Nacogdoches Heavy Haul Project

Part 1/3 Ride along with a heavy haul trucker from Quebec to Texas. 141 feet long, 14’6” wide, 15’11” tall, 205,000 pounds
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[@Zyzzyx42]

Not sure I've seen this mentioned before, but... a big thanks to your employer for letting you do all these videos.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

It’s win/win. They are getting a lot of free publicity. Obviously because my employer is allowing me to make videos I will never post content that could damage their reputation.

[@MEdGrant]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 The modern and super-clean equipment they're providing doesn't hurt neither. One thing I sometimes wonder about...you spend some time grabbing microphones for the different radios...have you ever considered Bluetooth or wireless mics with voice activation?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

@MEdGrant no I’ve never tried a Bluetooth mic. Guess I’m old school 🤣

[@markverloop8787]

It’s amazing that you can get around corners without scuffing your tires, where ordinary trk drivers will jump curbs hit lampposts damaging the tires,trailers. YOU ARE REAL PROFESSIONALS 😂

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

@markverloop8787 we try to be careful and not to abuse the equipment. Of course at this size sometimes it can not be helped but we try to go easy

[@jefflewis6331]

If only I was 50 years younger and spoke French. Man, what a way to make a living - never a dull moment!

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Never a dull moment indeed! Some people don’t like stress but I live for the challenge!

[@jefflewis6331]

That's what makes it fascinating. Every turn, every overhead wire, light, is another potential problem to solve. I envy you. @@luckybananaheavyhaul3407

[@feelnrite]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 You are a real calm laid back kind of guy, you seem to be made for it. You should have 10 times the subscribers that you have and are a real professional.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

@feelnrite thank you 😊

[@williamsmith8808]

Hello from Aransas pass Texas I've been driving for more than 40yrs never had the balls or the nerves to do what you do my hat off to you sir and keep on doing a great job

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Thank you 😊✌️

[@KoolAidAnd]

Everybody did a damn fine job. From you driving, to the spotters, to the officers blocking traffic. Couldn’t have asked for a smoother move now cmown

[@kevinm3751]

You know Garmin makes a really slick electronic device that would be perfect for you. You enter your load dimensions, weight and length and it can help plan your route and thing is it is really affordable for what it is. With AI getting better I dont think it will be long before it will get even better. You will probably even be able to talk and argue with it!

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Thanks but it doesn’t help me. My route is planned by the state. My system of just following along with Google Maps is what I’ve found to work best for me.

[@Howoldareweanywayyipes]

Lucky Banana you're doing fine... new fan here... i'm 75 and drove most of my life for one job or another... nothing like you though... my heaviest load was 22,000 pounds across town in a straight truck for a steel heat treating company. You're as interesting as my train videos i watch every day to wake up.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Welcome! Happy to have you along for the ride ✌️

[@edwinschlee8374]

Good job Doug getting around some very tight turns. I enjoy your videos as I like the heavy haul trucks!

[@nancyannirvin4507]

The scenery has been so fabulous. I love your videos for that AND the absolutely amazing skill you have driving what I see as an impossible route.

[@paulkelly4959]

Doug, excellent video! I loved that you drove through Ottawa (my neck of the woods). I don’t think you could have planned that left turn in Terrebonne with the sign barely clearing and closer. Waiting for the next part. 🇨🇦

[@tamarashiels570]

Excellent video some great driving skills. You must have nerves of steel. I enjoyed. 👍😊

[@kaosrc8679]

Not very often do I see my hometown in my Subscription feeds, okay almost never. Originally from Nacogdoches, now in Southern Indiana. Love your videos, what you do is fascinating and you do it with such precision. Safe travels.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

There you go. When you go home you can tell everyone their paper mill upgrade came from Canada 🤣

[@nealfry7403]

Great job Doug as always. Catch ya on the next, take care.

[@paullynch647]

Got my sleeping bag and hot black coffee. Ready to roll!

[@TexDrinkwater]

I saw "Nacogdoches" and realized that your destination wasn't too far from where I am in Houston. Be glad that you didn't have to visit in the middle of summer!

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Should arrive just in time to enjoy your Thanksgiving!

[@Howoldareweanywayyipes]

You have interesting jobs sir... to say the least.

