The Truck That Invented An Industry

60 years ago in the small Midwestern town of Ottawa, on the edge of the Kansas plains a new kind of truck was invented, a truck that became indispensable to an industry. In 1958 Ottawa Wire and Steel introduced the terminal tractor to the world. This truck revolutionized cargo handling and developed into a worldwide market-leading brand. A brand synonymous with the name of that town: Ottawa. The incredible story of the truck that created an industry revolution 60 years ago lives on today, all across the globe, leading the marketplace with commitment to quality, ingenuity and a passion for excellence in the people of Kalmar Ottawa.

[@makismakiavelis5718]

This looks like a video Hank Hill would immensely enjoy.

[@roadmaster720]

gosh durn it,dale. gotta get ottawa to put propane gas on them thar trucks they make so mr. strickland can give me a 10.00 a week raise.--- hank hill, the propane man.

[@anderson.m.kraggs9855]

Im not hank and i enjoy it

[@modeladenny1218]

Gosh dern it Dale bring my shuttle truck back over here. I need to change the LP tank.

[@jeremiahkmusic358]

I tell ya what, this is something Bobby oughtta watch. Well alright boomhower! Where’d you find this gem?

[@jaminova_1969]

Yep!

[@Rastonification]

I worked for Cummins Inc. for 30 years and this story reminded me a lot of growing up in the 50's and working through the 70's to early 2003. I think something that has been lost since the 50's and 60's was the pride in doing a good job and loyalty to your company. Too much social engineering going on today and not enough mechanical engineering.

[@mattkaustickomments]

Go Cummins! Remember the Hummin Cummins 45 from the 70’s?? Every kid in town used to play the heck out of them. Did you ever meet J. I. Miller? Thank you for helping to make our town a great place to grow up!

[@TestECull]

Employees lost that pride and loyalty around the time employers started treating them like disposable slaves. Employers get what they pay for and if they're paying shit wages on shit schedules they're gonna get shit work and high turnover.

[@hehheh1222]

@Sir Honks-Alot notice what you don't see in this video and that tells you why the company and it's employees are so cohesive.

[@yourallbrainwashed]

I hear you. But pride is never a good thing.

[@jimziemer474]

@@yourallbrainwashed Wrong. Pride in your work is a very good thing. The lack of pride in the workplace is one of the reasons that the United States has been on the decline for the last 20 years. It’s also why may manufacturing jobs have moved overseas.

[@bradh6185]

Someone got fired for making a product more prone to breaking down. Boy, those were different times.

[@jazzcatt]

Yeah. Now they build shit to break on purpose. They also make it more expensive to repair the old item than to buy a new one!

[@dahnteyog]

Indeed! Now it's the other way around. You risk losing on profits if you make more durable products. Smh!

[@bradh6185]

And maybe even a bigger issue is you risk losing shareholders if your profits aren't continually increasing.@@dahnteyog

[@cjshaw1419]

He'd make C.E.O instantly nowadays.

[@Landrew0]

Obvious BS. Of course upper management gave him their blessing. When the employees revolted, they took their side and fired the manager as a scapegoat.

[@David-xl8zf]

Keep your people happy and they´ll go to hell and back for you. Some CEOs and managers need to learn from this.

[@nanomckomsncom]

Agreed.

[@yamahonkawazuki]

some rank and file need to learn this also.

[@incubatork]

The chinese companies are almost all doing this and it pays off.

[@NotSoCrazyNinja]

Employee loyalty is at an all-time low due to corporate greed. It's almost always a better "deal" to lose a little profit in exchange for more loyal employees. A loyal employee will go the extra mile without hesitation because they know their company "has their back". When the company treats you like a number, there is no loyalty. The employee doesn't care about the product any more than they have to, and the product suffers, therefore, profits suffer. I work for a small business who treats their employees like family. I don't get paid nearly enough, but, I'm loyal because I know if I need them, they will come through for me as best they can. If I get sick and have to be out of work for a few weeks, they will not fire me because of it. So, I have a vested interest in them succeeding.

[@johnwatkins4051]

@@NotSoCrazyNinja The bad part is when you are a loyal employee and go above and beyond then the company cuts you loose anyway. Happened several times to me.

[@breakingames7772]

After 2 million safe miles I became a switcher, best thing i ever did. No more dot, worry about wrecks, dealing with shippers, traffic, logs, no more free labour and get hourly, time n a half and double time Sundays at Ford. Love it

[@paradiseroad6405]

...we got triple time on holidays...$37.50 an hour in 1982...

[@Ckcdillpickle]

@@paradiseroad6405 37$ a hour in today's money or 1982?

[@paradiseroad6405]

@@Ckcdillpickle ...1982...

[@Ckcdillpickle]

@@paradiseroad6405 that's a insane amount of money, even for today's standards

[@paradiseroad6405]

@@Ckcdillpickle ...we were Teamsters Union when the unions were really strong...started at $6.50 an hour in 1977...we were at $12.50 an hour by 1982 with time and a half for overtime ($18.75)...double time for Sunday ($25.00)...and triple time for holidays ($37.50)...

[@jamesgrey3368]

I can't believe I just watched a 24 minute commercial.

[@MrSlicer2424]

Anti union sentiment

[@jamesgrey3368]

@@MrSlicer2424 Where do you get that?

