplied the company with its current trucks, but also handles maintenance on both and performs an inspection every six weeks on the 7.5-tonne model per a contract. Sparshatt also offers overnight service, which is crucial for Premier Timber.
“The dealer provides excellent support, which is another reason we’ve remained loyal to FUSO,” says Hayward. “We’re very busy and our trucks are on the road all day, so the fact that we can get them through Sparshatt’s Sittingbourne workshop overnight is a big help – we drop them off at around 5 p.m., then pick them up at 7 a.m. next day ready to go to work. You can’t get that level of service from other suppliers.”
Mitsubishi FUSO Canter Details
The Mitsubishi FUSO Canter, distributed by Mercedes-Benz in Europe, is a versatile truck designed for a wide range of applications, including delivery, construction, landscaping, snow ploughing, and much more. Models range from 3.5 to 8.55 tonnes, with chassis load capacities ranging from 1.6 to 6 tonnes. Engine outputs range from 130 to 175 horsepower, and there are options for manual or automatic transmissions, depending on the model.
Mitsubishi FUSO offers a 4x4 version of the Canter with all-wheel drive for handling challenging terrain as well as the 100% emission-free eCanter model. The eCanter features an electric motor that produces up to 156 horsepower (116 kW) and 390 newton-metres (287.6 pounds-foot) of torque. It charges fully in seven hours, with a one-hour fast charge available, and has a range of 100 kilometres (62 miles) with a full payload.
You’ll find a large selection of new and used Mitsubishi FUSO trucks for sale every day on TruckLocator, including a number of Canters.