Charity clothing drive made easy with Fuso Canter fleet

A Victorian charity is using a fleet of Fuso Canter trucks to collect millions of donations every year to raise money for diabetes research, children’s camps and support services. Diabetes Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation that works to support people with all types of diabetes. It raises money through donations of clothing and small household items to fund independent research into diabetes management, as well as working toward the ultimate aim of finding a cure.

The organisation has a long relationship with recycling company Savers, which purchases all the used clothing collected by Diabetes Victoria and sells it through their six Melbourne stores in Brunswick, Footscray, Fountain Gate, Greensborough, Ringwood and Moorabbin.

In order to maximise the money it can raise, Diabetes Victoria has developed a lean and innovative collection model for picking up donated clothing using nine Fuso Canter trucks that are leased on a long-term plan with Hertz franchise holder: Australian Truck & 4WD Rentals Pty Ltd.

The trucks are current model Canters 615s fitted with the driver-friendly Duonic dual-clutch automated transmission and reversing camera for maximum safety.

Diabetes Victoria collects clothing and small household items from Melbourne residents who call its 1300 256 844 hotline to arrange collection of their donation. This service would be a challenge on its own, but the organisation also regularly collects from its donation wheelie bins located at pre-schools, kindergartens and primary schools throughout the city, as well as from large donation bins located in participating apartment buildings.

"Each truck does between 40 and 70 pick-ups per day, delivering to our Campbellfield warehouse or to the six Savers stores," says Diabetes Victoria Chief Executive Officer, Craig Bennett.

Savers staff sort the donated goods into items which are saleable in their Australian stores. Items that don’t make the grade or remain unsold are baled and shipped overseas, where they find another life as sought after items in developing countries.

Diabetes Victoria has leased trucks through Hertz for 17 years. "We have a great relationship with Hertz," Mr Bennett says. "When a truck needs to be serviced, Hertz offers a temporary replacement truck to keep us going. As a charitable organisation, not having to buy trucks outright really suits the Diabetes Victoria business model."

The Canter is a perfect fit for the Diabetes Victoria fleet, thanks to its class-leading tare weight, car-like rack and pinion steering, independent front suspension and automated transmission.