Make way, coming through!
Trouble with parallel parking? Can’t keep your big SUV between the yellow lines? Ask Marc-andré Derail for some tips. He has been driving and maneuvering oversized cargo on the road for 11 years.
The Record caught up with him as he was preparing to head to Joliette to deliver a 60,000-gallon tank built by Propar in Lennoxville.
Surprisingly, he wasn’t hyperventilating into a paper bag, hesitating to turn on the ignition. The experienced driver is very relaxed behind the wheel, even with an 111,000-pound tank behind him.
“It’s 40 metres bumper to bumber,” Derail said, “and 88 for the tank alone.”
While the 60,000-gallon tank is the largest he has ever transported, Derail said Propar also makes tanks up to 90,000 gallons. He added that he transports the 60,000-gallon tanks fairly regularly.
Winter doesn’t faze him much, but Derail said when roads are icy it’s not a fun ride. The wheels on the back of the trailer turn separately, so when they end up on ice they can sometimes have a mind of their own.
Transporting oversized cargo requires a permit. Derail said he has to follow the route laid out by the MTQ. Most times it’s fine, but Derail said on a few occasions he has been in some tight situations where cargo couldn’t make a turn.
Derail waited on the side of Winder
Street yesterday for his two driving escorts to arrive. One to drive in front, the other behind the cargo to make sure other vehicles keep a safe distance. Then they made a plan to get the tank over the Huntingville bridge. Derail said he would drive past the bridge and back over it. With the rear wheels able to turn, it was much easier to make the turn onto the 147.
Once he hits the open road, Derail said he can travel at up to 100 km/h with the tank.