Random Shots #38 Heavy Kenny

Local propane distributor Superior Propane has a fleet of very heavy looking Kenworths. Most are on high chassis T470 models, complete with skid plates under the rads, and other very heavy duty features. Just why this should be so is a bit of a mystery, except that it seems some propane customers are are on back roads or construction sites and very hard to reach with normal class 7 trucks.

No doubt these trucks are rugged, and they should stand up well. When they finish their propane careers, they would certainly have value as dump trucks or other construction vehicles.

This particular KW has a particularly huge front bumper.

Picture taken in Burnside August 8, at a Caterpillar service centre.

Random Shot #37 - the Big Orange No More?

Day & Ross, that hard charging trucking subsidiary of the McCain french fry potato empire, has jumped onto the highway doubles band wagon. As one of the biggest shippers around (they claim 1,000 tractors in their ads) exceeding the size of Midland, Sunbury and Armour, it is hardly surprising that they would do so. They move a lot of freight besides french fries.

What is surprising is that they seem to have forsaken their trademark "Big Orange" colour scheme in the process. Their famous orange and black scheme identified them from miles off - even with such recent interlopers as Skelton and Schneider.

Now here they are in plane jane, factory vanilla -too bad.

The predictable Freightliner Columbia also puts then on the boring list. [Correction Cascadia - brain fog again!]

This shot was taken this afternoon in Burnside at the doubles terminal, not at the usual D&R terminal.

Post script

After my comments a while back on on the 25 meter length limit in Nova Scotia, it should be pointed out that Long Combination Vehicles (such as shown above and in the masthead) are allowed by special permit only, and only on designated roads. A 40m length limit for A-train or B-train configuration is allowed-which permits two 53 foot trailers, but leaves room for only a day cab. The designated roads are divided highways and certain approach roads. For more see:

www.gov.ns.ca/tran/trucking/LCVGuidelines.pdf

Road Trip Report #2

I know it's still summer, but I had to detour around construction in Rivière-du-Loup yesterday, and stumbled upon this.

I was frankly not aware of the J.A.Larue company in Quebec City, makers of this impressive snow blower. They seem to be a major outfit, with a lot of products, including several units larger than this one, which is run by the City of Rivière-du-Loup. You'll note it has a right hand drive half cab, presumably to give the operator a better chance of picking off fire hydrants!

See www.jalarue.com for a nifty web site and some more pics.

Road Trip Report #1

Truckfax travels far and wide for photos-and so apparently does Scott-Wood Transport, from Maple, ON. The specialist tilt deck and oversize carrier has a long history, and a fleet to do just about any odd-size project.

I spotted their Kenworth #376 when we shared a ride on the ferry Jos. Deschenes between Baie-Ste-Catherine and Tadoussac, QC on August 5. There is a very long hill out of Tadoussac, so I had lots of time to get ahead and set up for the highway shot!

(If you don't know where on earth this is, it is about 150 miles northeast of Quebec City on the north shore of the St.Lawrence River at the mouth of the Saguenay River.) There is lots of industrial activity on the lower north shore in such places as Baie Comeau, Sept Iles and inland in Quebec and Labrador, that are accesible by highway 138, the main artery. There is lots of trucking activity, and I will show more later in the summer.

The truck is a healthy KW T800, with tandem axle, a single axle dolly and a four axle float trailer. The dolly appears to be getting a real workout in the road shot, hope they made it!

Scott-Woods is an interesting outfit, and they have a very informative web site. See: http://www.scottwoodstransport.com/

Random Shot #36 Thorsons

Thorson's Vehicle Transport are specialist auto transporters. They are famed for carrying all sorts of high end new cars and valuable antiques. They are also frequent visitors to Halifax where they pick up those Mercs, Rollers, Lambos and other luxury cars that will not be entrusted to rail transport.

Up until now I have only seen conventional tractor trailers in their fleet, with low bed moving van type trailers. So today's sight was a new one for me. A straight truck and trailer combination makes sense to add capacity for fairly light weight cargo, since it provides lots of volume within allowable length limits.

The Western Star that is under all that capacity has a low overhead sleeper, and low suspension, but is otherwise pretty standard. As with all Thorson's trucks I've seen (usually Kenworths I think) they have impressive paint jobs and are spotlessly clean. This one was parked at Lockhart's Western Star dealer in Burnside this afternoon-waiting for some work when the shop opens Monday morning.

Thorson's is an odd company - they don't advertise, don't have a web site and apparently aren't looking for business - they have all they want!

Old Iron in Amherst

On my way back from Quebec yesterday I spotted this old iron taking a break at Tim Horton's/Wendy's in Amherst.

A 1947 Fargo pickup, which appears to be a well painted original with a newish coat of paint, and a beautifully restored ca. 1950 2-ton Studebaker.

I would love to learn more about the Stude's history. It's cargo body is home built and is carrying a couple of old gas engines. The R series 1949-53 Studes, with no running boards, were quite dashing looking trucks for their time.

In case you can't read the door markings it runs from Meadowbridge Motors, Kervins Korner, NB, Dial 4-1950, Ron Kervin Owner/Operator. It also carries the long defunct White Rose gasoline company logo.