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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Our Prep Centre and Darwen Service teams were out on Friday and Saturday supporting @eastlancshospice by helping with their Christmas tree collection across Lancashire 🎄💚
Over the course of the collection, our teams travelled a combined 163.2 miles, completing 149 tree pick-ups across Lancashire. Every donation from the collections goes directly to East Lancs Hospice, supporting the vital care they provide to local families.
As our charity partner, East Lancashire Hospice is incredibly important to us, and we’re proud to support initiatives like this that make a real difference in our communities.
Dave McGinnes, Darwen Service Manager, commented:
“It’s brilliant to be able to support the hospice and the communities we serve by allowing our teams to volunteer and providing vehicles and resources. This was a real team effort across both sites, and it’s great to see the positive impact we can have by working together for such a worthwhile cause.”
Important Update: Plug-in Truck Grant Enhanced 🚛
The UK Government has announced increased funding for zero-emission trucks, with grants now available up to £120,000 for eligible vehicles.
These enhanced Plug-in Truck Grant rates are available now and apply to zero-emission trucks across Great Britain, but funding is time-limited and first-come, first-served.
Read more on our website.
As we move into the New Year, it’s the ideal time to plan maintenance for your Mercedes-Benz car.
If you need servicing or genuine parts this January, our Bolton site provides manufacturer-approved Mercedes-Benz car servicing delivered by trained technicians.
Get In touch with the team.
0333 014 6181
enquiries@ciceley.com
https://www.ciceley.com/mercedes-benz-passenger-car/
Happy New Year from everyone at Ciceley Commercials! 🎉
As we welcome the New Year, we’d like to thank our customers, partners and colleagues for your continued support throughout the past year. It’s been another busy and successful year across all our sites, and we’re excited for what lies ahead.
✨ That’s a wrap on 2025! ✨
As we count down to the New Year, we’re looking back at some of our favourite moments from across Ciceley Commercials this year. From exciting vehicle handovers and industry events to site developments and team achievements, it’s been another busy and rewarding year for us all.
A huge thank you to our customers, partners and colleagues for your continued support throughout 2025. We couldn’t do what we do without you.
Happy New Year from everyone at Ciceley Commercials! 🥂🚛🎆
We’ve received some lovely feedback from a customer who recently visited our Blackburn site.
A big thank you to Amy and Laura for delivering great service and making the visit so positive.🌟
Merry Christmas from everyone at Ciceley Commercials 🎄
Wishing our customers, partners and colleagues a very happy Christmas and thank you for your continued support throughout the year. 🎁✨
🎅🚐 Even Santa needs a little help sometimes…
Our 24-hour Roadside Assistance team is on hand throughout Christmas to keep you moving when the unexpected happens. Whether it’s festive deliveries or essential journeys, we’re here day and night, even over the Christmas period.
Because breakdowns don’t take Christmas off — and neither do we. ❄️
See our website for more details.
Still looking for that last minute gift? 🎄
Did you know we stock a range of Mercedes-Benz Genuine Accessories and Collection items – perfect for those hard-to-buy-for moments?
From stylish gifts like the Mercedes-AMG Monopoly set to practical accessories designed to fit your Mercedes-Benz perfectly, there’s something for every fan of the three-pointed star.
Pop in and speak to the team or give us a call to find the perfect last-minute gift.
01254 697926
www.ciceley.com
Christmas Jumper Day at Ciceley Commercials 🧶🎄
We’ve had a fab time across our sites getting into the festive spirit and raising money for @eastlancshospice 💙
A huge thank you to everyone who took part, donated and wore their best (and boldest!) Christmas jumpers — all in support of an incredible local charity that does such important work in our community.
Well done team, and thank you for spreading a little Christmas cheer 🎅✨
The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 continues to demonstrate what zero-emission transport can achieve, having successfully completed the legendary John O’Groats to Land’s End route in just over 24 hours — the first electric HGV to do so.
Travelling 1,378 km with only three charging stops, the journey showcased the practicality of electric power for long-distance haulage. Running solely on renewable electricity, the 39.5-tonne eActros 600 delivered a range exceeding 500 km per charge, achieved an average efficiency of 1.175 km/kWh, and prevented more than one tonne of CO₂ emissions compared to a diesel equivalent.
This achievement reinforces that electric heavy goods vehicles are already capable of meeting the demands of modern transport operations.
The challenge also supported Globe Truckers UK, helping shine a light on the wellbeing of the drivers who keep our industry moving.
To explore how electric trucks could work for your fleet, speak to the team at Ciceley Commercials today.
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