Ride along with a heavy hauler from Montreal to Minneapolis

[@MT-GER]

45:55 The colors of the trees…so beautiful!

[@BL-jt3qt]

That was a nice scenic trip. Your excellent editing and choice of music made for a great ride-along. And interesting info about the Permit differences and the gas mileage comparison. Thank you for sharing.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Thanks for the feedback 😊

[@gregbridges2365]

$350 to cross a bridge that’s a new kind of highway robbery

[@mikestorey6242]

Even Dick Turpin had a name.

[@johnmclean1482]

Government really drives up the cost of everything with their bureaucracy

[@jxh02]

That's one dollar per 500 lbs. A better deal than the motorcycles.

[@jasonswenson7824]

@@johnmclean1482 Except the bridge is privately owned - by an investment firm in partnership with the Rainy River First Nation. They set the tolls, not the government.

[@HaroldStevenson-b7o]

Great Video Doug, thanks for the scenic tour of Northern Ontario.

[@KB-gs8zi]

Hey Doug !! Well ,, another outstanding video with the drone shots too !! 🙃😉😊 Thanks for the ride along !!! 👍👍👍👍👍 Guess a ""GPS"" wouldn't help your lead escort much either !! HAHA 🤔😏

[@russellmcknight7226]

I love your content not that many Canadians on here,My Dad had staight trucks and my brother hauled mobile homes in the 70's c 60 chev with a 366 gas hauling 14 wide and 68 long,my brother hauled in to James bay.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Today we have 500+ horsepower and we still complain. To think of what they accomplished back in the day with what they had 💪

[@desperado3616]

Very nice scenery, good skills and lot of good information over all - thanks for all your great vids & always 10-4, best regards from southwest of Germany

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Always happy to have you along 😊✌️

[@richardvemaxxx2287]

Un peu de français-québécois fera pas de tort ! Merci pour ce magnifique vidéo avec cette belle et longue route ! Le montage est excellent et la musique A 1 ! Et la couleur des camions est juste wow ! Bonne continuation Doug ! 👍

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Merci becoupe 😊✌️

[@shogun4218]

I have watched many of your videos and really enjoyed all. You do a great job. Watching from Central Florida on the Space Coast. Love the scenery

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Thank you for the feedback 😊. You guys keep me going!

[@joshw1687]

The permit paperwork sounds more like a headache then driving the truck lol. Stay safe

[@johnwiesner6534]

Very nice. When you were in time lapse and came up on the stopped school bus my heart almost slipped a beat it. Muscle memory came into play and I scrunched down into the seat a little. LOL. I don't remember paying that much toll at the GW Bridge, they must have been proud of that bridge. Have a good day.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

I’ve crossed the GW a few times but honestly can’t remember the amount. The GW charges EZ Pass even for oversize night moves

[@ronaldsummons6100]

the videos are and a big improvement in the music. thank you.

[@SarajeanneSadler]

Such a pretty view from your cab...

[@danielvangilst7275]

I know the start point well. I used to do dairy equipment service at a farm on Montee La Branche. Even spent a night once at the Laurentien in lachute. Grenville was my stop for cheap beer before heading back to Onterrible.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Haha the stories I could tell about The Laurentien…. It was the only bar that would serve us without carding when I was in High School there

[@cheeriestodin0925]

Thank you again for bringing us along. This is amazing.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

It’s your comments that keep this project going 😊✌️

[@jorgtungler7348]

Good Evenning,i drive an sutomatic Truck with 40 Tons to 50 Tons. From 60 Tons there manuel Transmission with 18 gears as a kroich gear the quarter gears. Tank for your Videos

[@sethtriggs]

What a pretty drive! And some interesting configuration of the border crossing, I didn't think they'd do a contraflow but it makes sense given the congested footprint. Really cool video

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Thanks again 😊✌️

[@shellypaxson1014]

I'm riding along with you from Ludington Michigan I love the way you give the information about the permits , the information you give about the weight of truck and trailer ,the job and must be hard some times . Your friend Shelly p.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Thanks for the comment and happy to have you following along Shelly!

[@constructionwatcher5381]

Beautiful drive, thanks. Your comments and explanations were helpful. I was surprised to hear your rear escort in Quebec was giving you clearances on the corners in feet.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Most Canadians still work in Pounds and Feet. Only the government uses the metric system 🤣

[@constructionwatcher5381]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 Thanks. I didn't know that.

