Fuso for Geelong Food Relief

Geelong Food Relief CEO Collin Peebles says it was clear the Fuso Canter was the best choice when the volunteer-backed organisation needed to buy a new truck to pick up and deliver food and other items.

All Fuso Canters except the 4x4 model come standard with a Safety Pack that includes Advanced Emergency Braking (AEB). Fuso says the Canter is the only light duty truck in Australia with this safety technology, which uses radar to detect a possible collision and automatically brakes the truck if the driver does not.

“We were looking at having a vehicle that has the Safety Pack feature that this Canter has because we have had a number of incidents of recent out on the road and the safety of our workers is paramount,” Mr Peebles says.

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“We take every opportunity to ensure that our workers are safe and comfortable out there,” he says.

Geelong Food Relief helps more than 35,000 people suffering from food insecurity in the Geelong region with the help of 90 volunteers.

Choosing the right truck was especially important for the organisation given its reliance on those who give up their time to help others.

The Canter 515 can be driven on a car licence and has an easy to use automated Dual Clutch Transmission. These are all big pluses for Geelong Food Relief, says Mr Peebles.
“Previously, we had an issue getting volunteers on the road with the necessary medium rigid licence. This truck gives us the ability to guarantee that we can have vehicles getting the work done on the road every day,” he says.

The Canter 515 also has independent front suspension and is [powered by a 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine.

“I’ve driven a lot of vehicles and it really is a nice truck to drive. It’s comfortable and has good performance,” Mr Peebles says. “I was quite surprised,” he adds.

He says the Canter’s five-year/200,000km warranty was especially appealing, along with the sharp pricing of the truck that was purchased from Fuso Port Melbourne.

“We are a not-for-profit charity and money is tight, so a good price and low running costs are very important for us,” he saidThe Canter arrived in time for a busy period for Geelong Food Relief, which provides more than 1 million kg of food across the region every year.

It operates two mini marts in Geelong and also delivers to 45 mini food banks around the region. The charity receives donations and rescues unused food as well as purchases some bulk amounts to top up its supply direct from an Aldi distribution centre.

There are 40 assessment agencies in the region run by the likes of The Salvation Army, United Care and St Vincent de Paul, who are able to give food vouchers to those who are deemed to be suffering from food insecurity. These people can then visit the mini marts in the region and use their tokens to purchase a good amount of food and other items.

For more information about the Geelong Food Relief charity, click here.