M.A.N. from all over

 This large M.A.N. is wearing an Italian licence plate. From what I have been able to determine the letters "EY" signify a 2014 vehicle.

Confusingly however there are French flags posted on the cab front and doors.

 The RV body has corner castings like a shipping container, so presumably can be lifted off. I am not sure how the cab tilts without spilling the contents of the roof rack.

In looking for Italian license plate information on line I discovered a photo of the same vehicle taken in March 2022 in Montreal. Perhaps the rig is headed back to Europe.

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More of them

 The European RVs keep rolling in (by ship). After a few days in bond they are cleared by Customs and head off into deepest darkest North America. Some recent examples:

Not a converted bread truck, this is a Niesmann + Bischoff luxury build. (The company is a subdidiary of Hymer.)

 

We don't see too many VW vans. This one may be a DIY. Is that a solar panel on the roof?

 Fiats are more common - this cab / chassis unit was the basis for a Franka RV body.

Even rarer are Jeeps from Europe - it would be interesting to learn the history of that one on the right with the folding roof top tent.

A giant Mercedes-based Eura Mobil would provide luxury transportation -  with staggering gas bills.

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Old Macks...

 It may be true that old Macks never die. Some however appear to be in critical condition. Despite having lost its hood letters and bulldog this one is still easily identifiable as a Mack. Nevertheless this beat up R model was able to make it from New Brunswick to Halifax (a hair raising drive I expect - note the missing driver side mirror).  It will be exported to some distant land where it will be coaxed into a few more years of use.

R series are hard to date since they were produced for over forty years. The first Rs came out in the early sixties and the set back axle RB model (like this one) was discontinued in 2005.

The high breather and chrome visor make this one stand out. The pair of Mack air horns are also a nice touch too. I wonder what goodies are lurking under that tarp.

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Where's the Fire?

 A Mercedes 508D former fire department vehicle, originally from Austria, but now wearing a German registration plate (from Ludwigsburg) travels through a busy intersection in Halifax (no lights, no siren) May 21, 2023.

These panel vans were converted to "brigade bus" in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and perhaps other countries. They could carry four of five firefighters and a lot of equipment. Some were fitted with a tank and a front mounted pump, others were used as ambulances. The search light was a nice touch mounted just at eye level for the driver. I am not sure, but I doubt the rope on the front bumper was standard issue.

They have proven popular as a basic camper for those who want to travel on a budget.

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Oversize times two

 Two oversize loads were poised for departure today at the PSA Fairview Cove terminal. 

CFL Heavy Haul of Milton, ON (part of the HW Transportation Group) had a pair of large farm tractors - one Massey Ferguson and one John Deere, heading for Ontario.

Despite their North American brand names, both tractors arrived from Europe. Pulling the load was a well equipped Freightliner, in basic white.

 Beside it was a Volvo A30G articulated off road dumper (pre-owned).

In charge of the rig was another well equipped Freightliner, this time from TransMax Ltd of Winnipeg, MB, and wearing all red.

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Imports and Exports

 There seems to be no end to the RVs this year. I counted more than a dozen still to emerge from the Fairview Cove terminal, and with more due to arrive from Europe.

Among the ones I've seen recently were a small but rugged IVECO AWD from the Roth, Bavaria district of Germany:

 

I kept seeing the big Mercedes around town for a few days (see previous post) and finally figured out how they managed to get aboard.

The telescoping steps fold up under the door. There does not appear to be a railing.

Another small RV is a Dethleffs Globetrotter...

but I did not identify the cab/chassis manufacturer...

The map on the back includes Asia, Australia and the length of the western hemisphere, and certainly lives up to the Globetrotter label.

Not all vehicles moving through the port are imports. There is a large trade in used cars heading out to third world countries. There is the occasional truck too.

This Mack chassis concrete pumper arrived over the road from Sherbrooke, Quebec (that must have been gruelling trip). From the shape of the second steering axle mud guards I would say the chassis was prepared by Simard in Baie-St-Paul.

The pump is from Schwing, which makes many different models. Its North American operations are based in Minneapolis, MN. They aslo make fire booms and truck mounted conveyors.

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Hi-Rail

 Canadian National Railway (CNR or CN Rail) is in the midst of a major wood tie replacement project in the Halifax area. I have noted some interesting Hi-Rail (or Hy-Rail) vehicles working here, including one that I spotted for the first time today.

This extended cab Freightliner CN # 270318 fuel tanker is fitted with Hi-Rail gear, allowing it to go to remote work sites to refuel equipment. (It is carrying 1202 hazard placards for diesel fuel.)

Most tank trucks are difficult to identify from a distance but this one conveniently carries Seneca Tank mud flaps. The company Seneca Tank Inc is based in Des Moines, Iowa and sells new and used tank trucks world wide.

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