Dad drove one for Ligon Specialized when his Freightliner was being repaired from a sideswipe they were a lite tare weight truck. Everyone then was trying to be Freightliner lite.
I remember ICL well from back in the day. They were the C class division of International Carriers Limited. They became on of the first fully owner operator owned trucking companies. I believe unheard of in Ontario back in the day. They were spun off from ICL. The GM parts dedicated fleet became Geem, then there was a problem and I think GM severed ties with them. The steel brokers trucks where first class looking iron back in the day. I was an owner op for a competing company that was the C class carrier ( full truckload division of Overland Western ) Trojan Special Commodities out of Stoney Creek On. I left them about a year before deregulation. That pretty much was the death knell for a lot of cross border operators as the tariff boards, and interlining of commodities ended as the loads could go direct to the final destination without trans shipment. I took awhile for these carriers to find their footing in a new playing field. I think ICL like Trojan became a fallen flag. You heard about the golden era of trucking, deregulation was a part of that, but you might say, a door closes, another one opens, but a lot of drivers didn’t make the adjustment. Fortunately for me, I was still young and adapted. Bought a reefer, and started hauling exempt commodities and saw North America. Back to ICL going owner operator owned, I thought at the time that was huge news, but surprisingly one of the prominent truck centric media papers sort of ignored it, and they’re front cover featured our boss with his former rig he used to run fully restored. I think it was a 74 Freightliner pulling a set of A trains. It had a 4 axle lead, a tandem converter, and tandem axle pup. Pretty much an Ontario legal version of a Michigan train. As a matter of fact, this Astro has Trojan livery. We featured Medium Glodenrod paint, aspirin seen on the trailers, ICL had variations of red themed paint schemes. I don’t recall that Astro when started at Trojan in 78. Some commented about the large windshield being a desirable feature. Some drivers found the cab uncomfortable to drive in late afternoon when full sun was radiating through that huge glass area. Guys running team didn’t like sitting in the passenger seat unless they had their pants on…. But that’s another story.
Haven’t seen a icl truck in years I’m from oshawa on we used to have a little yard here I used to be a forklift operator unloaded a lot of icl steel trucks memories
icl was awesome first owner operator outfit strictly for gm ... that was the start of the broker era ..there steel div was cool i went to Windsor with a icl driver .. the guy had a single axle jimmy . day cab we drove Oshawa to Windsor icl yard. and back in a day . all i can remember was stopping once outside Windsor for a pizza
Would you happen to know if the owner of that trucks name was danny . and after he was hauling steel did he go on with Servall transport out of Scarborough ont
i agree, the big window small grill and no wheel well cut on the cab side was a cool look .. big difference than the uncomfortable cracker box gmc tractor..
With -2 air cleaners I am guessing 12 v 71 Detroit I drove over a million miles in one of Astro and chev Titan 90 with a 855 Cummins 400 HP
I remember that Astro. Good old days. Great song.
GMC & Chevy cabover semis are super duper rare nowadays.
I had a white one just like this one. Except I had a single stack exhaust 350 cummins 9 speed. I loved it.
NOT SURE WHY BUT THE GMC ASTRO /TITIN IS MY FAV CAB DESIGN LOVED THE HUGE PANORAMA WINDOW
Dual stacks and breathers, good chance this had a Detroit 12V71. Shame we couldn't have heard it run.
I'd say so too with 2 trailers loaded with steel.
Dad drove one for Ligon Specialized when his Freightliner was being repaired from a sideswipe they were a lite tare weight truck. Everyone then was trying to be Freightliner lite.
I remember Ligon Madisonville ky. Then Landstar bought them. Had new Astro in 1978 and another in 1982. 290 and 300 Cummins. Great old days.
I remember ICL well from back in the day. They were the C class division of International Carriers Limited. They became on of the first fully owner
operator owned trucking companies. I believe unheard of in Ontario back in the day. They were spun off from ICL. The GM parts dedicated fleet
became Geem, then there was a problem and I think GM severed ties with them. The steel brokers trucks where first class looking iron back in
the day. I was an owner op for a competing company that was the C class carrier ( full truckload division of Overland Western ) Trojan Special
Commodities out of Stoney Creek On. I left them about a year before deregulation. That pretty much was the death knell for a lot of cross border
operators as the tariff boards, and interlining of commodities ended as the loads could go direct to the final destination without trans shipment.
I took awhile for these carriers to find their footing in a new playing field. I think ICL like Trojan became a fallen flag. You heard about the golden
era of trucking, deregulation was a part of that, but you might say, a door closes, another one opens, but a lot of drivers didn’t make the adjustment. Fortunately for me, I was still young and adapted. Bought a reefer, and started hauling exempt commodities and saw North America.
Back to ICL going owner operator owned, I thought at the time that was huge news, but surprisingly one of the prominent truck centric media
papers sort of ignored it, and they’re front cover featured our boss with his former rig he used to run fully restored. I think it was a 74 Freightliner
pulling a set of A trains. It had a 4 axle lead, a tandem converter, and tandem axle pup. Pretty much an Ontario legal version of a Michigan train.
As a matter of fact, this Astro has Trojan livery. We featured Medium Glodenrod paint, aspirin seen on the trailers, ICL had variations of red themed
paint schemes. I don’t recall that Astro when started at Trojan in 78. Some commented about the large windshield being a desirable feature.
Some drivers found the cab uncomfortable to drive in late afternoon when full sun was radiating through that huge glass area. Guys running team
didn’t like sitting in the passenger seat unless they had their pants on…. But that’s another story.
they were the good old days of trucking... thanks for your great shared experiences I fully enjoyed reading it
IIRC the larger grill that that one has came out in 1980 or 81.
Haven’t seen a icl truck in years I’m from oshawa on we used to have a little yard here I used to be a forklift operator unloaded a lot of icl steel trucks memories
icl was awesome first owner operator outfit strictly for gm ... that was the start of the broker era ..there steel div was cool i went to Windsor with a icl driver .. the guy had a single axle jimmy . day cab we drove Oshawa to Windsor icl yard. and back in a day . all i can remember was stopping once outside Windsor for a pizza
Company known as ICI now in tilbury.
Windows were so big it was like driving a fish bowl.
dosent look safe .. not much protection but I think the coolest looking truck white freightliner was great also
Is the name Carl on the side if driver's door and did he park in the OMS body shop yard and lived near Ritson rd. KTMcandog@
Yes
Would you happen to know if the owner of that trucks name was danny . and after he was hauling steel did he go on with Servall transport out of Scarborough ont
not named Danny as far as I can remember think it was gord...,, lived in oshawa
twin pipes 318 Detroit 350 HP
Argh. That is not what I wanted to hear.
i agree the truck sound was beautiful music .. too bad i layerd the sound . i was trying out my new audio mixer
I really prefer the small grill older model,like the thumbnail truck! That big grill makes it look a little to Mack wanna be for me.
i agree, the big window small grill and no wheel well cut on the cab side was a cool look .. big difference than the uncomfortable cracker box gmc tractor..