[@normand7413]

WOW very nice video and very good driving have a great week

[@johnbulla8708]

GOD BLESSED UR CREW & GOD BLESS UR PHENOMENAL COMPANY THAT U WORKING FOR.

[@GrayPlayer]

As a retired trucker appreciate your videos. Could you mention where you are once in awhile. Nice you have someone watching your back.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Thanks for the comment. Happy to have you along with us!

[@johnbulla8708]

I loved everyone of ur vedio ur crew r real professionals at all times .

[@mostlyinterested1016]

I always get a kick out of the folks who come up the on-ramp and seriously contemplate edging in between your rears and the pilot car. Seriously? anywhere inside the footprint of one of these behemoths is a seriously bad place to be. Stay back or get the hell past but don't hang around the load. Comme d'habitude, Doug. Merveilleuse!

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Ah merci! Yeah patience is a thing of the past. That’s one of the reasons we need escorts to block traffic. Because no one has the courtesy to wait on their own

[@mostlyinterested1016]

N'est-ce pas la verite?@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407

[@perrylc8812]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407just be glad you aren’t going to Houston. Nothing but idiots on the road. The only good view of that city is in the rear view mirror.

[@sharihere8809]

This is insane what a good driver you are haha! me, I'm still trying to figure out parallel parking after all these years

[@Jeff-bg7pt]

Excellent video 💯

[@user-gv1ht6qk9p]

I got to say you are super truck driver forward and backwards

[@patriot2164]

Damn , Make it look Easy ! Professional at Work

[@gillesetjohanne6156]

C'est beau de voir voir aller, super travail que vous faites en équipe.

[@pourquoiunidentifiant]

Oh Yeah ! An awesome hour on youtube is about to start !

[@MrFahrenheit99]

Great video!

[@BL-jt3qt]

WOW...... wide, long, heavy and high..... that pushed all of the limits and made for a challenging trip. Your great editing as always made for an enjoyable ride-along. Thank you for sharing.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Stay tuned! Part 2 to follow…

[@lloydedwards8038]

Morning Boss, well we're back with you on this trip. I live in Sk. now but hauled quite a bit into and out of Quebec as well as Texas etc.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Go through all my older videos! That’s what they’re there for!

[@russellmcknight7226]

My God your good at backing up!

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Practice practice practice

[@Seemann339]

Super Video!! Respekt für deine Arbeit!! Gruß aus Germany

[@frederictremblay7090]

Yeah!!! La vidéo tant attendue. Ça parait que ce n'est pas ta première fois avec de long trailer!! Dans une couple d'année j'aimerais bien faire comme toi 😎 Have a great weekend Doug 🤘

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Si tu aimes le défi c’est le plus beau métier ✌️

[@adamwagner1987]

I used to live in Nacogdoches TX . I really liked it there. It was different then Buffalo NY where I'm from

[@stevenhawkes9471]

Awsome! Can't wait to see the rest

[@danielvangilst7275]

I saw the short of the changing seasons and now I see why it's familiar. That's HWY 17 west of the Kubota dealer at Alfred. Great driving, Douglas. Keep on trucking.

[@danielvangilst7275]

And when you turned west off bank street you were 20 minutes from my shop. 53:16

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Small world! ✌️

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Exactly!

[@cahillsonia0245615]

Well done Doug 🤙🏽🤙🏽 David Hawaii

[@MT-GER]

34:32 Wow! That's impressive! Greetings from Germany.

[@Howoldareweanywayyipes]

I watch many of your videos. They are all interesting. You have so many hinges in most of your videos... I'd have the thing tied in a know. lol

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

🤣🤣

[@michaelberry2442]

Skills Good job Young Man.

[@constructionwatcher5381]

Thanks, Doug. Fascinating project. Three weeks round trip! Wow. Looking forward to the continuation. You said in another video that you sleep in your truck. What do your escorts do? Do they have sleeping quarters in their vehicles or do they have to find lodging? A minor suggestion: You mention the dimensions and weight in the video, but for those of use with faulty memories it would be great if you also put that in the description. It's hard to go back and find it in the video.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Thanks for the feedback. I’ll try to start adding video descriptions. I sleep in the truck yes. Most escorts go to hotels but some have turned their mini vans into camper vans.

