What's with Canadian trucks?

Perhaps there's just alot more "Chrome" available up north of the border?

 

And in the middle lane in Michigan where the left lane is restricted? I don't care if they're slow, just stay in the right lane for God's sake.

 

Hack it there man I was glad to get out of that frozen wilderness and get back to civilisation

 

Years ago, in the US, before cellphones and the internet and stuff...a driver had to fend for himself. Your company gave you cash to pay for fuel and stuff. Yes, even the company drivers. When looking for a job, you went for the best truck. You brought your duffle bag with your gear, your CB and your gun with you. You brought your own tools. If you broke down you were part of the food chain. Thieves, and robbers were your problem. It was a tough life and so the guys and girls that drove were actually fairly tough people. Anything happened on the road, you dealt with it. You know how you always hear someone complaining about how they made more money years ago than they do now? Well, that’s only fair since you guys expect to be coddled and handheld.

Northern Canada is still rugged. You still don’t have cell service in lots of areas, and you as a driver are basically on your own. They run in Canada what we call in the States a “Heavy Three”...that’s a heavy duty three axle tractor. 46k rears, full lockers, 18 speed, and bigger thicker frame. and anywheres from a 16 to 20k front axle. They pull EVERYTHING. Stateside, you will see these rigs with a thinner frame 38k rears 9 and 10 speed transmissions with 1450 to 1650 torque. It’s a lighter duty truck since everything here is geared around cheap freight and fuel economy. The average mega carrier truck weighs 14to 16kbobtail. A heavy 3 will tip the scale at around22-24 k and a 4 axle with a lift axle (not Canadian legal)26-30k and the tri-drive anywheres from 30-35k bobtail. And there are even bigger trucks...some even have 56k rears.

For the most part, the megas go for the bare minimum truck and Braindead steeringwheelholder. They can get by with that in the States. If you really want an education in trucking, go run into northern Canada and the Territories. It’s funny, years ago, we had a Canadian heavyhauler take a superload from Montreal to Yellowknife and across the ice roads, and someone asks him how much idle time he had on his truck. I’m thinking, “Are you serious? I never shut mine off!”

I pulled into that Flying J in Grassland,AB one winter after getting empty up north. Snowing like hell, wind howling, daytime, but it was so dark that it looked like late evening. All the trucks were running with marker lights on, so that other trucks coming in could see your rig. I walked inside and it was warm, and drivers were sitting in the restaurant chatting. I remember being so happy just to get a hot meal. Man, the things we take for granted in the States...

All the stuff that you see in the States, all the whining and crying and piss bottles and s hit bags left on fuel islands...that’s primarily an American thing. I will tell anyone that has started driving in the last 20 years, if you really want an education in truckin, go run northern Canada. It will definitely change your perspective on trucking. No, I’m not saying that the Canadians are better...I am saying that it’s a much tougher job than what the average American driver is used to. Then again, if you an American in the border states, Michigan, the Dakotas, northern Wisconsin, Maine, Montana...you understand.

 

Spot on as always. I've been off Highway 881 and straight east into the weeds on the winter roads. I probably could have thrown a rock into Saskatchewan a few times. I'm only ever driving a medium duty service truck but its rugged territory. If you can't take care of yourself, death is a very real possibility. The truckers up in the north are generally a cut above the average steering wheel holder. They'll throw chains (triples, not those chicken #### autosocks) several times a day if they have to.

 

Canadian WS with Tx plates driven by an Ore logger. Oh my....

 

You're opening a sore with me and these canadaians running in the near left (left of center) lane of a four lane freeway when no trucks are supposed to be there. Every morning going back home there is some truck blocking traffic and 99% of the time it is a Canadian doing 60 and everyone is jamming up behind him waiting for him to pass the truck in the near right lane.

 

Darned Hosers!

 

Lot of "poor farmers" trucks out there

 

Images forwarded to his company.