Hundreds of commercial vehicle operators taking Canter test drives at dealerships nationwide were automatically entered in the competition.
‘This is great news,’ declared group finance director, Mark Vale, on learning that the Coventry-based company's name had been selected.
‘We were considering a Canter anyway, which is why we took the test drive. So to win the use of a brand new vehicle for a full year is a real bonus, and came as a very welcome early Christmas present.’
HTA’s new truck arrived via local Dealer Midlands Truck & Van. Powered by a fuel-efficient 110 kW (150 hp) engine mated to a DUONIC transmission, it has a curtainside body by Fred Smith & Sons, of West Bromwich, which also applied HTA’s livery.
The Canter 7C15 came with a 12-month Mercedes-Benz Repair and Maintenance Contract – Midlands Truck & Van will be undertaking the mandatory six-weekly inspections and all servicing, as well as replacing tyres when necessary, at its workshop on Wheler Road in Whitley, Coventry.
As well as a pair of 18-tonne Mercedes-Benz Axor trucks also supplied by Midlands Truck & Van in 2012, HTA Group ran a 7.5-tonne Mercedes-Benz Atego which it was preparing to stand down after six years’ service.
'The Canter is a ready-made replacement for our Atego,' continued Vale. 'It’s fulfilling an operational need and has been quick to impress, particularly because of its exceptionally high payload potential.
'The beauty of this truck is that although it’s clearly very well built and has a reputation for durability, it is also the lightest vehicle in its class. That means we’re able to carry approximately four tonnes, which is the best part of a tonne more than we’d get on a conventional 7.5-tonner.
‘Given that we’re carrying steel, weight rather than cubic volume is the limiting factor in our operation. So a payload gain of this magnitude makes a welcome contribution to increased efficiency and productivity,’ he added.