[@leonb2637]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 I have seen some vans as escort vehicles so have a place to sleep so can save the price of a motel.

[@russellmcknight7226]

great work,I would think the automatic would be great in the tight places.No snow yet in southwest New Brunswick

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Instead of riding the clutch you’re riding the brakes. Will be a great example of this in Part 2 😉

[@wdk535]

If you had independent steering in that last trailer, it seems like you could make those corners easier.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Most definitely!!!

[@wdk535]

@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 It's called a.steering dolly. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHLbp2ZqaJupfqs&si=IJG3kIYjrjbh3rgd Seems like you could rig up a remote control with a camera so a second driver could ride in the cab .

[@Howoldareweanywayyipes]

In the US they must tell you of the clearance is under the bridges... they try to stay at 13.5 feet minimum... though that is not written in stone.

[@ricka5471]

Hi Doug, I have a question about your truck spec. When it was speced out did they make the turn radius on the front tighter for your cornering ability on turns? Or cant they do that legally? Great video and trip so far. Looking forward to the continuation of the trip.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Actually and unfortunately it’s the opposite. This truck was spec’d with the wrong steering box and it turns corners like a school bus 😞 The Western Star had much better cornering capability.

[@chuckvoss8833]

The more I watch your vids, the more I see that it’s a completely different branch of trucking. Definitely not for everyone, driving-wise. But pretty freakin’ cool!

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Heavy haul is not for everyone but I can’t see myself doing anything else! It’s not a job if you love what you do!

[@willb3018]

You know its heavy when cement trucks pass you quickly going up hill.

[@KB-gs8zi]

Hey Doug !! That has to be a $$$ Million Move for sure just to get out of Canada & Another $$$ Million for the USA !!!! HAHA 🤔🤔🙄🙄 Great work by ""Police & Escorts "" to get you around those turns & Narrow Roads !!! Of course ,, It ALL Has to do with you ,,The Driver ,, !!!! 🙂🙃😉👍👍👍👍👍

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

I don’t take all the credit. It’s teamwork for sure ✌️

[@KB-gs8zi]

OKS !! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@gamerzbrother]

i love your videos extremely much 😊😊😊😊👌👌👌👌👌❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰💞💞💞💓💓💓💗💗💗.

[@johnbulla8708]

I'D NEVER done heavy duty haul before. I'd loved too learn how to do it.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

There’s no real school for it. You just got to learn as you go!

[@user-dl3zl3qf2r]

bon chauffeur et patient bravo

[@user-dl3zl3qf2r]

good job body👍👍✋

[@jerrymoore-nk7tv]

Watched video one part when loading had trouble getting center under load….black hole black tube how do you see??? My novice thought can you hang long orange strip down to help line up

[@2xKTfc]

Also, the company you picked the drum up at builds equipment that's thousands of pounds and no doubt millions of dollars and still ships it from a loading dock tucked away behind the longest narrowest dirt track and gate they could find... What is it about the bigger the item the sketchier the driveway 😅

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Haha it seems to be the case at a lot of customers. They keep trying to manufacture bigger pieces out of the same facility 🤷🏼‍♂️. I guess that’s why they call the professionals 😉

[@giork2828]

Amateur truckers: - The scale is closed! 👠 Pro heavy haul drivers: - I dare you! ...while cutting thru their inspection area 😂

[@joshw1687]

Idk whos better, you and your crew or the police department escorting you. But everyone made that look easy

[@2xKTfc]

I guess it's not easy per se but at least manageable, when you take your time and watch where each axle is going to be ahead of time. Still, driving a big rig on a public road with the general public running around the rig would skeeve me out to no end! If I were in Doug's seat I'd be in a constant state of heart attack. No bueno. Very glad people like him keep the world rolling for the more pedestrian drivers like me!

[@2xKTfc]

What a job! When your escort crew says "touched a wire", do they mean that your load touched it or do they have a measuring stick they checked the wire's height with ahead of time? I'm slightly surprised that (carefully) contacting wires isn't a big deal, you never know if the insulation on a power wires is actually still as good as it should be..

