LOO: Nixon Hire enjoy flexibility benefits
Flexibility to tackle a wider range of jobs is the key benefit after Nixon Hire opted for their first Fuso Canters.
The national plant, accommodation and toilet hire firm have taken delivery of five new 3.5tonne Canter 3C13s, supplied by Newcastle-upon-Tyne Mercedes-Benz dealer Bell Truck and Van.
Nixon Hire are using the vehicles to deliver portable, self-contained toilet cubicles to construction sites, music festivals, sports event sites and other locations.
The vehicles are travelling across the north of England and as far afield as Inverness.
All Fuso Canters were specified with DUONIC gearboxes – the first twin-plate, dual-clutch automated transmission to be fitted to a light truck.
DUONIC provides smooth shifting and economic performance with none of the frictional losses found in traditional automatic gearboxes.
Features include an Eco Mode for even more fuel-efficient cruising, as well as parking and ‘creep’ functions for low-speed manoeuvring.
Graham Wood, Transport Manager at Nixon Hire, said: “We’re certainly impressed by what we’ve seen so far, while the response from our drivers has also been very positive – the DUONIC transmission makes these vehicles very easy to drive.
“The service from Bell Truck and Van has been excellent too – all our queries were answered quickly and comprehensively and the dealer was extremely helpful in arranging all the bodywork and add-ons, so we just had one point of contact to deal with.”
Nixon Hire’s workload ranges from delivering more than 300 units to a single site, to supplying a single toilet for a domestic customer.
“We need to adopt a flexible approach to the number of cubicles we can safely transport,” added Mr Wood.
“The Canter’s cab-forward design, and the availability of a long-wheelbase chassis, has allowed us to fit a 5.0-metre body capable of holding eight cubicles, without needing a very long rear overhang.
“The vehicle’s 3.5-tonne towing capacity means we can operate at a gross train weight of 7.0tonnes – each truck can pull a trailer carrying a further ten toilets.
“This outstanding towing capability was key to our decision to work with Bell Truck and Van to fulfil this order.
“We can now carry 18 toilets at a time but the Canter remains suitable for multi-drop runs, which sometimes require access to tight locations.
“It’s a multi-purpose vehicle and suits both needs extremely well.
Nixon Hire are one of the largest privately-owned plant hire firms in the UK, employing around 310 staff across 13 sites in north England and Scotland.
They offer plant, accommodation, tool and toilet hire as well as new and used plant sales, plant repairs and maintenance and liquid waste removal.