[@zone4garlicfarm]

It's more of a documentary than a commercial. There wasn't a sales pitch.

[@beltfed4624]

If you're gonna make a commercial, this is the way to do it... I set right here and watched it too. 😁

[@nickw8071]

But it was fun wasn’t it....

[@garyhaber333]

👍👍 Worked as a driver for Walmart for the past 17 yrs of my entire 32 yrs as a CDL driver. I started as OTR, and went to local for several yrs. After I wasn't able to drive on roadways due to a health issue, I was asked to work out of their old Riverside DC in SoCal of which I was overjoyed! I made the hostler position mine for the last 7 yrs of my time with them,and that dog was mine! 3 yrs ago due to worsening health issues,I retired. Thank you for the many years Walmart. It was a good ride starting out when you were a smaller company. They treated me like family.

[@modeladenny1218]

One of the old guys at our factory when I was trucking kept driving a Mule for years until he retired. Many times I realized how smart he was to stay off the highways and away from DOT.

[@stuffdo_er]

I'm sitting in a Spotter right now watching this. Awesome history.

[@pjrazvoza4343]

Ottawa epitomizes, an American tradition of excellence. Through creativity, engineering and a commitment to quality, lost by other industries in the United States. The men and women of this corporation, deserve the same at level of respect as anyone who has fought in the military. Thank you for sharing their amazing history!

[@robertdukett6339]

The days when people had pride in their work and loyalty to both company and employees.

[@jamesstafford9067]

This video takes me back when grandpa use to tell me stories like this. Makes me think of him and my father.

[@dalton-at-work]

Tge got paid roughly 3x what people get paid now. Despite modern workers productivity being about 10x higher

[@marksierra3522]

Ok Boomer. People still do that.

[@joshlynch3107]

Well did you catch the union part. Fair pay = Fair labor

[@metallicarabbit]

yeah back in the days when you had to go on strike to get paid fairly, ahhhh good ol days mhmmmm yep

[@jmitch623]

Ran a spotter in the Army on Okinawa 68-69. Made by Walters. Loaded ships bound for Nam and once loaded sailed with em. Unloaded and returned. Jump ahead to 1999 and I’m doing again for a local trucking company.

[@kyleh3615]

At fedex, we are switchers The truck I drive was built when i was still in high school The wheel base is perfect, the control layout is second nature and the trucks are insanely tough If something does go wrong, our on property mechanic can have the truck back in the yard within the day (excpet anything with the motor- that can be hard down time) I have made many friends around the area who also run these trucks We couldnt ask for a better truck

[@modeladenny1218]

Where I worked they were CAT powered. Soe where White, some were Ottawa. Anything from a Ford, Kenworth, Peterbilt, Freightliner, Mack etc was a better truck for actually truckin.

[@chloehennessey6813]

Anyone who is a proponent of engineered obsolescence should be fired and it should follow him or her throughout their whole careers unless they publicly apologize and renounce the behavior.

[@agnel47]

Oh yeah, when was the last time you revolutionized an industry. Easy to lay high hopes on others shoulders.

[@farmcentralohio]

whoever put this together did a good job, interesting and informative

[@itsMe_TheHerpes]

so what did they actually invent ?

[@2Truth4Liberty]

@@itsMe_TheHerpes Specialized trucks for warehouse truck terminals where you just move container trailers around on your property (not highway). Easy to manuever container trailers with these trucks and cost little to run. FYI - I live about 10 miles from there (Ottawa) and they STILL MAKE THEM daily.

[@itsMe_TheHerpes]

@@2Truth4Liberty thank you 😊

[@farmcentralohio]

@@hendricksonrunner5015 You are an idiot, just say it as it is.

[@jimbarchuk]

They built the American dream. They saw ideaS to fill nicheS. Plurals. Many small good ideas. That's enough to keep the utilities on, pay the employees, and keep trying. No home runs. They focused on quality, customer service, and INNOVATION. 60 years through fire, flood, and foe. 60k of a niche motor vehicle is impressive!! 99% guarantee that anything you come in contact with on a daily basis that could have been transported in a trailer, was pulled by an Ottawa at some point. They're going autonomous right now.

[@harveyhandbanana]

The shop I worked in had an old 1980 Ottawa with a two stroke 453 Detroit in it. It was slow and it was LOUD but damn it that thing never quit. We called ours the yard goat

[@yamahonkawazuki]

We named ours bob

[@jasonsprouse2803]

There's still a lot of GM Detroit 2 strokes running.... They were in a lot of construction equipment, busses, trucks etc.

[@modeladenny1218]

For some reason all our Mules and semis had a yeller engine.

[@soillife1]

Our family is from Parsons Kansas. Note Nobody blamed global warming for floods and fires in the 40s and 50s. They kept on going.

[@alanhowitzer]

These trucks are the tug boats of the parking lot.

[@alanhowitzer]

@Dead Serious Ahahahahah!

[@Mjc103]

Dead Serious A game only bro. That was terrible.

[@Mjc103]

@Dead Serious I love it when kids act like grown ups. No go make your bed before you momma whips yo ass.

[@mannyrivera4148]

You ain’t lying

[@sheepdavis]

@Dead Serious you're dumb

[@chrisackerley1842]

The right product in the right place at the right time. Customer service. Innovation. Companies like Ottawa [no matter what it's called today] have made America great.

