STONY PLAIN, Alta. — When Western Star Trucks began production of its largest truck ever – the Twin-Steer 6900 XD – Howard’s Transport Services, Inc. was first on the recipient list.

Howard’s Transport in has been in the oil rig-moving business for nearly 20 years. With temperatures on the rough terrain of the Canadian oil fields ranging from extreme hot to unbearable cold, officials at Howard’s Transport say needed a rugged, durable vehicle to withstand the environment and get the job done.

“Since we’re primarily in off-road terrain, our trucks really take a beating,” said Gerry Moeller, operations manager for Howard’s Transport Services. “That’s why we needed a fleet of heavy-duty, rugged trucks that could handle the conditions of our job. Our Twin-Steer 6900 XD has been working well for us because it allows us to easily navigate tough job sites and traverse severe terrain, while staying comfortable in the cab.”

In November 2003, Howard’s Transport added the Twin-Steer 6900 XD to its fleet of 21 other Western Stars. The extreme-duty vehicle is used for the most demanding oil field work, including transporting rigs, mud tanks, and mud pumps weighing up to 110,000 pounds across Alberta and British Columbia. The truck also has a 446-inch wheelbase, 550 horsepower engine and an all-wheel drive Twin Disc transmission designed for superior handling, torque and durability.

Officials say the Twin-Steer 6900 XD incorporates several advances in steering and suspensions, and is larger and more powerful than previous models. The truck has a dual circuit steering system designed to provide increased capacity to steer the 17.5R25 tires in deep mud. To assist mobility, the front suspension uses four asymmetrical taper leaf slipper springs with four parallel torque rods to control each front steer axle through the 12-inches of suspension travel.