Pre-bodied FUSO Canter hammers the competition for Country Carpentry
Its garden buildings are highly bespoke, but Country Carpentry was only too happy to branch out by purchasing an off-the-shelf, pre-built FUSO Canter dropsider from Ciceley Commercials.
The Leeds-based operator’s new 3.5-tonne Canter 3C13 has replaced its previous dropsider, which was based on a French van chassis. For Director Aidan Jackson, the difference has been a revelation.
“The Canter is a proper truck, with a far more robust design and higher standard of build quality,” he said of Country Carpentry’s first FUSO. “By contrast, the vehicle we stood down just didn’t have the toughness we need. It wasn’t in the same league.”
In addition to its rugged construction and appetite for hard work, the company’s first Canter has impressed with its fuel efficiency, manoeuvrability and cab comfort. Mr Jackson also praised the Dealer for supplying the vehicle within a very tight timeframe.
Aidan Jackson“Ciceley’s Sales Executive Peter O’Grady was excellent from the outset,” he recalled. “He understood what we needed in terms of specification, and was able to supply a Canter from stock that met our requirements perfectly. The order was handled very professionally, and the truck arrived on time and in perfect condition. I called Peter the day after we took delivery to let him know how pleased I was, and to confirm we’d definitely made the right decision.”
Ciceley Commercials is a long-standing member of the Mercedes-Benz franchised network. Mercedes-Benz is part of the Daimler family, and so, too, is FUSO. This explains why Mercedes-Benz Trucks Dealers also sell and support the Canter light truck range in Great Britain.
Canter customers can choose ready-to-work 3.5-tonne platform dropsiders and tippers, and 7.5-tonne tippers, pre-bodied at FUSO’s main European production facility in Tramagal, Portugal, by the highly regarded Italian manufacturer Scattolini. This programme allows customers to put their new vehicles to work a lot more quickly than would be the case if chassis were sent to third-party bodybuilders. Finished trucks are also covered by single invoices, simplifying administration and reducing associated costs.
Country Carpentry’s Canter 3C13 has a day cab and is powered by a high-torque 3.0-litre engine that produces 96 kW (130 hp) and is paired with a five-speed manual gearbox – the 3C13 model is also available with a dual-clutch DUONIC automated transmission. Customers needing a more powerful 3.5-tonner can choose the Canter 3C15, which employs a 150 hp version of the same turbodiesel and the DUONIC system only.
Fuel-efficient and exceptionally manoeuvrable, the smaller Canter shares its 7.5-tonne stablemate’s ladder-frame chassis design, which gives it truck-like strength and durability. Most of its competitors in the 3.5-tonne GVW segment have van-based underpinnings, so these attributes appeal particularly to builders and others whose trades place heavy demands on vehicles.
Unusually for a dropsider, Country Carpentry’s Canter is fitted with a roof-mounted air deflector, to counter the aerodynamic drag caused by the tall timber panels it frequently carries.
The entire process, from initial order to delivery, was completed within just two weeks. After a month on the road, the truck has lived up to Aidan Jackson’s positive first impression. “I’m delighted with it,” he confirmed. “We’re not a transport firm so we don’t measure fuel consumption obsessively, but the Canter is clearly more economical than the vehicle it replaced.
“The cab-over-engine design means that even with a 12ft body, its overall footprint is no greater than that of our previous 3.5-tonner, which had a 10ft platform. The cab is far more spacious than I’d imagined, too. I’m 6ft 4in tall, and most of our crew members are big guys, but the Canter can seat three of us in comfort. I can’t say a bad word about it.”
Country Carpentry offers a wide range of garden buildings, from compact tool stores to large, fully lined and insulated offices, gyms and summer houses. All are designed and constructed from scratch in the customer’s choice of materials, to fit the plot available.
The company’s teams have worked as far away from home as London and Newcastle, but undertake the bulk of its work within a 50-mile radius of Leeds.
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Exciting News!
We’re thrilled to announce that we’re expanding into Scotland with a brand-new Mercedes-Benz Truck and Bus dealership at Eurocentral! 🙌
As a proud family-run business, we’ve spent over 50 years supporting operators with exceptional service, strong relationships, and continued investment in the future. This new site marks an exciting new chapter for us — bringing our people-first approach and trusted Mercedes-Benz expertise to a whole new region.
The Eurocentral dealership will feature:
🔧 12 workshop bays
🚛 Full sales, service & parts facilities for Mercedes-Benz trucks
🚌 Service and parts facilities for Mercedes-Benz buses
🧰 An Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) lane
👷 Around 40 new local jobs
Construction starts soon, with a temporary workshop opening mid-2026 and the full dealership launching autumn 2026.
Read the full story on our website.
🚛 Ciceley Commercials Joins the Actros L ProCabin Tour! 🚛
Yesterday we joined Mercedes-Benz Trucks at Route 74 Truckstop, Glasgow, for the Actros L ProCabin Tour — giving drivers the chance to step inside the next generation of comfort and innovation.
The Actros L ProCabin is more than just a truck – it’s a workspace, a rest space, and a tech hub on wheels.
