Road Report - Big Truck Version - Finale

Kenworth has always been a big favourite in Quebec, and they are probably one of the most common trucks on the road. Getting a photo of one sitting still is always the challenge.

 Bertrand's Unit 12-05 with an RV for a long haul tow, takes a quick truck stop break.

Garage Bertrand in Lévis operates a fleet of big wreckers and works all over Quebec and beyond into the US. They also have an interesting web site with an album section showing their older trucks back to the 1980s. http://www.remorquagebertrand.com/ENG/index.html


Another Mack popped into view, and a classic offset cab R model. Used as a water truck by a road construction company it probably has very low mileage.

These rugged units are still in daily use as transit mixers, dump trucks and other uses.


Many of the smaller brand names don't attract much attention, even though there are many units on the roads. The late lamented Sterling brand can still be seen, usually in vocational vehicles, but the odd time it pops up in other places. Daimler shut down its Canadian plan in St.Thomas, ON in 2009, but there are still Sterlings to be see:

This Acterra chassis serves as a village fire tanker in Les Eboulements, QC.

Built by Camions Helie Inc of Joliette, QC - see their excellent website: http://www.camionhelie.com/


I didn't see too many Peterbilts on the road trip - or at least ones that stood out from the crowd. Petes were once very rare sights in Canada but are now right up there with the other big brands for over the road. They have also made their mark in the vocational field too.

This short hood Pete may be a model 348 which is engineered for a variety of applications.It will distribute its load via a set back front axle and a second steering axle from Simard Suspensions.

Western Star makes its own twin steers and this one is waiting at the Halifax dealer.

Freightliners are everywhere these days, and a few samples jumped in front of my camera

This handsome unit, seen at the New Brunswick/Quebec border appeared to be waiting for some assistance due to a sagging load. The truck runs for TCF Express of Pierreville, QC.

I saw several Freightliner COEs - but only a few were stopped.

Fueling at Woodstock, NB, this drom unit is a very rare sight, although Packers Logistics of Stoney Creek, ON likes them for their LTL work.

A classic FL COE - with straight stacks was taking a break in Amherst, NS, some distance from its home base in Sussex, NB.

There was something for everyone in this trio of chip haulers. Low rise, mid rise and high rise sleepers, and a mix of traditional and more modern styling - two Petes and a Binder. The two red trucks are 2018 models, with license plates only ten digits apart. The blue Pete is a 2012.

That's the end of this road trip report.

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Kenworth for Akita

Akita Equipment and Auto Transport , Mount Pearl, NL had a mighty big Kenworth and a mighty big trailer in Halifax today.

I could only fit the combo in by tlting the camera, while I held up traffic. I guess I would not want to be a moose in Newfoundland with this rig bearing down on me.

The trailer is a Scheltema, built in Woodstock, ON.

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More MANs

A small fleet of MANs arrived by ships recently, and they are being ferried to Ontario by Earl Paddock Trucking. I have featured the well kept Paddock fleet here before. Based in Stoney Creek, ON, they specialize in oversize and large loads, but also in transporting military vehivcles. We used to see them in Halifax frequently when they delivered Saudi military LAVs from General Dynamics in London, ON to the Port of Halifax. The Saudis moved their operation but LAV deliveries have dried up, so Paddock trucks are rarer here now.

 

The new MANs appear to be 6x4s, with large single tires on the drive axles, and a long wheelbase. However these truclks are available with selectable hydrostatic front wheel drive.
This one is a TGS  33.400, and the other five appear to be the same, as seen from a distance.  It has the M  cab (day cab),  TGS signifies heavy duty  and the 33 stands for 33,000 kg GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) and the 400 stands for 400 hp.

 

Hauling these vehicles is the job of one of Paddock's many excellent Kenworths:

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RV Roundup - plus Labour Day Bonus

Road trip over - for me - there are still many others out on the road in a wide and wild variety of RVs.

