THE HIGH payload and compact dimensions of its first 7.5-tonne Mitsubishi Canter so impressed plant hire and sales specialist CBL (Clive Barford Ltd) that it quickly returned with an order for a second, identical unit.

Supplied by south coast Mercedes dealer Pentagon - which handles the Mercedes-Benz-owned Canters - CBL's first Canter 75 has a beaver tail body with ramps, which was built to the operator's own specification by Solent Bodybuilders at Segensworth. It has been working from CBL's Newbury depot since the end of January.

The company has ten locations across England and South Wales; the latest, in Cambridge, was opened in January.

CBL relies on Mercedes Vito and Sprinter vans to get its 70 service engineers quickly on site when they are needed to fix a piece of equipment. It also runs a number of Mercedes Atego rigids at 12, 15, 18 and 26 tonnes gvw, which are used primarily to deliver mid-sized plant operated by its customers themselves.

The new Canter, though, is CBL's first 7.5-tonner, and the vehicle, pictured, has been quick to make its mark. "The main attraction of the Mitsubishi is its physical size," explains regional director Richard Galvin.

"A lot of our customers are working in built-up areas and this vehicle is small enough to get into places that bigger trucks can't reach, while still being able to carry relatively heavy pieces of equipment.

"And, of course, as a 7.5-tonner the Canter can be driven by a non-LGV licensed driver, which is another factor weighing in its favour.

"It's a great workhorse," Mr Galvin continues, "well built and with heavy-duty springs that make it ideally suited to our application."

CBL's second Canter will be based at its depot in Saltash, Cornwall, where it will be ideally suited to operation along narrow lanes bordered by high hedges.