More Mercs

 All of a sudden I am seeing more imported Mercedes trucks! Today it was four Arocs models with snow plow trailers by the Norwegian snow removal specialist Øveraasen.

The four units are destined for the Calgary Airport Authority and are numbered 100 to 103 and marked YYC (the call letters of the Calgary airport.) The tractors are rigged for plows, which are not fitted. 

I have covered similar rigs in the past, and learned that the swing out motor for the trailer plows is mounted at the end of the trailer, with its weight directly over the rear wheels.

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Mercs - big and small

 Mercedes Benz builds cars and trucks of all sizes, from vans to hihway tractors. The latter are rare in North America, at least in part because the company owns Freightliner and Western Star and does not need another brand in a crowded market.

So when I see a big Mercedes truck I grab a photo - no matter how bad...

... like from the back through a chain link fence. This one must have arrived from Europe but how it came to be at the South End Container Terminal, and where it may be going is a mystery.

Smaller trucks such as vans have been common in recent years, notably the Sprinter type. Vans from the 1980s and 1990s were rare, so it was surprise to see one of that vintage with Canadian license plates.

The MB 100D was apparently produced from 1987 to 1996 and not exported to Canada. This unit, with Karmann RV body was likely purchased in Europe and brought to Canada as a used vehicle (thius avoiding heavy customs duties). It carries Quebec plates, so is still roadworthy.

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Roshel

 Roshel is a Canadian company that manufactures "Smart Armoured Vehicles" in Mississauga, ON.

This pair arrived in Halifax by truck for export overseas.

(Photos July 31, 2023.)

Chainé

 Transport Chainé from Shawinigan, QC is a major heavy / oversize load and rigging company. Its equipment appears to be top quality and is always clean looking. Today, July 25, I spotted two of their rigs at Fairivew Cove, picking up a consignment of industrial equipment. One large piece was loaded aboard a multi-axle low boy and the rest in a curtainside trailer.

The Alutrec curtainsider was being hauled by a Kenworth and the low boy by a Western Star - both looking sharp in the company's dark green and white colours.

It looks like the Western Star will be doing the heavy work:

The large component was well secured on the Temisko trailer.

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Another Scania

 Scania trucks are rarely seen on this side of the Atlantic - unlike the European side, where they are very popular. However some owners in New Brunswick have imported Scanias and put them to work. I have previously posted two Scanias operated by Milltown Trucking - one blue and one green - imported from the Netherlands. See Truckfax  November 26, 2021

Today (July 20, 2023) I spotted another one from New Brunswick - this one operated by Walmac Transportation Ltd of Quispamsis, NB. (Walmac Transportaiton Inc is on Facebook)

It also carries the banner of Kooiker Transport, Four Falls, NB. Although similar in appearance to the blue Milltown truck seen previously, this one has more lights and a housing over the fuel tank. I am assuming this one was brought in from the Netherlands too.

Scania AB is a Swedish manufacturer with factories all over the world. It is in fact wholly owned by Volkswagen.

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IVECO goes under cover

 There were no brand markers on the truck or RV body, spotted July 6 after clearing Customs at Fairview Cove. Thanks to a helpful Facebook reader, the truck has been identified as an IVECO Eurocargo. The RV body maybe a Bliss Mobil.

One observer asked "don't they know we have roads?" wondering why such rugged off road units are so popular with European visitors to this continent.

IVECO (Industrial Vehicle COrporation) was formed in 1975 when several truck marques merged: FIAT VI, OM, and Lancia VS from Italy, Unic from France and Magirus-Deutz from Germany. Although Italian based, it is a world wide company, with plants in China, Russia, Australia and Latin America. It is a subsidiary of a Dutch holding company Iveco Group N.V.

I guess it is so well known in Europe that name badges are not necessary.

Where's the fire

 Well there wasn't one, but if there had been they certainly had the apparatus to put it down. A gathering of firetrucks at the Cunard Centre / Pier 23 on July 6 attracted my attention.

The first one I noticed was this Pierce with a "Chicago" style black roof:

 Nearby was this Fort Garry  on a Freightliner commercial chassis:

The next one in line for a photo was a Fort Garry / Spartan demo unit on the company's 100th anniversary tour:

To cap off the display was this impressive Sutphen centre-mount aerial:

Once rare in Canada, Sutphen, from Columbus, OH, is now exclusively represented in Canada by Fort Garry Fire Trucks from Winnipeg.

There were some other vehicles around but I didn't have time to get specs or look beyond the big stuff, except for Federal Signal's demo truck:

 

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