An unusual van, with a German Hymer RV fit out showed up today with Connecticut plates. Based on the Fiat Ducato Professional, and bearing Hynmer's own Hymercar logo on the grille, this one would not be remarkable if it was carrying German plates. However is carrying Connecticut plates and Dodge hubcaps with the Ram logo.

I guess a European / American cross of some sort.


Three axle arrangements are not common on RVs of any sort, but to see two in two days is a bit of a coincidence.

This one, more or less fresh off the boat is based on the Mercedes Sprinter cab, with Bocklet expedition type RV box. Boklet Fahrzeubau GmbH of Koblenz builds a full range of RVs up to and including full tilt Dakar types.

 

 

 This one was obviously too big for just two axles, so a third (trailing) axle was added.

 For three "axle" units however, there is nothing to beat the traditional GMC Motorhome:

 This classic is one of the most prized RVs in existence. Built entirely by GM, using the Oldsmobile front wheel drive engine from the Toronado, it has an extreme low floor as a result. To minimize wheelwell protrusions, the non-drive rear wheels, were dualed in tandem.

The RV frame is aluminum and the body panels are fibreglass and aluminum, and therefore extraordinarily durable. That is why so many of the 13,000 built are still on the road. Production was from 1973 to 1978!

Speaking of GM, this new GMC T7500 cab forward has been fitted out for fifth wheel hauling:

 A complicated boat rack and launching system spans from front bumper to box body, without touching the independently suspended cab. The front frame is hinged on the bumper, so must be movable to tilt the cab.

 The body comes from Intercontinental Truck Body (ITB) of Coaldale, and Calgary, AB and Surrey BC. The company builds all sorts of specialized and custom truck bodies. It also has a US subsidiary TriVan Trucks of Ferndale, WA.

Not to leave General Motors completely, this RV lives in Halifax, and is not on the road very much. 

It carries a well worn Chevrolet "bow tie" over the front grille, hinting at a Chev undercarriage and mechanicals. There is no manufacturer's name on the van body, which is most unusual. It's rear window appears to be an early hatch back.



September 3 
It's Labour Day so I will save the effrot of making a new post, by adding this one:

This giant MAN from France is a TGM 18,290 model. (M meaning medium duty.)

The crew cab option is one of three cabs avaialbe in this model.

 (Day cab and sleeper are also offered). 

It would take a certain type of agility to get in and out of this rig.

I am not sure about who made the RV box - I couldn't see a label from the front, but it looks like a conversion of a standard cargo body.

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Road Report - Big Truck Version - More Macks chapter

There are scores of Macks at Simard Suspensions, ready for installation. The ever popular Granite model seems to be a favourite for transit mix use.

 The fenders and rims are yet to be installed on this one, which will likely be going to Beton Provinciale. Simard works closely with London, the transit mix builders.

This one looks road ready. Judging from the colour, and trim, I bet it is going to Quality Concrete in Halifax.

Lots of cab forwards on the lot too. They are ever popular for refuse packers and concrete pumpers.

Now called the TerraPro, this is essentially the same model that Mack has been producing for about 40 years. This one is heading for Alliance Concrete Pumps. (Chrome dog version.)

 

Long wheelbase on this one suggests it won't be a refuse packer either. (Gold dog version, gets black trim and large side windows.)

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Road Report - Big Truck Version - Seeing (More) Stars

This morning the line up to unload wood chips at the Resolute Clermont mill featured a lineup of Western Stars of all shapes and sizes.

Day cab, low rise sleeper, high rise sleepers, set back axles  and extra long hood all there. 

This 5700 XE (Exteme Efficiency) model is gaining popularity for the long hauls.

Féricar is a major supplier of chip trailers. They have several models of lowbed 4 axle 53 foot trailers with capacity in excess of 4400 cubic feet.

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Road Report - Big Truck version - Western Star chapter

Western Star rules the Quebec roads for wood hauling, but does other work too.

 Simard Suspensions is busy cranking out its Dramis line of heavy dumpers, including this bruiser for Centre du Camion Mabo in Abitibi-Temiskaming, possibly as a demonstrator.

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