Bulldog - but not on the rad

There's a bulldog in this picture, but it isn't on the truck's rad.

This long haul Volvo running for Motrux of Delta, BC and Toronto http://www.motrux.com/ has a bulldog* as co-driver it appears.

Perhaps he is also guarding the totally unsecured container on the flat bed. (I wouldn't worry too much about the container, it had only recently been unstrapped and was almost ready to off load at the Halterm container terminal in Halifax.)

* Okay so maybe the dog is a pug, but that wouldn't be worth a picture would it?

Long load for Challenger.

Challenger Motor Freight is the fifth largest trucking company in Canada, with more than 1500 trucks. Since it operates coast to coast and through the US to Mexico, its stripes are familiar sights. It is based in Cambridge, ON.
See http://www.challenger.com/
In 2009 they acquired Sandrock Speciality Carriers, and thereby expanded in oversize and equipment transport.This wide nose KW is hauling a Manac extendable bed trailer, still marked for Sandrock.
Challenger has made some pretty big moves including the following: http://www.ctl.ca/videos/play/?plid=1000399797
The trailer is a Manac, a company based in St-Georges de Beauce, QC, which is the biggest custom trailer builder in North America. It has factories in Quebec and Missouri, and owns the rights to Trailmobile Canada. See http://www.manac.ca/Kenworh of course needs no introduction. This wide nose is a T800 by the look of it - a favourite for the heavy haulers and long load folks, particularly in central Canada.
The long shrink wrapped tower or pressure vessel is bound for export.
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Worth a Look

A new book by trucker photographer Michael McClure:

http://www.michaelmcclure.ca/Michael_McClure/Photo_Blog/Entries/2011/5/2_playing_in_traffic.html

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The Plumnose

Nova Scotia is Bluenose country, but here is one variation on the theme. "The Plumnose", an International 3600 of unknown vintage, with a Thomas built school bus body (complete with wheelchair lift and ski rack) was spotted on Saturday. The distinctivce plum colour paint job, certainly sets it off.

The short nose chassis with high visibility offside window is also an interesting feature.

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More arrivals by ship

Two more ship arrivals yesterday, a pair of campers:

1. Dalanuma is Swiss couple headed for Alaska as far as I can tell, after a test trip to Morocco. There are some technical issues with their blog, but it is here:
http://dalanuma.blogspot.com/
Their camper is built on a European Ford Transit - quite nice looking unit.

2.The impressive crew cab M.A.N. "Tembo" is presumably from Germany, but I can find no references on the web. This guy could go anywhere, and has enough spare tires to last for quite a while. His infinitely adjustable levelling system must have been a treat to set up. Hope he doesn't have to do that every night. [No it is from France -see comments below]

3. The rear overhang probably exceeds the usual four foot requirement for red flags, but would allow for some pretty steep hill climbs!

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Tight fit for Liebherr

Another in the seemingly endless string of Liebherr cranes for Mammoet arrived by ship last night. This one a 250 tonner (or maybe a 350 tonner) is a 12 x 8 x 10 (12 wheels, 8 drive, 10 steer.)

It takes a very skilled driver to get it onto the flat car in exactly the right position - it must be centered side to side, and positioned so that its weight is centered.

To aid in this operation, the centre steering axles are air lifted-as shown in the photo.

Once in position, lugs are welded to the car deck and the crane is chained down into position - a job that takes at least a day for the skilled rigger crew.

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Another old dog

This delightful R model Mack Econodyne is not quite factory stock. The massive moose bar front end is certainly a rare sight on a Mack of this vintage. I didn't notice until long after I took the photo that the bulldog has been replaced by a chromed Daffy Duck, so the blow up doesn't do it justice.
The two box trailer with amidships grab crane is also an interestnig find.
Woodside 2011-04-30.
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