Patio and Driveway installation specialist firm Perfect Pave has purchased 11 Fuso trucks since 2006, and the fleet currently includes five Canter tippers. The latest addition is a brand-new 3C13 variant pre-fitted with a Scattolini three-way tipping body. Perfect Pave has found the Canter to be more reliable than the 3.5-tonne (3.9-U.S.-ton), vans it used in the past.
“It has proved to be a wise decision, because the Canter is ideally suited to our kind of work,” says Co-Director Alex Howley. “It’s a rugged and durable utility vehicle, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything else. Of course, it has all the safety aids the operator wants to see, as well as features the drivers like, such as Bluetooth phone connectivity. But there’s nothing on the vehicle that isn’t needed and is going to be a frustration if it goes wrong.”
A Different Canter
Daimler introduced the latest version of the Fuso Canter in August 2021, with a redesigned cab, an exhaust brake, Sideguard Assist technology, and much more. Perfect Pave’s new Canter 3C13 is the company’s first with the new design and driver assistance upgrades.
“Unlike other 3.5-tonners, the Canter has a cab that is clearly designed for commercial work, in being easily cleaned and spacious,” says Co-Director Simon Bethell. “Our teams usually work in pairs, but we always have the option of sending three out in safety and comfort. We trialled another cab-over-engine vehicle by one of Fuso’s competitors a while back, and it was so narrow that the lads were like sardines in a can, with no room for rucksacks, lunchboxes, and so on.”
The new Canter is available in five wheelbase lengths and with single, crew, or double cabs. The Canter’s load capacities range from 1.4 to 6 t (1.54 to 6.6 U.S. t). Various features include the five-speed Duonic dual-clutch transmission, Eco Mode and Hill Start Assist, and a noise-insulated cab that, based on the specification, seats three to seven passengers.
A Workhorse
The Canter 3C13 truck is replacing a Canter from 2009 that had covered more than 160,000 miles (257,495 kilometres), which is a testament to the Canter’s reliability. “A no-nonsense workhorse, that’s what we need and that’s what we get with the Fuso Canter,” says Howley. “We have five on the fleet and we want five installation teams out there working. If a vehicle misbehaves and won’t start, the guys are going to be twiddling their thumbs and we’ll lose revenue. With the Canter, that never happens.”
Perfect Pave’s 2022 Canter also includes Fuso’s new compact exhaust system, allowing the tipper’s 3.0-litre, 130-horsepower (96-kilowatt) engine to meet Euro 6 emission standards.
Find Your Next Fuso Canter
You’ll find a number of new and used Fuso trucks for sale on Truck Locator. The Fuso Canter is a product of Daimler Trucks AG and is distributed by Mercedes-Benz in the UK and throughout Europe.
Source: Mercedes-Benz