[@chrisackerley1842]

I have no problem with that. Ottawa is still an American company in the sense almost all the workers are from good 'ol Kansas. Besides that, the Finns are not the Swedes. They have not been seduced by the EEC/UN lie that all immigration is good. They value hard work and good engineering. I'm sure that most of the Ottawa workers would admit the parent company is OK. Maybe not as good as local ownership but, Hell, they haven't had local ownership since the 70's.

[@michaelprosperity3420]

Great video. Glad to see they stayed in the good old USA. Anheiser Busch was sold to Belgium based Inbev in 2004. American ingenuity can't be beat.

[@grizzlygrizzle]

@Big Bill O'Reilly -- I'd work for a Finnish company over a Chinese company any day.

[@quanbrooklynkid7776]

@Big Bill O'Reilly stfu

[@grizzlygrizzle]

@Big Bill O'Reilly -- It's not a racial thing, but an ideological thing.

[@dale7436]

We that drove them and those that depended on us called them “yard dogs” because it didn’t matter the weather or where the trailer was we fetched it. Loved every hour because we were always busy and time flew by and in the evening I slept good

[@Ham68229]

Indeed, drove older models for over 20yrs.

[@deadmeatdec2164]

Those two things make a difference. If time flies and i sleep well at night i like my job alot more. Crazy aint it. How big those two things are

[@TestECull]

Also had time to play when situation allowed. I remember watching the yard dog cut some donuts in the snow one icy December morning when I worked as a loader down at the Cracker Barrel DC. Wasn't any trailers to shift, there was ice and snow on the ground, so he ripped some nice fat donuts like he'd won the Daytona 500 :rofl:

[@GrowthCurveMarketing]

We called them "mules"... keep changing the oil, and you couldn't kill 'em.

[@246spyder]

Yes, that's what I recall them being called.

[@Rob_1776]

Back when we did things in America! I love seeing interesting stuff like this! People actually had some pride back then! And a backbone 💪

[@paradiseroad6405]

...great invention...I used one to wash the inside of trailers for a major grocery chain back in the late '70s early 80s...backed into a bay with a boom full of high pressure spray heads...kept it between the white lines and watched for the lights in the mirror...green would turn to yellow then red...you sat there as the boom did it's thing and then pulled out on the green again...never had to leave the seat as we had extended glad hands that we could connect by reaching out the sliding back window...connected only the emergency line for moving around the yard with an empty trailer...

[@dapsapsrp]

I remember these yard terminal tractors from my days at UPS. We called them spotters. They had gasoline engines and were much quieter than the OTR tractors that pulled the feeder trailers. That hydraulic fifth wheel and the very short wheelbase really sped things up.

[@JuanPabloRojasW]

KZbin Algorithm brought me here. I like heavy machinery and this awesome tractor has brought my attention many times... To all the personnel in Kalmar Ottawa, keep up your hard work, making America proud. Nice piece of history.

[@brimtime8117]

What a story!! America was built by company’s like this one...

[@Dan-nj7tr]

Unfortunately they sold out, it is not an American company anymore that's why it is called "Kalmar Ottawa".They did a good job hiding that in the video. This seem to be prevalent in the US.

[@brimtime8117]

Dan 255 I was mainly talking about the early years of this company, as long as it’s based in America and not overseas America gains....

[@AnonYmous-ny2tr]

America is a Corporatocracy Google *Mystery Babylon*

[@bmw328igearhead]

And destroyed by every company not like it....greed...

[@papounnai]

@Randy Travis yes toilet paper...

[@Gcal1956]

Drove an exact same yard goat like the one in the video for two years in 2003. No ac. No radio. Automatic. 20 mph max. That thing was a late 70s model and it still ran like a champ. Every driver should drive one when they first start. We would have a lot less accidents in parking lots. I’m great full for the chance to run one.

[@modeladenny1218]

At the company I worked us fools who'd never been in a semi all started in a Mule. In reality it had little to do with truckin on the highways and outside docks.

[@jawdon_smith]

Man... if only America was like this now, it’d be a far better place

[@Angel-xj3wf]

Jordan Smith no bitch

[@zuccerworm8402]

@@Angel-xj3wf Stfu kid

[@louisedwards6681]

My family business try to get the job done,,43ys and holding 🏁 EDWARDS BROTHER'S TRANSMISSION ROANOKE RAPIDS NORTH CAROLINA 👍🏁🇺🇸🔧 🔩 THANKS.

[@pbama5220]

Dam did't see no black race 😆

[@nrood3821]

this is a video that shows the proof that if you take care of your workers. they will be a better work force and be a better company

[@marstondavis]

I grew up in a small town in Calif. in the '50's and my folks worked in the glass bottle industry. Their co-workers had the same attitudes about work and progress. They were all so proud of their labor and the products they produced. I remember company picnics and get togethers at Christmas. These were good people that formed life long bonds with each other. I so miss those days. The workers at that plant are almost all gone now, but their kids are still around. We're in our '60's and '70's now but we still have the work ethic of our parents. It's a very good thing, too.

