New Volvos

 Volvo's North American trucks have stepped up to the plate in terms of appearance. Their older models - which I always thought were okay looking - now appear stodgy by comparison to the "all new" VML. I have only seen this model recently, so here are the two examples I have seen so far.

MacKay's, the dealer in Truro, had one on the lot last weekend, which I saw while I was en route to the Atlantic Truck Show in Moncton.

Conrad's Transport (part of the Ocean Group - loyal Volvo customers themselves with their bright green transit mixers) has at least one on the road (fleet number 003) - joining older model units.

Shuttling ACL containers from Fairview Cove, and old (Triple Crown?) trailers at Pier 9C seems kind of "under utilizing" the assets, but at least it stood still long enough for a picture.

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Truck Show

 As usual with the Atlantic Truck Show there were some very impressive trucks on display at the Moncton Coliseum (May 9-10). As I learned a few years ago it is worth a trip through the parking lot too as some of the delivery trucks and attendee's trucks can be equally impressive.

 The interior of the various halls was as usual crammed with exhibits making it difficult to take pictures, There were also lots of people.

 

Frankly I was expecting to see more innovation. This TICO yard tug was something I had not seen before. Powered by Volvo electrics, it is North American built.
 

Other "new to me" sights out in the parking lots was this small sized Peterbilt 220 - also an EV.

Most of the major brands had demos or recent deliveries out in the parking lots. 

Navistar International had several models:

and the others, such as Kenworth:

and Western Star...
 

were there too.

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Under Wraps number 2

The waterfront was the scene for more activity under wraps recently when Irving Shipbuilding's Halifax Shipyard took delivery of some large engines. The units were landed at the PSA Fairview Cove container terminal, presumably from Germany on a Roll On  / Roll Off ship of Atlantic Container Lines. They were then transported by modular transporter to the shipyard.

J.D.Irving Ltd., the company that owns Irving Shipbuilding, is a multi-faceted, vertically integrated,  industrial operation that also has an equipment division with a fleet of mobile cranes, trucks and trailers to serve them, and a number of modular transporters. These units, when coupled together can carry huge loads - up to and including entire ships.

The modular transporters arrived at the shipyard on a flat bed trailer behind a Freightliner day cab with an extra drop axle. (J.D.Irving also owns Universal Truck and Trailer Co. a Freightliner and Western Star sales, parts and service operation covering New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.)

 The units were lifted off by an Irving Equipment 500 tonne Liebherr hydrauulic crane.

 Once full assembled the modular transporter hustled off to the container terminal, with the operator sitting on what looked like a milk crate. (There were escort vehicles ahead and behind.)

 The load(s) were MAN main engines for the Arctic Escort and Patrol vessels currently under construction at the Shipyard. Each ship has four 6L32/44CR engines of 3600kW (4827 HP) each weighing 39.5 tonnes, powering two electric drives.

Unlike the military vehicles in the previous post, these wraps advertise the manufacturer. (MAN Diesel & Turbo is part of Volkswagen and also makes trucks and buses. It also owns the former Burmeister & Wain = B&W, and Alstom. It manufactures some engines in Denmark, France, india and China and licenses builders in Korea.)

 

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Under Wraps

 Among the best looking trucks that I see are those of Paddock Transport International (formerly Earl Paddock Transport) of Stoney Creeek, ON. Always Kenworths and always very clean black with red trim, each truck is also named after a former company employee.

 

Although they are from the Hamilton, ON area, the trucks aren't carrying steel when they arrive in Halifax. The company specializes in hauling military vehicles built by General Dynamics in London ON. At one time the LAVs or other wheeled units were easy to identify, but recently they have been tarped. Whether this is to protect them from roads salt or to conceal them from prying eyes is anyone's guess.

 

I have seen their trucks in the United States too - they are easy to spot!

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