Never Stand Still

Your servicing the automotive industry theory makes sense to me. It seems like those types of trucks are few and far between out here in Oregon.

 

I agree, I like big long hoods, external air cleaners and stacks along side the cab. Im definitely a traditionalist when it comes to truck design. Werner use to be my favorite mega truckload carrier to look at, now days there nothing special.

I'm really dating my self but remember these going down the road. I always thought they were nice looking trucks.

 

Taxi Truck was late 1980s early 1990s and it was TNT's offerings up in Ontario Canada TNT Canada was huge, especially in Ontario. TNT Overland and all the others there were a ton of them up in Canada primarily Ontario. I live in Cleveland, Ohio and I live right in the auto belt. My company that I work for we have a drop lot in Lorain County, Ohio next to the Ford Avon Assembly Plant which was the Assembly plant where the Ford Econoline Van was made for years and years. Then we also have Ford Brookpark Engine Plant which is only operating at half mast it was a foundary too, but all that was torn down and the site is still active, but only going half way.

The trend in the auto industry was to switch to Body and Assembly plants.

Because of the huge number of automobiles and compontents made in Detroit, Michigan, Cleveland, Ohio and Ontario Canada there were a lot of services provided. TNT was an Australian Company that serviced the automotive industry in Canada really hard.


This picture is of the Twin Towers in Sydney, Australia this was the TNT companies headquarters.


Now they said in 2002 the TNT that ended up becoming CEVA was shuttling trailers at Chryslers Brampton, Ontario plant and during those years they were moving around 650 trailers a day:

Rene Buron had all the information on TNT companies on his page over at Hanks Truck Pictures.

 

I used to like Werner's fleet to, now all these new trucks are so ugly.

 

You would know the answer to this and I used to know, but forgot, what was the reason for the multiple license plates back in the day? All that has been done away with now, you never see trucks with multiple license plates anymore, but I remember in the 1990s and even as late as 2003 you used to see trucks with multiple license plates? What was that about?

 

I go back a few days ..thanks Mike !

 

Mike2633,


Back in the 1990's I pulled flatbed for a company that was licensed for every state except the New England states. We use to haul west coast finished lumber into the Elkheart Indiana RV manufactures and then deadhead over to a steel plant in Harvey Illinois for loads going all over the US. I can't remember the name of the steel plant. Anyways I was always impressed with all the heavy industry that part of the country has, we have very little on the west coast. The transportation industry to support all that must be / have been interesting to observe. I understand in the proceeding 20+ years a lot of that heavy industry I saw in the 90's is now a fraction of what it was. Sad.

 

I'm by no means an expert, but I will offer what I know or think I know on the subject:

I think it has to do with the government simplifying (standardizing) the way they license power units. Now along with your home state base plate you get a registration sheet showing the states you have registered to operate in. When you cross a scale they type your MC # or plate number in to the computer and that shows them your licensing status. The trucking company has to report miles traveled in each state and based on that report the fuel tax $ is divided up accordingly. Oregon has a unique weight- mile tax scheme instead of a fuel tax, Oregon requires an Oregon plate even if your base plated in another state.

I think that is the correct answer to your question? Maybe someone more knowledgeable will chime in if I missed something .

 

Lol, I thought I might ruffle a few feathers when I typed that.

 

You have a very impressive knowledge of the industry. How did you learn all this stuff?