South coast Mercedes-Benz Dealer Pentagon Commercials has won praise from the manufacturer after becoming the first member of its franchised network to appoint a technical specialist dedicated to the increasingly popular FUSO Canter light truck range.
Chris Hillier joined the workshop team at Pentagon’s Andover’s branch in 1998 and, as a three-time winner of the Mercedes-Benz Service24h Technician of the Year award, has played a lead role in establishing the Dealer as one of Britain’s top performers in terms of breakdown attendance time and roadside fixes.
Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Dealers are additionally responsible for sales and support of the FUSO Canter range, which last year captured a record 16% share of the UK’s key 7.5-tonne market segment.
Sam Whittaker, Director Customer Service, Mercedes-Benz and FUSO Trucks UK, declared: “Pentagon is one of our strongest Dealers for FUSO sales, and its welcome decision to appoint the country’s first Canter Technical Specialist reflects not only the increasing importance of this product, but also the heightened focus on specialism within our network. Once again Pentagon is raising the bar when it comes to delivering exceptional customer service.”
Chris was working as an elite diagnostic technician when he was chosen last year by the FUSO team at Mercedes-Benz HQ to help pilot a ground-breaking service initiative designed to increase efficiency and reduce vehicle downtime, which is now being rolled out to the rest of the network.
Compatible with most desktops, tablets and mobile devices, the Animated Service Literature system brings technical data to life by combining written instruction with high-resolution imagery and 3D animations. It provides a compact, reliable, touchscreen-working document for use in the workshop or at the roadside.
The decision to involve Chris in its development owed much to his expertise on the Canter range, which comprises chassis with gross weights of 3.5-8.55 tonnes, and includes 4×4 and advanced diesel-electric Eco Hybrid models.
“I’ve long seen the Canter’s potential, which is why I’ve seized every opportunity to increase my technical knowledge,” said Chris, who is now based at Pentagon’s Southampton Service Centre, but supporting colleagues at the company’s headquarters in Fareham, and other branches in Andover and Poole.
“The Canter is an impressive piece of kit which, at 7.5 tonnes, offers the best payload potential on the market. The technical assistance I’m able to provide to colleagues underlines our determination to keep our customers’ vehicles out on the road and earning.”
Pentagon has been at the forefront of the manufacturer’s successful drive to boost FUSO sales in the UK – an order for 90 7.5-tonners won from leading delivered wholesaler Palmer and Harvey was the single biggest Canter deal struck in Europe.