[@KentuckyRanger]

Twenty years of trucking, the Ottawa was a common view at every supplier and receiver yard. This is an awesome in depth story, behind those yard Hostlers/Hustlers/Yard Dogs, that were always there in the background, working around the clock... What an awesome history!

[@IndianaDundee]

The only difference is now you’ll have no free time if you want to make enough money to buy a house, own a car, and support a family.

[@-hiphopanonymous-7093]

Yep sell your soul to provide for a family

[@dineironhead]

Amen to that

[@TylerVogel1]

I believe it, I haven't experienced it yet but my mom and stepdad work so hard throughout the day that they hardly have time to eat. Today's world sucks to much work and stress and not enough caring. It kinda makes me want to commit suicide because things can be ran simpler easier while still have that we care about our work its the best quality we will not be cheap screw overs. I get it you have to work no matter what but working so much to where you can't even eat?! Yeah goodbye world. Its even worse that now I'm 18 and I graduated high school but your high school diploma doesn't even matter not even college degrees. Fuck the modern world.

[@gregshearer423]

Tyler Vogel where the hell are u working that u can’t eat

[@TylerVogel1]

@@gregshearer423 i am working

[@benparker6825]

I am a sucker for a good documentary video. I am grateful for the paychecks earned driving these yard horses.

[@donaldbartram6315]

we always called them a yard horse. I remember my dad calling his tractor a horse, or cab. never a tractor..

[@mtl-ss1538]

@@donaldbartram6315 + Kiwi ace ;- Ivan Mauger - OBE & MBE. World Champion: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1979 - R/Up 1971, 1973, 1974 New Zealand Sportsperson of the Year (Halberg Award) 1977 and 1979. Long Track World Champion 1971, 1972, 1976 R/Up 1974, 1975 World Pairs Champion 1969, 1970 R/Up 1971, 1972, 1978, 1981 Speedway World Team Cup Champion 1968, 1971, 1972, 1979 European Champion 1966, 1970, 1971, 1975 British Champion 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972 www.nzonscreen.com/title/circuits-of-gold-1987. As 3 x concurrent World Speedway Champion he got a gold-plated Jawa 500 bike, which was done for him by two American fans after winning his third consecutive title. New Zealand Champion 1974, 1981 New Zealand Long Track Champion 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986. World long track speed record. His bike reached 144.666km/h 1986 Auckland NZ New Zealand South Island Champion 1977, 1981, 1983 Australasian Champion 1977, 1981 Australasian Grand Prix winner 1970, 1971, 1972 Sunday Times King of Claremont winner 1973, 1980, 1981, 1983 British-Nordic Champion 1968, 1971 British League Riders Champion 1971, 1973 Embassy Internationale Winner 1970, 1971, 1972 Northern Riders Champion 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1980 Provincial League Riders Champion 1963, 1964 Lubos Tomicek Memorial Trophy Winner 1971, 1972, 1973, 1979 Silver Sash Match Race Champion 1968, 1969 Golden Helmet Match Race Champion 1970 Scottish Open Champion 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 Scotianapolis Winner 1969, 1970 Welsh Open Champion 1964, 1973 Westernapolis Winner 1968, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975 Leningrad Cup (USSR) Winner 1969 Lokeren Memorial Trophy Winner 1970 Golden Key of Bremen 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 Australian Long Track Champion 1962 Victorian State Champion (Australia) 1962, 1963 Queensland State Champion (Australia) 1962 Western Australian State Champion 1973 Yorkshire Television Trophy 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980 Lada Indoor International 1979 British Long Track Champion 1980 World Champion of Champions Match Race Series 1989 South Australian 150 Jubilee Trophy 1986 www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/ivan-mauger-speedway-champs-collection-to-be-auctioned-by-bonhams-20170915-gyihwt.htm

[@modeladenny1218]

MULE. Drove one in 1969 and some of 1970. Cold in winter hotter then heck in summer.

[@user-justbeingme]

In 1978 - 1980 I worked at C.W.C.I. supply, in the city of industry, Calif. The owner treated his workers the same as this company did, and we would make challenges to help improve our own productive output. That is when you made work fun and got rewarded for that work, unlike today's companies.

[@zoealy972]

did not know this history of what we call a "YARD DOG". enjoyed this video greatly

[@MrEdwin57]

I've heard of Yard Jockey !

[@Squashyjet]

Before our company got a yard dog we had to scale out our loads by hooking up to an old freight liner we called Ol Smokey. I am forever grateful for this piece of machinery no longer am I having to lower and raise landing gear but I do have to find a new workout regiment now that I don’t have to do all that

[@modeladenny1218]

We called em a MULE. No matter how crappy they rode and how often they broke, it was sure better than using a Ford short cabover with no power steering. Back then the few inside docks had manual opening barn doors and were built for horse and buggies. Our main docks were the old washing machine factory. Call it a Yard Dog, a Mule or a terminal tractor........ or what we called them when they broke down! Model T 10-4!

[@dannystrickland8674]

That's back when an employer took pride in their people and employees took pride in their product that's hard to find nowadays

[@jstarr7506]

Now employers brag about having no full time employees

[@curbmassa]

@@jstarr7506 I'm guessing the bragging gets directed at the shareholders.

[@gearldmoore4545]

Agreed hard to find a good employer today,Good employers promote great Employees.

