Page 32 - POB-MarchApr2012

Basic HTML Version

[
30
]
The Port of Baltimore
March/April 201 2
To subscribe or renew, visit
BUSINESS
BY NANCY MENEFEE JACKSON
Photography Courtesy of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc.
M
itsubishi Fuso’s cabover
trucks are versatile work-
horses ideally suited to
cramped urban areas that
require negotiating tight streets and alleys.
In fact, the shortest-wheelbase Canter
cabover boasts a tighter turning radius than
a Mini Cooper. Because the cab is placed
over the engine, eliminating the hood,
drivers can see the ground just six feet in
front of the truck. (A typical conventional
hood blocks the driver’s view of the ground
up to 25 feet in front of the truck.)
These medium-duty trucks are equally
at home on the farm or with a landscaping
business. Some work for the government,
where their fuel economy and reduced costs
fit well with tight budgets. They can be
equipped with everything from refrigerated
boxes and street sweepers to snow plows,
and a four-wheel-drive version is available.
Fuso trucks are adept at pickup and delivery,
easily backing up to loading docks or
making deliveries on congested streets.
“There’s just an endless use for these
vehicles,” said Mike Rumsey, Vice President
of Sales Operations for Mitsubishi Fuso
Truck of America, Inc. , the national
distributor for Fuso trucks that have weight
ratings of class 3 to class 5. These classes
of trucks are equipped with diesel engines
that meet federal efficiency standards and
are clean-idle certified. The Canter model,
introduced in March 2011, uses a small
displacement/high performance engine that
delivers both high torque and fuel economy.
That appeals to buyers who care about their
carbon footprint as well as saving money.
“Everything we do is intended to deliver
a better business solution for the owner,”
said Rumsey. “We want to improve their
bottom line. The design intention is to
improve fuel economy and provide lower
cost of ownership.”
‘A
Better
Business Solution’
Mitsubishi Fuso Trucks Make Their Way Through Baltimore To Discerning Customers
Â
Fuso trucks are efficient,
maneuverable medium-duty trucks well
suited to a variety of jobs.
Â
The company employs 76 people and
is headquartered in Logan, N.J.
Â
The Port of Baltimore handles about
2,500 Fuso trucks annually, which are
bound for a network of 215 dealers across
North America.
Â
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America,
Inc. is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Fuso
Truck and Bus Corp., Kawasaki, Japan, an
integral part of the Daimler Trucks Division
of Daimler AG.
At-A-Glance