Source: Supply Post |
By Linda Horn
Photo Caption: Marsolais’ specialty trailer is a combination of a custom single axle BC/AB jeep, a 55T double drop hydraulic gooseneck with a 10’ deck section, a SA articulating pin-style booster, and a one-of-a-kind deck/rail extension.
Stephane Marsolais began as an owner operator in St-Esprit, Quebec — a little farming town about a half hour from Montreal. He began driving for Mullen Trucking around 2001, finally making the move to Alberta in 2008.
“The West was booming at the time,” Marsolais explained.
A Better Way
In 2012, Marsolais came to the realization that he needed a better way to move equipment and rigs across Canada. At the time, he was hauling for Alberta-based Mullen. Marsolais is a highly knowledgeable owner operator, who understands how to make the most out of every aspect of his trailer
“Doing permits in the office at Mullen gave me the knowledge to spec the perfect trailer for the work I had to do,” Marsolais explained. “With the help of Tony Nathan, P. Eng (K-Line’s Engineering Manager), we built a trailer capable of moving many types of equipment and rigs,” he said.
A Better Combination
Marsolais’ specialty trailer is a combination of a custom single axle BC/AB jeep, a 55T double drop hydraulic gooseneck with a 10’ deck section, and a SA articulating pin-style booster. He later purchased a 23’ pin-on rail/cantilevered deck extension for the lowbed, and a boom stand for the booster.
Marsolais went to K-Line seeking a versatile product that would allow him access to the most number of hauling markets. With the trailer he specified, he was well positioned to take advantage of regulatory idiosyncrasies through multiple hauling jurisdictions. K-Line worked with him to identify those markets, and the dimensions and weights that could fit the most universally. Marsolais thought through literally every aspect of his trailer design with the K-Line design team — he had a look in mind, as well as a way of operation.
K-Line’s modular design easily allows customization. After implementing the 23’ rail deck and extension, Marsolais said, “I haven’t stopped hauling since I got it!” He uses all of his pieces on a regular basis.
“I’m very happy about my trailer and I believe that I have the perfect trailer to work from Western Canada running all over North America,” Marsolais explained. “The K-Line pin joint system can fit all Western Canada 55 ton trailer makes,” he continued. “It helps me to be very versatile as many carriers use these trailer makes,” he said.
On one particular load at Mullen on a rig move to Sarnia, Ontario, Marsolais used the rail plus 2 section, as well as two Mullen sections, and was able to stay under 4.2 meters.
“It was road banned in Ontario,” Marsolais said. “We were not able to use the county road to get around the low bridge of the 402, 401 and 400,” he continued. The K-Line combination has allowed his rig to stay under pilot car rules in BC and Eastern US. “This trailer is pretty light,” he said.
A Better Operator
Marsolais takes care of his equipment on a daily basis, and in the long term proving his pride of ownership. He recently took his combination back to K-Line for a factory refurbish, including paint refresh and a few extra additions to help make day to day rigging even easier.
Marsolais operates with only one truck, and one pilot truck. The pilot is driven by his girlfriend, who also has her Class One. In 2015, Marsolais bought a Kenworth T800 — “the perfect match for my trailer,” he said.
Last year, Marsolais switched carriers to Chilliwack, BC-based Triton Transport. “I’m very happy,” Marsolais said of Triton. “We are busy and have once again started making money,” he said.
About K-Line
Langley, BC based K-Line Trailers Ltd. is an innovative company with many years of custom transport equipment design and manufacturing experience. K-Line’s products include dump bodies, lowbeds and multi-axle heavy haul trailers, side and end dump trailers, specialty transport trailers, dual powered road trains, wind blade trailers, and mining equipment for use throughout the world.
K-Line’s sales, design, and production staff are transportation sector and fabrication specialists have helped make K-Line an industry leader in design, manufacturing and service excellence. For more information about K-Line, visit www.klinetrailers.com.