[@LoneWolf-yp2mo]

J STAR 2, You can thank unions for that .... they produce the laziest bunch of overpaid suns-sa-bitches I've ever seen ... and of course they fight the company like a rattle snake when they try to fire them ... and you can MF me all you want .. I LIVED IT and watched a GREAT JOB go out of business .....

[@freeworldneedsfreethinking]

Great employees work for them selfs .

[@michaelaleman3591]

Wow! What a great true story! Now only if our government and politicians would work together like this amazing company and employees of Ottawa our country would be in better shape!

[@adventure002006]

Love to see a movie made about this Company. Over coming fire, flood, depression. Instead of Politicians giving medals to each other they should be giving medals to Staff and employees in Companies like this.

[@tanman102]

Seeing the pictures of the great flood of 1951 and all the damage, reminded me of the story of the Warner/Ottawa Mfg co. Ottawa Mfg had long been a manufacturer of wire fence, stationary engines, crosscut and buzzmaster saws and for a brief time the Ottawa garden tractor (which was a line of tractors that they had bought parts, machinery and all from the Jaques Saw Company of Denison Texas). The 1951 flood wrecked the Ottawa Mfg factories and later that year the owner died and the company assets were sold to the Comfort Equipment Company.

[@modeladenny1218]

This Ottawa company was on the Fox and llinois river. As an aside from that a large nonunion company started by a man in Tremont, ill opened Keystone Steel and Wire. Everyone got along and was happy . The owner died and a greedy company owns it now. No one is happy!

[@WEIXELTOWN]

I'm buying one tomorrow...I don't need one but I liked this documentary so much...I want to have one.

[@lightdark00]

It's tomorrow! You can link us to a picture of the one you bought.

[@firstname5912]

lightdark00 😂😂😂

[@Lunch_box]

Soooo.... did you get one??

[@SpaceGhost999]

Do you drive it to work?

[@smitty_1]

@@SpaceGhost999 legend has it he drove off for a test drive and hasnt returned

[@ClassicVehicleChannel]

Great film... These truck have always fascinated me... Funny a chap got fired for making trucks prone to breaking down... Heard he's working for Apple now... He's on the team that slows the older phones down...

[@davids6533]

At some point, they will both be out of a job. Nothing I know of lasts forever.

[@farmerbill5079]

We called them "Pigs" and the drivers "Hostlers". They had never figured out how to stop the mirrors from vibrating especially the right side mirror. Drove them for 20 years now they have air ride cabs and AC. very comfortable.

[@PumaPete]

I drove these in the port of LA! Ottawa trucks are by far the best!! Capacity trucks claim they are the number 1 choice of pro spotters! BULL!! We had both! The capacities always sat in the lots. Everyone chose the Ottawas first!

[@modeladenny1218]

Our company also had WHITES.

[@michaelbaumgardner2530]

I drove over the road for 15 plus years,you saw an Ottawa on most every terminal yard.Great video.!!!

[@longwhiteline3308]

Still do see em I drove one at a chicken plant before I started this OTR JOB

[@joebeastyg5686]

And this is why we said Make America Great AGAIN in 2016! There ain't no college that could possibly pump out the kind of determination and pride as seen in the people in this video.

[@Killedbycotton]

Those company picnics make me feel jealous living in 2019

[@KMcNally117]

How you feel in 2020?

[@Killedbycotton]

@@KMcNally117 fuckin perfecto

[@modeladenny1218]

In 30 /2 years at the same company our super had one picnic! He was a black man and only two drivers were black. We all got along like brothers and sisters. Life was good back then.

[@samhouston1673]

The American Can-Do Spirit at its finest. At tip of the hat to ya Ottawa Steel from Texas.

[@Dan-nj7tr]

You do know they sold out in the 90's and are owned by the Finns.

[@haraldpettersen3649]

Nice to hear about when workers and bosses worked together on the floor against the same goal.

[@andrep8287]

...you meant to say "towards the same goal", right?

[@kpmariner1998]

I have 3 Ottawa’s and one Kalmar. Can’t live without them

[@snazzymcnazmy]

yard dogs, parking trailers too close together since 1958

[@truckerp7294]

😂😂never lied

[@donziperk]

Wow did u get that right. And then try and find one to pull your trailer out so u can hook up.

[@beltfed4624]

I unload flats (flat trailers) with a forklift, and there's few things that'll make your nerves stand on end like lifting 2 tons above one truck, turning it with half of it hanging over another truck, while one or two drivers are scrambling around taking off straps... This is at night, in a poorly lit yard, my forklift lights are just about all I have to see with, and they're about the size of baseballs. Thankfully, the yard dogs are spot on, and get my trucks in and out in about 25 minutes per load. But yeah, they have a very special gift for parking huge objects impossibly close. 😁

[@riflelord2]

if you park them close enough you can make enough room to shove 4 more trailers in there

[@beltfed4624]

@@riflelord2 You know it! Most of the time, one truck has their nose on the others tail. Yard dogs are like "There's still about 8 inches to spare, if I cut sharp I'll clear it by 2, we're good!" 😲

[@Mrwednesday84]

I have been driving OTR for 14 years, encountering a quite a few of these trucks at yards. It's nice to see the story of these little guys.

