TRUCKS & TRANSPORTATION
MACK MARKS 100 YEARS OF HAULING ON CANADIAN ROADS BY LEE TOOP, EDITOR
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ack in 1921, Canada was a growing nation with a growing infrastructure network and plenty of demand for raw materials, consumer goods and all of the other things that help a country develop. Those needs drew the attention of a truck manufacturer south of the border, and with the opening of a Toronto office Mack Trucks joined the drive to build Canada. That relationship has continued ever since, and as Mack marks 100 years of serving the Canadian truck market the company says it is prepared to continue in its efforts to meet the needs of Canada’s trucking industry with new models, technology and innovation moving forward.
SURPLUS “BULLDOG” TRUCKS MAKE IMPACT IN CANADA
After World War I, the Mack AC “Bulldog” trucks that served Western militaries so effectively in Europe spread into private operation throughout North America, including the rugged Canadian wilderness. Reliable and well suited for heavy-haul operations in challenging regions, these trucks were ideal for Canadian operations, and the manufacturer took notice. In 1921, Mack Trucks of Canada started operation in a small Toronto office, delivering Mack AB and AC models. One of the first customers for the trucks was Dufferin Construction, and as the Mack brand expanded into new models, new technology and new areas, Dufferin stayed with them – it continues to be a Mack customer today, a century later.
CHANGING CANADIAN LANDSCAPE KEEPS MACK NIMBLE
According to Steve Jugovic, Mack regional vice president for Canada, that strong relationship comes from Mack’s ability to meet the needs of a Canadian landscape that is always changing. “What we really do is take a look at specific Canadian features, whether it’s cold weather packaging, whether it’s moose bumpers, whether it’s tow hooks,” Jugovic described. “We understand, equally from a service perspective, ice roads and things of that nature that are unique to us. We are similar, but also slightly different [to the United States] as it relates to our product offerings… with our nimbleness and our ability to adapt to the unique customer challenges and unique geogra-
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A MACK LR ON BAY STREET IN TORONTO, 1940.
phy, whatever the case may be, we do it well.” Jonathan Randall, Mack senior vice president of sales and commercial operations, said that Canada truly provides a test for trucks – and that Mack takes advantage of that to improve its products. “The Canadian terrain tests our products, maybe in ways that a lot of the terrain in the U.S. doesn’t. We’re fairly well known for reliability and durability; that comes into play very heavily in the Canadian market, whether you’re talking about ice roads, oil fields in northern regions, whatever it might be where we find ourselves operating, and our dealer network being able to support and service our customers in that way,” Randall said. “To that point, we’re able to take what we learn in Canada, our ability to operate and succeed there, and bring that down to the U.S., so that the products we’re building are able to manage those different things – whatever the climate, the terrain or the operators may throw at us.”
MARKET DEMAND STRONG BUT SUPPLY ISSUES REMAIN
While Mack, like many manufacturers, is still negotiating challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has seen a continued demand for its vehicles, Randall noted. “The demand from our customers for our product hasn’t lessened – in fact, it continues to grow and grow strong in the U.S. and Canada, not only this year, but well into next year,” Randall said. Supply line issues that have affected many automotive manufacturers recently are also making an impact on Mack, but the company is continuing to move product as much as possible, Randall noted.