[@stevem268]

there is a pole on the lead escort vehicle. the low hanging cables are all communication cables not power

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

@stevem268 with some of the higher loads we get into power wires. Not high tension lines but insulated triplex for residence yes

[@perrylc8812]

You’re coming down to my neck of the woods. Hopefully them college kids didn’t drive you nuts.

[@scootmatt597]

Hey man, I saw your rig on snake island and I’m wondering if your cameras got my truck, black dodge with a load of plywood in the back🤣

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Aww it’s a bit too late. The memory cards have been formatted. Small world tho 🤣

[@iansayer783]

Greetings from the UK. Love the video, as always, any chance we could see maps of your routes? Especially any detours you have to take due to restrictions for different states etc

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Haha the whole trip was a detour 🤣. We ran approximately 2000km more than the direct route and probably only a total of 500km of highway the entire trip!!!

[@OldGuyAdventure]

Do you have your own Pilot team in Canada, or do you contract them? I work with a company that supports various companies in Quebec. It is fascinating to watch your travels, as many of those implements and equipment are related to my work.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

We have a small team of our own pilot vehicles but when we have multiple projects going we often need to subcontract.

[@Zyzzyx42]

Are the police units on the same radio that you're using? wondering if they go off that to coordinate movements or just go with things as needed.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

All police departments operate differently. Some have CB radios installed in their cars, sometimes I pass them a portable radio and in this case there was no communications at all!

[@KB-gs8zi]

Hey Doug !! Forgot to mention that with the motor fan running 80% of the time ,,can easily be the reason for bad fuel mileage as the fan takes 25 HP away from the motor when it's running !!!! 🤔🙄

[@markverloop8890]

What is your fuel mileage? And what about your hours of service time 11 hours?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

@markverloop8890 with a load like this I get 1 liter per km. We have the same 11 hour (USA) log book . With extra restrictions such as daylight hours and rush hour restrictions.

[@lloydedwards8038]

Could the Booster be straight when going ahead, but the pin or hole have some wear on the front causing it to push off while backing up?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Exactly. This trailer has been around the block! Nothing lines up like it should any more!

[@ms-mac521]

👍👍👍

[@SM120THBORE]

Wow, je vie a Vars qui doit etre proche de la route que tu a pris pour te rendre a Bank Street comme au debut du jour 4 a Ottawa. J'aurais aimer voir sa

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Petit monde! ✌️

[@Ivansgarage]

Dam, I am getting hungry, can we go through the McDonald's drive through? need BigMac...

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Hahaha sure but we need to just park in the middle of the road!

[@bennetts-revenge_2]

Wow just found your channel and thought Id check it out. Where are y'all based out of?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Based out of Montreal Canada. Thanks for following ✌️

[@jaquigreenlees]

If you had stopped and checked load securement and weight distribution when in the scale + inspection lot they would have been happy, after all you would have been inspecting your load to insure it's still safe to proceed. ;)

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

A prime example of how it’s all about the money and not safety. A few weeks ago in Arkansas I was told by an officer that there is no parking in scale lots when the scale is closed even for short term. Ontario has the same attitude. But fortunately there are other states who do allow us to stop and even park overnight. Everytime I go to Baltimore I sleep at the scale because it’s quiet and there’s always parking available. The truckstops are a zoo around there.

[@Dave-in-MD]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 Where are the truckstops? You talking about Maryland House and Chesapeake House?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

I was referring to the actual truck stops like the Flying J and TA in Elkton or the TA in Baltimore. But yeah those rest areas are the same. You gotta get there early if you want a decent spot.

[@MEdGrant]

Was wondering why route through Ottawa and then figured you must be taking north 11 around the lakes to maybe I35 south?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

This load has been some of the craziest routing. I ended up in North Dakota before turning south 🙃

[@peterwarnstrom8872]

One of the interesting things I find about these videos is the route you are taking to get from A to B.

[@MEdGrant]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 Can't blame anyone on the routing...the only piece of road I hate more than the 400/401 is the Decarie! (Of course I landed on it this summer on my cross-Canada/return vacation).

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

@peterwarnstrom8872 the route is definitely more more complex than just plugging a destination into a gps!

[@leonb2637]

I suspect as this is a Canadian based company it may be easier to go as far as practical in Canada before going into the USA. Fewer permits, fewer legal conflicts, less traffic.