[@bebopalloobop]

I moved to Alaska a few years ago after growing up in the sticks about 10 minutes north east of the headquarters. I was at an auction in Anchorage and lo and behold there sat two 60’s Ottawa trucks up for bid. When I got back to the house I was so excited about spotting the greasy old dogs this far north I googled them, finding this documentary- was fantastic! Felt like I was home. Had no idea they were so widely distributed.

[@jenbill]

Shuttle trucks, Yard dogs wich ever you call them I work in tomato processing couldn't imagine trying to run operations without them.

[@Species-lj8wh]

Ottawa. Saving time and truckers shoulders since 1958.

[@johncichon9499]

Now this is a history to be proud of! A real store of heroes in manufacturing. It took each employee (shop and office) to make this happen! GREAT JOB!!!!!

[@MrShobar]

History is always HIS story. It depends on who's doing the telling. Others may have a decidedly different view.

[@leehilton9932]

Love how it started with people using common sense!! Thanks for sharing this.

[@junicohen7918]

Drove one for years.super nice.

[@jeffpittman8725]

The difference between today's workforce and the character of workers in those days is a very wide gap.

[@PumaPete]

Gary Dean Mercer Clark no they aren’t! They are spoiled and lazy!

[@dankingma6344]

I work in a factory for the last25yrs and must say today’s young workers are spoiled and very lazy. Worries me to think what happened to America’s next gen workers always looking for the easy way. No putting forth effort for quality products

[@PumaPete]

Dan Kingma I agree!

[@kw9849]

@@dankingma6344 Employers have as much a hand in that as the employees do. People might be more inclined to put in the effort if employers paid a fair wage and actually gave a shit about their employees. It's difficult to care about about a company when you're considered disposable and will never, ever share in its success.

[@TestECull]

@@PumaPete No, they're underpaid, overworked overstressed, underappreciated, and treated like horseshit. You can't expect people to give it their all when the people they work for wouldn't think twice about shitcanning them or asking them to put aside any pretense of life off the clock to work ridiculous hours. You want honest, hard-working, loyal employees? Give them a living wage, good benefits, good conditions, AND FOR THE LOVE OF FUCK LET THEM HAVE THEIR FUCKING EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS! You do those things and you'll find the people working there will actually enjoy their jobs, and when they enjoy their jobs, the pride comes flooding right back. The workforce of the 1950s didn't go anywhere. It just adapted. You get what you pay for, and when you pay for shit labor through shit wages, shit hours, shit conditions *guess what you get in return...*

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

Yard Goats. My ME friend, was disappointed, when he found that they have six wheels, instead of four legs.

[@kenlee5509]

Great video! 4 years old, and it just popped up in the "recommended" sidebar. YAY!

[@martinadams6067]

All American. Absolutely love it. Great story

[@chrismielitz7758]

Super cool, the place my dad used to work had a terminal tractor, must have been from the mid to late 70s, we called it the yard dog...

[@6153calme]

I have Ottawa trucks at loading docks and warehouses, also in companies having shipping and receiving areas.

[@jonhallberg8334]

As a machinist I can tell you that these people have the right attitude to make factory work the rewarding thing that it is.

[@vanmanmike7651]

Thanks. Great history lesson on what I have done for the last almost 30 years as a Ottawa yard jockey. Good information.

[@carrotpeeler101]

As a fleet mechanic in Canada we always called them shunt trucks. I remember one truck that had the air dryer removed at a gravel quary. that truck moved hundreds of trailers a week. I purged the tanks the first time i did a service on it and it was like a goose crappin out 4 gallons of oatmeal. I informed the owner and he just looked at me like a deer in headlights. needless to say as soon as december rolled around my job comprised of 3 items; a hammer, blow torch and methyel hydrade.

[@SteveCarras]

And there is an Ottowa there too.

[@carrotpeeler101]

@Yard Sale Dale It was defective and they didn't want to replace it. they bought the truck for a grand

[@theangryitalian7922]

WTF is an air dryer ?

[@morgato4200]

@@theangryitalian7922 it removes the moisture from the air that is used to control the brakes and other things

[@carrotpeeler101]

@@theangryitalian7922 it's a part in the pneumatic system (air brakes). It removes some moisture and debris from the system.

[@scoop4363]

"Yard Bird" is what we called them at UPS back in the 70s. Man, those 2 guys could back up, hook up, pull out, and back up again in minutes. With over 100 trailers coming in during 4 hours, they were key to production. It was still a crap company to work for, but the yard jocks were the bomb.

[@modeladenny1218]

As they say, there ain't no easy run..... and being a Mule operator sure wasn't easy.

[@shanechambers9529]

my neck of the woods we call them yard dogs

[@reubeng2110]

I get to use these once in a while whilst working

[@LoneWolf-yp2mo]

They have a few of these at the STIHL plant in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Those little horses are hauling product all day 24/7. Excellent truck. As far as the job at the plant ... they beat you like a dumb dog, and you'll NEVER be fast enough or efficient enough to please them. HORRIBLE job. I worked 13 months and told them to SHOVE IT. No regrets about it either.

[@robertmcgee141]

They are still out there working. Great little machine to shuffle trailers around.

[@mikelgonzalez]

Very impressive, riveting production! I thought I knew quite a bit of the history from previous narrative, but this film educated me even more with additional details, perspective and especially, old photographs and films. May the Ottawa terminal tractor and all employees continue to prosper for years to come!

