Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc. (MFTA) is showing new Canter FE130, FE160, FE180 and FE160 Crew Cab models at The Work Truck Show 2015 in Indianapolis.
At the show and conference, sponsored by NTEA and hosted at the Indianapolis Convention Center, FUSO will highlight the Canter’s best-in-class payload capacities, high fuel economy, longer service intervals, and its industry-best 5-year powertrain limited warranty, which the company says combine to provide Canter users with lower cost-of-ownership.
For 2016 models, FUSO is concentrating on furthering its low cost-of-ownership position by focusing on driver operability. According to Todd Bloom, president and CEO of MFTA, “We have come to recognize that, in addition to the obvious product advantages we have engineered into our work trucks, the drivers’ skills and care in operating our trucks can also make a direct contribution to lowering cost-of-ownership. Consequently, we have made a number of refinements to our trucks that are intended to make it easier for the driver to operate and maintain them.”
Many of these features are aimed at enhancing the driver start-of-shift walkaround. For instance, new 2016 Canters feature a re-located oil sump dipstick that allows the operator to check engine oil level without tilting the cab and the oil sump itself also has a higher capacity. In addition, the transmission clutch fluid housing includes a direct-view sight plug that allows the driver to check transmission fluid with a quick glance, and a new filter helps to maintain the quality of that fluid, for enhanced durability. An engine air filter restriction indicator also makes it easy for the driver to tell the condition of the air filter during his or her walkaround, without disassembling any part of the air filter housing or snorkel.
Finally, the company offers an optional Idle Limit System (ILS) to help drivers comply with no-idle limits in jurisdictions where they are mandated. Moreover, the optional Clarion Bluetooth radio provides not only the expected AM/FM/CD, MP3 and WPA playback, but also Pandora and Sirius XM compatibility, and its wireless Bluetooth connectivity allows hands-free calling with a properly equipped mobile device.
“Driver education and ease of operation will continue to be a focus of ours going forward,” Bloom notes. “Like consumer vehicles, work trucks are becoming more sophisticated every year, and it’s incumbent upon us, as an industry, to make sure we provide the operating systems and the education necessary for drivers to maintain their level of skill. It’s only fair to our customers. And Mitsubishi Fuso is committed to being an industry leader in that endeavor.”