[@timf2914]

Do you guys get a lot of flat tires when you are up against the K rails and in the weeds

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

We use heavy duty ply tires because of the abuse. Flat tires do happen but fortunately not often.

[@camsmowing2859]

hey Lucky another great video but ? do you do privet halls as well ? but keep up the great videos you do a great big 10-4 to you and all truckers 10=4

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Not sure what you mean by private haul?

[@camsmowing2859]

what I mean is like truckers I know when the are not working for the company they some times will take on other halls

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

@camsmowing2859 I don’t own the equipment so I can’t use it to do other work.

[@camsmowing2859]

np like they say never hurts to ask'

[@caesar1295]

Where do you fuel up on these trips a regular truck stop doesn’t seem to have the room for you to get in and back out?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

The part of being a heavy haul driver that everyone doesn’t see is the trip planning. Need to do our homework using Google maps and such to plan parking sports. It is true that we can’t safely get in and out of the more popular truckstops with these kind of loads. Often there are no truck stops available and I look for rest areas and such and then bobtail for fuel.

[@caesar1295]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 Thanks, I kind of guessed that but wasn’t for sure.

[@gregbridges2365]

That shippers yard is a mess 😧

[@davehumeniuk4534]

Slow ride climbing Thibeault Hill leaving North Bay pulling so much weight

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

I was originally going to leave the whole hill in the video but it was too long 🤣

[@gregbridges2365]

Can’t imagine the cost to move that load Cost of paper going up 😂

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

To put it into perspective I’m going to burn $20k just in fuel alone

[@gregbridges2365]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 ouch!

[@roberthenderson4466]

I like to see two red flags on the rear of the trailer. It would give traffic more visibility of the rear of your trailer.

[@larryfreeman7979]

wondering why the route up thru North Bay and Cochrane to ???? seems very circuitous???

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

It is very complicated to run a load almost 16’ high in eastern US. It’s less headache to go as far west as we can in Canada before crossing the border

[@larryfreeman7979]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 thanks for the response. Was wondering if it might be a US issue

[@Jens.M]

What does that "D" sign mean on the back of the trailer?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

In Quebec we are not allowed to use an “oversize” sign. We are required to use the “D” sign instead. “D” is for “dimensional”

[@tomh3652]

That hill @1:02.00 seems like a struggle for not being a manual.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

The hill in North Bay isn’t very long but it’s a good pull for any truck

[@carldrexler7883]

Hi Doug, why wasn’t the load harped ? Thanks 😊

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

It was tarped with Saran Wrap. Invisible tarps

[@carldrexler7883]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 far out 🙀

[@skuylarhayward8468]

I know its a tridrive but whats the wheel base on that truck if you dont mind me asking

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Actually not a tridrive. It’s a standard 3 axle truck with an added pin-on axle on the back!

[@skuylarhayward8468]

@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 neat I was just wondering cause I'm buying a w900b that's a 265" wheel base and I'm told I won't be able to get oversize permits for it in ontario

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

@skuylarhayward8468 I’m not a permits expert. But we do have 2 short wheel based 4 axle trucks that get Ontario permits regularly. However I’ve also been told that 271 wheel base offers more flexibility for permits. In eastern Canada they want 5.51 meters between the steer and first drive axle.

[@DigitalIP]

You ever get pulled over for using 2 lanes even though you're allowed/have to? (While not being escorted by a cop i mean)

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Only once in Kansas because someone phoned in that I wouldn’t let them pass. I was able to explain my situation to the cops that pulled me over and after checking my paperwork was all legit they sent me on my way.

[@DigitalIP]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 lol, no surprise there tbh.

[@sams7655]

Why don't they send these on ships or trains?

[@IstasPumaNevada]

I suspect the main answer is that someone ran the numbers and found that by truck is cheapest (or maybe faster). Depending on where they're delivering to in Texas, they might still have to do a significant leg by truck. Also I think this load is over a meter wider than the widest loads you can easily transport by rail.

[@elisabethschyns765]

Bonjour de Belgique dune collègue sur semi en conteneur

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Bienvenue!!!

[@captianrobertchase6489]

What language are u speaking

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

French

[@DuraStop]

2:01 r33 skyline)

[@goheezy4933]

Are you speaking French?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Yes, French from Québec