[@yarddog4277]

I drive one every day, love it

[@shannondavis5728]

American People are very,very,very resilient!!!!…we dont give up easy because we do it for the people we love and not just for ourselves!!!!!…..our mindset hit different when we know we have folks that’s depending on us to go hard with their full support but sometimes they don’t support us bread winners of the family….we still keep pushing though!!!!

[@CycolacFan]

Fire then a flood, bet they were preparing for locusts next...

[@andrewsmart2949]

or the 4 horseman riding in

[@TylerVogel1]

Ayyyyy the dock tug, my favorite semi truck especially to use in gta 5

[@charlesstevenson5141]

Ran one for Tango on weekends and when the mill was shit down from our regular drop and hook at IP. Run one long enough on a bad lot and you'll go home with a limp, whiplash and back pain in epic proportions. Never again!

[@StonesAndSand]

I've lived in a couple of small towns where world-class equipment was made. It seems there is an overall sense of complacency that overshadows decades of history of being the best in the market. It's good to see there's still a lot of pride left in Ottawa.

[@danmekeel7758]

Back when America was United for this Country. Kalmar Ottawa keeps the Tradition.

[@allenwagner2469]

Ottawa trucks are great kalamar are junk

[@richardc7721]

In the early 80s I was a HD mechanic for a pipeline contractor and needed a heavy weight for the bed of my 428 CJ powered F150 to help keep the rear tires planted. In our boneyard was an old Hydra Hammer that had the right sized counterweight on it. Fit nice and did a good job.

[@heytasker]

Too bad you don't still have that CJ....

[@richardc7721]

@@heytasker I owned the truck 3 different times over a 30 period. The last time I owned it I gave it to my oldest grandson upon graduation from the USMC boot camp San Diego 10 years ago, he now owns it with a promise to never sell it. He will pass it on to his oldest in time

[@davids6533]

"There were no computers" ..beautiful words for a beautiful time in my opinion.

[@darkshadowsx5949]

its funny that you have to use a computer to make that comment. People are afraid of technology they refuse to understand. computers in vehicles are to make it easier to diagnose and more efficient to run. of course it cant diagnose everything exactly you would need too many sensors. i just rebuilt my automatic transmission in my car and the computer said it was a solenoid when it was actually a damaged clutch piston. the solenoid interacted with the piston so it was close. but many people fail to trace all possible issues and just fire the parts cannon wasting money. or send it off to an expensive mechanic. i fixed the transmission and it works like new. i took on the challenge myself when so many are afraid to touch them with a stick. in the end i understood how it worked and accomplished what many refuse to do. once you understand the computer and the mechanics fixing any part of it is relatively easy.

[@davids6533]

@@darkshadowsx5949 Congratulations to you.

[@williamschirmacher6526]

I been around trucks since I'm 18 now 46 Yard jockey are very important and I always had a thing for trucks

[@InjunOutdoors]

Was excited to see the fire truck for Twin Hills. I went to school there Small world

[@Chr.U.Cas2216]

Well done documentation/documentary. Congrats for being such a great company.

[@skipstein744]

I agree that this video is a fine rendition of the ingenuity of American technology and workers.

[@lourias]

Cool history of a company. Keep the company personal, then you will always be great!!! Please remember that employess do not quit companies; they quit bosses.

[@2Truth4Liberty]

They are still there and still making them to this day.

[@DooBees-ub1me]

Yup those parties were doozies.....some of the best hands at Ottawa....Ralph, Terry, Vic, Chuck, Dennis, Gary, Wayland Merlin the guts brains and backbone of the terminal port tractor. But those Fins took the guts right out of them.

[@lathamarea1437]

I remember back in the late sixties at a freight terminal ( REA ?) in N.Y.C i first saw my first yard dog..If memory serves it also had a hydraulic tire by the front bumper to make turning 90 degrees very easy..A memory that's lasted fifty years..

[@modeladenny1218]

I remember driving Ottawa and White Mules...... By the way they were all white. My memory is fair and I don't remember any fancy extra wheel up front. Why would y'all need it. Those mules turned tight and with a trailer ya don't wanna turn too tight. I worked where some of the original docks were for horse and wagons.Barely 13.6 and narrow doors. So I know tight.

[@BitterDemo]

I REMEMBER ALL OF THIS, In later years I was a Contract Trucker and I hauled a lot of equipment to them in the 60's and 70's. I have hauled many of their Trucks. I also remember the strike.

[@Stacy_Smith]

I hate to brag, but truck drivers are nice people! (Except when it comes to ridiculing our own because they should know better.) A lot of questions about "What is.." or "Why is.." were answered cordially without any stupid insults.

[@georei]

Very enjoyable to watch. Thanks for doing this.

[@michaelvrooman5681]

I live in Topeka Kansas. 50 miles from Ottowa. A company here, Topeka Metal Specialties, built the frames and cabs for Ottowa yard trucks for years

[@BitterDemo]

I really enjoyed seeing this because it was a part of my life also. I am now 83 years old and nobody cares anymore like when I was younger. Living in redding, Ca, and wishing I was back in the Midwest.