[@stevem268]

interesting info about the auto vs manual. i have to wonder about reliability too especially hauling really heavy loads. great video as always, thanks!

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

We have older automatics in our fleet and mechanically they seem to be reliable.

[@loftiefleet8104]

thanks for explainig the laws,as for me being a old trucker.i drove triples at the start here in australia,and b doubles its good to understand your laws too...ps..like the fishing too.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

I don’t know if it’s the same everywhere but here the laws make everything way more complicated than it needs to be. Especially when the different states and provinces can’t get together and generalize things. Stuff that is completely legal in one state will get you a big find in another state

[@loftiefleet8104]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 i understand that,but to my thinking.in aus our laws are getting a lot harder for truckies in remote areas.,we drive on dirt most of the times,etc for the sesame street cowboys.adeliade -melb=syd- bris.

[@timothyfry8470]

I like watching the heavy haulers and really enjoy your videos. Plus I love the color scheme of the rigs

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

We do stand out in a crowd! Unless it’s a crowd of construction cones 🤣

[@dyoung3536]

Curious....I'm assuming your route has more to do with permit complexity than distance? Thunder Bay to Duluth, Sault Saint Marie across Northern Michigan (my homeland), or through Detroit/Chicago. All shorter but assuming permits dealing big cities or state/local highways made the US highway from Ft. Francis a bit easier logistically.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Exactly. It’s not the shortest route however it was the route with the least amount of restrictions.

[@VideosByAl]

Great job Editing your Videos. It's the second one I watched. New subscriber now.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

That’s what I like to hear! Welcome aboard

[@jefflewis6331]

Interesting comparison of automatic vs manual transmissions. I suspect the automatic is a lot less stressful on the driver - both mentally and physically. That might be worth the difference in costs.

[@lancecluster]

Regarding the "trip planning\permits", how involved with that are you? I am assuming your company has full time trip planner\permit people or do you use a service(s)? Seems like in the USA, there is a "west coast" heavy haul truck\trailer setup that is different that the "east coast" setup in terms of axles, axle spacing. It is very complicated. Take your fishing pole?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

We have a full time department of people who work on getting us the necessary permits. There are major differences between the different geographical areas as regard to truck/trailer setups and axle weights and so on… long distance becomes very complicated trying to find a configuration that is accepted for the whole trip. It has happened that I’ve had to unload mid-trip and switch configurations. It gets very complicated. Our jobs would be so much easier if they could federalize these rules. And even for trailer manufacturers who need to provide different models of trailers to comply with the different areas.

[@lancecluster]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 federalized rules would make sense but that has never been a government priority. 😀

[@andrep8287]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 ,,,another great video, Doug....congrats, and it was a pleasure sitting in the passenger-seat for the first time in well over 30 years travelling along the shores of Lake Nipigon on 11....as a driver you can't always enjoy the sights as well. On another note: The COMT (Council of Ministers of Transport) has been at it for now well over 20 years to get an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) which would be signed by all Provinces to get "one rule" across the entire country as it relates to Weight & Dimensions. The COMT meets in Montreal every December & has one stakeholder day reserved during their conference, open to trades-people. I've attended since 2013. The problem is, that although extra-provincial trucking is governed by Transport Canada, it's the Provinces that enforce the regulations....

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

@andrep8287 good luck on trying to unites the provinces (or states) I’ll believe it when I see it 😅

[@paulking9395]

As a Canadian CDL driver, you have to comply with US hours of service rules while driving in the US. If you’re in need of the 34 hour reset time, do you still stay in your truck or find a hotel?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

We used to get hotels but that stopped with the last round of budget cuts. Now if I want a hotel it comes out of my pocket so I usually stay in the truck

[@andrep8287]

@paulking9395...just to clarify, the 34-hr (US) or 36-hr (CAN) is not mandatory (has never been)....the rules read: At or shortly before reaching 70 hrs in 8-days (US) or in 7 days (CAN), the driver shall take a 24-hour (*) rest-break; however if he/she is afforded a full, uninterrupted 34-hrs (US) or 36-hrs (CAN) of rest, he/she may begin a new 70-hr cycle at the end of the Reset. These small words "shall" and "may" make all the difference. "Shall " and/or "must" are mandatory rules, whereas "may" and/or "can" are optional. (*) the mandatory 24-hr break however does not need to be a Calendar-day. It can last from noon today to noon tomorrow....so, you're not really loosing a full day. The only difference if you do not take a Reset is that you'll be working with the 7 or 8 day window all the time, i.e. as you add a hours in a shift at the bottom end, you loose the hours of 7 or 8 days ago., whereas on a Reset you begin a completely new cycle.

