Japanese trucks aren’t usually Show and Shine material, but operators like JMT Civil and trucks like the 510hp Fuso Shogun are proving otherwise.
The Sydney-based operation, which specialises in vegetation management, demolition and heavy machinery haulage has eight other trucks which all have bonnets that wear the letters K and W.
The fact that the Shogun was available with more than 500hp was enough for JMT Civil director Joel Taylor to make the decision to break with tradition to cover lighter jobs around metro Sydney.
It didn’t hurt that he likes the team at Sydney Truck and Machinery (STM) and knows they back their customers.
Taylor said the Fuso Shogun 510, which has a Gross Combination Mass (GCM) of 63 tonnes, was perfect for the city jobs he had in mind and he made the call to buy his first Japanese truck.
“Like many of my drivers, I bleed Kenworth red, but there comes a time that the benefits of a truck like the Shogun outweigh the negatives,” said Taylor.
Asked what those benefits were, Taylor explained: “The main thing is the maneuverability of the cab-over and the excellent visibility that will really help our drivers getting in and out of compact sites in the city, but the fuel efficiency of the 13-litre is also a real positive.”
Taylor said the Shogun is a good truck for the application.
“The design and visibility really make it easier for our drivers and they love it.”
As for the efficiency, Taylor said the Shogun 510 is “considerably better” on fuel than the other trucks in the fleet when working the same type of jobs.
The Shogun 510 is the only Japanese truck with more than 500hp and is fitted with a 13-litre Daimler Truck six-cylinder that delivers 510hp and 2500Nm of torque. The fact that it has more than 500hp was a big selling point.
“Nobody wants to drive an underperforming vehicle, so the engine performance was really important,” said Taylor.
Even though the Shogun is different to the other trucks in the JMT Civil fleet, it was still given the full treatment with plenty stainless steel, scroll work and extra lighting that the company is known for.
The immaculate presentation of the JMT Civil trucks is no accident. Having built the company up from one truck over eight years, Taylor knows the importance of appearances.
“We take great pride in the presentation of our equipment and I think customers are more likely to do business with a company with well-presented trucks that shows they are professional,” he said.
All Shogun 510s are delivered with a distinctive black front section that only features on the 13-litre unit and is one way others can tell the truck has more than 500hp.
The JMT Civil Shogun 510 will be used with low loader trailers hauling various plant and machinery running at around 40 to 45 tonnes GCM.
The Shogun 510 comes with a full suite of active safety features, which is especially important for trucks operating in urban environments with dense traffic and many pedestrians.
These include an Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) feature that uses camera and radar technology to automatically brake for an object or moving pedestrian in the event the driver does not respond to an audible warning. This system is standard on all Shogun models, as is radar-based adaptive cruise control.
Active Attention Assist (AAA), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), a driver airbag, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Hill Start Assist (HSA) assistance function are also standard.
A decent manufacturer’s warranty covers the Shogun for five years or 500,000km.
The 510’s OM471 six-cylinder engine hits its maximum power output at 1600rpm while its maximum torque of 2500Nm is available from just 1100rpm.
There’s plenty of low-down pull because 86 per cent of maximum torque available from just 800rpm, while 84 per cent of maximum torque is still available at 1700rpm.
The engine features an asymmetric turbocharger and the latest generation common rail system with variable pressure boosting for ultimate fuel efficiency.
A 12-speed fully automated transmission (AMT) features the clever EcoRoll system, while a powerful three-stage engine braking system gives the driver more control.