✨ Here’s what makes it stand out:
🖥️ Digital Cockpit & MirrorCam for ultimate visibility
🪑 Ergonomic Design built for all-day comfort
🔋 Outstanding Efficiency that delivers every mile
We loved seeing everyone who stopped by to take a look inside, chat with the team, and experience the future of trucking first-hand.
Go further, cleaner, and quieter with the Mercedes-Benz electric van range. Whether it’s the eCitan, eVito, or eSprinter, enjoy zero-emission driving, impressive range, and fast charging times — all with premium Mercedes-Benz quality.
✅ The eCitan from £249* + VAT per month
✅ The eVito from £495* + VAT per month
✅ The eSprinter from £595* + VAT per month
Including:
4 FREE services
Up to 30 years’ Roadside Assistance with MobiloVan
8-year / 100,000-mile battery warranty
Switch to electric today and keep your business moving sustainably! See our website for more details.
*Terms and conditions apply, please see our website for more information.
🐝 From Hive to Jar! 🍯
Today we visited @eastlancshospice with our Beekeeper John to watch how he turns our MerceBEES hard work into delicious honey! 🌼
It was fantastic to share the experience with the hospice’s staff and patients, showing how the honeycomb is spun, sieved, and jarred to create the finished product.
This year, we’re proud to be selling our Ciceley honey with all profits donated to our charity partner, East Lancashire Hospice – supporting the incredible work they do every day. 💛
Our MerceBEES have been busy since we first introduced four hives and 320,000 bees to our Blackburn and Darwen sites as part of our ongoing sustainability journey. 🐝
🏁 On 5th September, our all-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 completed the 2025 EV Rally, driving from West Bromwich to Tatton Park, Cheshire ⚡🚛.
Along the way we:
☕ Recharged at Peak View Tea Rooms
🚚 Stopped at Sixt Van & Truck, Eccles
☀️ Showcased clean energy at Chamber House Solar Farm, Rochdale
🌳 And crossed the finish line at Tatton Park
Covering 248km fully loaded at 40t, the eActros 600 proved its range, efficiency, and cost savings – highlighting that zero-emission trucking isn’t the future, it’s here today. Get in touch with the team to put the eActros to the test
#evrally #explorer #collaboration #solarpower
✨ Another fantastic review for our Blackburn team! ✨
We’re proud to provide a service that makes things simple, stress-free and reliable for our customers.
Read more of our customer reviews here: https://www.ciceley.com/testimonials/
🍂 Autumn is here, and so are the chilly mornings!
Did you know that with the Mercedes-Benz app, you can pre-heat your electric Mercedes-Benz van before you even step outside?
✅ Warm and comfortable from the moment you get in
✅ Defrosted windows without scraping ice
All managed straight from your phone, giving you convenience and comfort whatever the weather.
❄️ A smart way to start your day as we head into winter.
⚽ Ciceley Takes on the Vantasy Football League! ⚽
Today, our Ciceley football team proudly represented us at the Mercedes-Benz Vantasy Football League at none other than St George’s Park – the home of England football!
Competing alongside eight teams made up of van drivers and Mercedes-Benz Van dealers from across the country, our squad battled hard and made it all the way to the semi-finals, finishing an impressive 3rd place overall! 🥉💪
The Vantasy Football initiative is about more than just football – it’s a fantastic campaign supporting mental health awareness for van drivers, many of whom work in isolating roles. We`re proud to support this important cause. 💙
A huge shout out to our amazing team:
Rob Claringbold, Gary Bridge, Jack Burgess, Matthew Coombe, Alex Lewis, Lee Holden, and Damian Holroyd – a brilliant mix from across our Sales, Service, IT, Accounts and Management teams.
Well played, team! 👏⚽
https://www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/vans/vantasy-football.html
#VantasyFootball #MercedesBenzVans #MentalHealthAwareness #TeamCiceley #StGeorgesPark #VanLife #FootballForGood
🌍 Tomorrow we’ll be at GreenFleet LIVE! 2025 in Rochdale!
Come and see us to explore the latest in electric vans and sustainable fleet solutions — and chat with our team about how we can support your journey to net zero. ⚡🚛
We’re looking forward to meeting fleet, transport and sustainability professionals from across the UK. See you there!
#GreenFleetLIVE #ElectricVehicles #CleanFleet #NetZero #LCV #Sustainability #CiceleyCommercials
☀️ Our eActros 400 has been out and about in sunny Scotland yesterday, with driver training sessions led by Jordan Lowe and Richard.
Great to see more drivers getting behind the wheel and experiencing the future of fully electric transport first-hand! ⚡🚛
#eActros #ElectricTrucks #DrivingTheFuture #CiceleyCommercials
💬 More great feedback for our Carlisle team!
This is what we`re all about — great service and working to keep you moving.
👉 Book your next visit with our team by contacting them today
https://ow.ly/baCN50WXZVc
⭐ Excellent feedback for our Carlisle team! ⭐
We’re proud to support businesses in Carlisle and beyond, keeping vehicles on the road and running smoothly.
Get in touch with the team to book your vehicle in today.
https://ow.ly/eI1l50WXZPK
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