[@dalemiller4457]

Really enjoy watching your videos, question is how much can you pull with that engine and transmission combination?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

How much would I recommend or how much is the real limit? Because we will do 13 axle loads with these trucks but I wouldn’t personally recommend this combination for more than 9 axles on a regular basis.

[@carldrexler7883]

Doug what was that cop scanning your truck for at the bridge yes?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Radiation detector at US customs

[@DiscGolfAceRunner]

No way! Thats my hometown it went to, that was cool to hear that.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Small world! ✌️

[@michaelsullivan2631]

You agreed with our findings on fuel , now have you driven far enough to estimate the brake ware ? I think you will find they will need replacement more often . Thanks

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

It will be interesting to see but I haven’t had this truck long enough. And this is the first truck I drive on discs all around so hard to compare

[@arnoutluinge]

Awesome video! Do you always have the minimal needed escorts or do you in some cases choose to have more escorts than what might be required?

[@normand7413]

nice video and thanks for the ride

[@neiltaylor4777]

You have to go from Hawkesbury to 401 rather than 417 through Ottawa to 17 ? What is the obstacle that prevents you from using Hwy 17 ? Great vids.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

We were too high for the overpasses on 417. And 401. We had to run a series of back roads all the way to Huntsville Ontario. We were ok after we finally made it onto hwy 11

[@INKDRAILS]

Another amazing video! I have two questions regarding the Automatic Transmission. You commented on the fuel mileage, but what are your thoughts on the driver comfort and maneuvering of the truck and trailer with the automatic transmission? Cheers Brian

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

In stop and go traffic the automatic works very well. I do a lot of slow precision maneuvering getting around obstacles so people always comment it must be nice not to ride the clutch but in “drive” the truck wants to advance so I find myself riding the brakes instead. Same difference to me 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@steveminer8341]

Thanks for the ride along. Beautiful country. What was that policeman checking for when he walked around your truck with that hand held instrument?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

It’s a radiation detector used by customs border protection

[@steveminer8341]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 Thanks Doug.

[@pourquoiunidentifiant]

just on fuel, 1 thousand deliveries like that its half a million dollars difference its not small

[@jerrymoore-nk7tv]

Your channel is great. I thought you got 1 permit for the year to cover everything seems like driving might be the easiest all those permits what a headache!!!!

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Yeah trip planning and paperwork is the less glamorous side people don’t see

[@ridgec5670]

The thing many people don't think about is what you are dealing with here. You have to watch all sides of the vehicle including top and bottom for clearance on these trips.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Exactly

[@sgtvidal]

I'm interested in working at Bellemare, been driving for 20 yrs half of that flatbed stepdeck...

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Great! email your resume to [e-mail] and I will forward it to my boss.

[@LuciCutie1727]

Escorts are company provided or you have to call them separately?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

These escorts were subcontractors hired by our company.

[@watchingwasaga8770]

The Pete is a new truck right? Is it possible it's still breaking in? Just wondering

[@jacquelatourcaptainunderpa8475]

The ride along was great it's awesome how you guys can get those heavy loads to there destinations, do you ever run with double jeeps or rear steer jeeps just asking? Be safe my friend.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Double jeeps no, but you can find lots of videos on my channel with steerable dollys

[@dyoung3536]

Looks like your pilot driver sprung a leak on the side of the road. 🚽🙂I imagine you do the best you can when you're hauling loads like that. Not like you can just make a quick pitstop any old where. Pretty much the same traveling with kids...just more frequent stops.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

It’s the less glamorous part of the job. Truck drivers learn to live without simple luxuries.

[@JohnFranceschini-v3u]

Why are you pulling that guy behind you ???