[@jebsails2837]

I'd seen pictures of a couple of these "yard tractors", never realizing the niche market that they fulfilled. A friend of mine drives over the road rigs and during downtime operates one at his normal terminal, which he really loves. Thanks for the back story.

[@andrep8287]

IMHO, every OTR-driver should be forced to operate a yard-tractor for 3 months (day-shifts and night-shifts) for the only purpose to learn how to properly back-up a tractor/trailer....especially in tight areas! After such an apprenticeship, they would no longer make fools of themselves, taking far too much time to back-up the long-nose Petes with a tandem-trailer at customer-dockss...lol. Oh, btw it matters not if you're pulling a 45, 48 or 53 foot trailer.....their wheelbases are all identical at 41 ft (kingpin to center bogey)

[@braindamage1662]

Brilliant Documentary on the Factory, and the Employees Commitment and Dedication to the Company. I've seen Kalmars working in so many Countries in Europe and Russia, that i keep thinking, 'They must have a Production Line like Henry Ford's Model 'T's !' It is worth noting however, they were NOT, the first (by a long way) Company to Produce a Purpose Built 'Yard-Tug'. A British Company built a Vehicle in the 1930's called the 'Scammell Mechanical Horse', which was later Modified in the late 40's, and was then known as the 'Scammell Scarab'. This Vehicle was Unique (at that time) in that it had an Automatic Coupling and Un-Coupling Device which raised and lowered the Landing Legs as it Reversed/Drove out from under a Trailer. It was a Big favourite with the Royal Mail, The Railways, and Parcel Delivery Company's. As with most things though, they did not progress with the times, and the Company was bought out by British Leyland Trucks, which in turn was bought by DAF Trucks, which is now part of the Paccar Group.

[@stupoc6715]

I used one of these to jocky at a chip company . They sucked in snow and icy parking lots , the ass end was light so I used the conventional volvo in winter. But it was great in the summer with the slider door on the back of the cab , you just hooked up the air lines ,raise up your trailer n go. No jumping down out of the truck ,no cranking legs up . It was quick , and worked good. It had a two stage air horn like a f-n freight train , you could scare the shit out of people with it . I took a OTTAWA sticker off of it , and stuck it on my toolbox.

[@desertbrewcrew1974]

I worked on a few of these.These are built tough and are virtually indestructable.

[@chuckmarquart]

I remember the early 60s , lots of pride..... Nowadays it's all about screwing you.....

[@yamahonkawazuki]

not at all places

[@TEverettReynolds]

Unfortunately, when you have Asian imports that can do the same thing for 1/2 the price, what do you want? The American companies need to innovate and lower costs, or close down. No one will by American products if they are twice the cost, not even Americans... So yes, it is about pushing the worker to get every ounce of sweat out of them... until you just can't anymore...

[@vic5828]

I know this sounds negative but unfortunately with today's corporations it isn't about the employee, its about the stockholders and the CEO's fear of being removed from the top of the ladder. The other side of the coin is today many people don't have the pride they once did. It is about "how much will you pay me for how little work can get by with" attitude. It is getting worse folks. I see our country's pride and work ethic shrinking every year. I am a teacher and todays youth is all about "me" and not anyone else. What made this country great is departing rapidly. Sure, we do have some good youth but they are far outnumbered by the lazy. Very sad indeed.

[@yamahonkawazuki]

@@vic5828 Agreed victor. Im only 44 yet im of the old way of thinking. I take pride in my work

[@vic5828]

@@yamahonkawazuki I am a couple decades older than you! Glad to hear you are taking pride in your work. You must have had good parents who instilled that into you. Too many parents of today's youth are absentee parents and worried about being their child's best friend. We call them "Helicopter Parents." They fly in to make excuses for their child and once they have them in the clear they fly out until the next time they are in trouble.

[@TylerVogel1]

I wish my phone charger was made by Ottawa because it would actually work and not break after one charge

[@louisedwards6681]

Ha ha my phone charger is from Iran ,I guess?

[@ShadowDragon246]

should of gotten a Samsung instead of Apple! ahahahaha

[@drrocketman7794]

I'm 41 and I drive 18 wheelers. I'm playing with trucks all day but now I don't have to make funny noises with my mouth.

[@modeladenny1218]

I'm a retarded trucker. Now I make funny noises with my mouth.

[@michaelthomas7178]

This is what make America great again is all about.

[@StormLaker]

Yard dogs......I dare anyone to hop into one of these and drive it down the highway....coast to coast. That would be one rough ride, haha.

[@MrSheckstr]

My Army reserve unit (heavy engineers) had a yard dog. A week before our annual training down in Oklahoma (we are based in the upper Midwest) every single one of our M916s got their engines fried with bad fuel. We made the trip from base to base 17 times hauling all our heavy gear on back roads using a single yard dog and a deuce and a half chase vehicle as mobile bedroom

[@Knallteute]

@@MrSheckstr oh man I feel with you. That must have been a hell of a ride

[@cryptoanalysts5793]

Did you ever consider to read Quran?

[@cryptoanalysts5793]

StormLaker1975 I choose you to learn and let you know a bout Islam ☪️

[@benson4u215]

@@cryptoanalysts5793 Are you talking about the same Quran that says to kill all other nonbelievers? Gtfo

[@billglenn10]

Great video - I've always seen these trucks - there are a lot in our area - now I know a lot more about them...