London’s Evening Standard newspaper has moved its transport operations back in house with the help of a 33-strong fleet of Fuso Canter 7.5-tonne trucks.
The newspaper was formerly known for its orange-and-white striped Sprinter vans, but following the newspaper’s change of ownership in 2009, and its subsequent transition to a free title, its transport requirements changed. The Sprinter fleet was stood down, in favour of using space in rental vehicles alongside other newspapers, such as the other major free London title, The Metro.
Following the opening of a new warehouse, the Standard’s management has taken the decision to bring its distribution back in-house again, and the higher volumes and smaller number of drops that have resulted from its free distribution model mean that panel vans are no longer viable — hence the decision to switch to the 7.5t Canters, which have a class-leading payload of nearly four tonnes and an unusually compact set of external dimensions, which make manoeuvring in London much easier.
As Tim Freeman, the London Evening Standard’s Head of Distribution explains, payload and manoeuvrability were key considerations:
“The Canter’s turning circle and outstanding manoeuvrability are big plus points given that we are working in central London. But payload is even more important, as we strive for maximum efficiency to contain fuel costs and minimise our carbon footprint.
“The Canter’s carrying capacity of almost four tonnes is roughly half a tonne more than that of a conventional 7.5-tonner. This equates to about 3,000 extra copies per vehicle, which represents a major saving.”
Based at the newspaper’s new distribution centre in Greenwich, the Canters are used to collect newspapers from the printing facility in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, then distribute them to retailers and newsstands. They will be maintained under a CharterWay contract hire agreement from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, by South London agent SG Smith.
The trucks are all Canter 7C15 models, powered by fuel-efficient 110 kW (150 hp) engines mated to DUONIC gearboxes – the first twin-plate, dual-clutch automated transmission to be fitted to a light truck, DUONIC provides smooth shifting and economical performance with none of the frictional losses found in traditional automatics. Features include a ‘creep’ function for low-speed manoeuvring, which is sure to be invaluable to drivers working on London’s congested streets.
The trucks’ lightweight curtainside bodies, meanwhile, are by TLC Auto Refinishing, of Feltham, and also feature a promotion for ESTV’s London Live, the first 24-hour, seven-days-a-week general entertainment television channel for the capital, which launches next year.