[@cahillsonia0245615]

How tall is that load a lot of overhead wires

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

This one was 14’9”

[@gwgrote5]

I got my daily dose of a geography lesson. I learned about Fort Francis International bridge where half the Rainy River is Canada and the other half, the US. If Mr. Banana brought his fishing gear, he could relax along Lake Superior. 🐟 Given our political climate here in the US these days, Fort Francis isn't looking for any Canadian migrants coming to the US. However, if Mr. banana is going back to Montreal via Boston, I might consider climbing under his truck and holding onto the front axle. 😇

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

I only wish I had time for fishing!

[@gwgrote5]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 I have an inflatable kayak and I know they make them for bearded Canadian fishermen. They are a little more money but they come in a backpack and you can either pump them up physically, or get a pump that attaches to the truck's battery and set the pump for the desired pressure and it will shut off when it reaches that point. The "backpack" can be hidden in your cab or put a tarp over it and pretend it is cargo. 😎

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

@gwgrote5 I like the way you think! 🤙

[@brett3758]

$350, You would think for that sort of money the bridge would be bigger, better, wider and better facilities.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

They know they can charge whatever they want and we will still pay it…

[@markgillespie2347]

Did you go north of the great lakes or round south

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

North of the Great Lakes. Easier route for over height loads.

[@lostsailor2284]

A lot of these bridges are privately owned and can charge what ever they want

[@gwgrote5]

First, I apologize for being the latest commenter, yet I will be again with this post. (sigh). I hope everything is OK with you and your family. We wait with bated breath for you next video.......🌬🚛 😎 P.S. I don't really Tik nor do I Tok, so I might be missing something.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

I’m working on a new video that should be posted this week ✌️

[@gwgrote5]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 Thank you for the response. You ask us at the end of your videos if we want more and that answer, undoubtedly, is yes (my opinion not included). I recently watched some YT vids with tractor trailer fails......P.S. Don't park on a train track. 🚆 😎 From a concerned dedicated follower.

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

@gwgrote5 thanks for the tip, I’ll try and remember that one! 🤣✌️

[@mikeswink1031]

What was the weight of that unit ?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

I believe it was in the ball park of 110,000 pounds

[@mikeswink1031]

@@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 Heavy enough and long enough for escorts . Do the front escorts normally stay that for out front of you ?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

@mikeswink1031 I push the front escort out as far as possible. His job is to warn the truck of upcoming obstacles. The further he is ahead, the more time the truck has to react

[@mikeswink1031]

Gotcha . I was thinking that drivers might try to squeeze in between you and the front escort . You guys really work as a team which shows while approaching intersections or having to make turns . Thanks for replying

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

@mikeswink1031 oh yeah, this business is all about teamwork!

[@ViofoDashcamOfficial]

Hi Doug, thanks for sharing such a good video! We are excited to introduce ourselves as VIOFO, a leading innovator in the field of cutting-edge dash cameras and automotive safety technology. I wonder if you are interesting in trying our latest 4K dash cam A229 Pro with dual Sony STARVIS 2? It will be a nifhty addition to your truck.

[@frederictremblay7090]

Another great video. Did you need to pay with your own credit card? I really hope to be working with you one day 😎 Keep the great work

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

The drivers who regularly have large expenses are givin expense cards.

[@lisaarzola1437]

Seeing blue border patrol vehicles is weird for me. We have green down here in SEAZ. Bout an hr from the Mexican border

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Good eye! I don’t know the difference because I believe we have some green ones up here too 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@lisaarzola1437]

@luckybananaheavyhaul3407 we have a few blue down here. Mainly when we're running low on vehicles. They'll send a few down from the north. Desert driving is hard on our trucks lol

[@Jens.M]

This isn't french what you are talking right? What 350$ for just crossing a border? Thats crazy

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Yes French

[@andrep8287]

@Jens.M....Québécois French....the difference between Quebecois & Parisian French, is identical to the difference between Swiss-German and what's known as High-German. One speaks Quebecois and/or Swiss-German, but doesn't generally write it, and moreover, the Québécois understand the Parisian, but not vice-versa. Same goes for the Swiss understanding the German, but not vice-versa. Lastly however, any language spoken by 1 Mio or more people, is considered an Official Language.

[@johnmclean1482]

Great video

[@kerrysullivan6294]

Transformer? What size?

[@luckybananaheavyhaul3407]

Yes a transformer, it weighed 50 tons. I have no idea how many watts