Tunnels & Infrastructure: New FAT TRUCK® 8X8 will be unveiled at CONEXPO 2023

The trucks have big wheels that can make it through high water. The vehicles also float. Supertrak, right next to the Punta Gorda Airport, volunteered their time and FAT Trucks to first responders during Hurricane Helene. "It was a shock, obviously, to know that we were going to help our local residents out," Michael Stanek of Supertrak said. "It was a great honor to go out and actually rescue and see people in distress."

Hydro One crews successfully restored power to thousands of customers, thanks in part to the exceptional capabilities of the FAT TRUCK®. This versatile vehicle proved invaluable for navigating through heavy snow and winter storms, ensuring both the safety of the crews and their ability to efficiently perform critical restoration work.

When floodwaters hit the communities of Swan River and Minitonas, Manitoba, the FAT TRUCK® was there when it mattered most. The Manitoba RCMP Search and Rescue team deployed the FAT TRUCK® as part of their flood relief operations, working alongside partners to assist those impacted and help keep everyone safe. The images speak for themselves — navigating washed-out terrain and flooded areas that would stop any conventional vehicle in its tracks, the FAT TRUCK® proved once again why it is the go-to amphibious utility vehicle for flood rescue and emergency response. We are thrilled to see the FAT TRUCK® serving on the front lines and helping protect communities across Canada.

Zeal Motor Inc., the manufacturer of the renowned FAT TRUCK®, is highlighting a new innovation developed by one of its dealers, Sudbury-based RufDiamond, in partnership with Cambrian College. The two organizations have developed a deployable lifting platform for the FAT TRUCK® that is now supporting wildfire response efforts in Northwestern Ontario. The platform allows a FAT TRUCK® to carry a payload of up to 2,200 pounds into locations with no road access, lift the platform off the vehicle, drive out from underneath, and lower the load to the ground — solving a persistent challenge in remote deployment: unloading cargo without cranes or other lifting equipment on site. The technology has moved quickly from concept to active field use. As of a July 2026 press conference at Cambrian College, the unit was confirmed for deployment to the wildfire crisis in Northwestern Ontario. "Without Cambrian, this would be factored under a plausible option — potential, maybe one day," said Daryl Adams, president of RufDiamond, of the platform's development. The project recently received $150,000 in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), supporting further use of advanced materials and structural optimization to make the lifting system lighter and more energy-efficient. The same funding will also support a custom drag-behind toboggan for transporting supplies across Arctic terrain. Including RufDiamond's own cash and in-kind contributions, the total value of the two-year project is $227,500.

Zeal Motor, the leading OEM manufacturer of the FAT TRUCK® off-road industrial vehicles, proudly stands with the citizens of the States affected by the recent hurricanes. We extend our deepest sympathies to the communities impacted by these disasters, and we are honored by the dedication and innovation shown by our team and partners in support of relief efforts.

National Grid has turned to the FAT TRUCK®, a purpose-built amphibious utility vehicle for power grid maintenance, to support major upgrades at the Rotterdam Substation in New York, one of the largest and oldest stations in the National Grid system. With crews working in areas where a wheeled vehicle would sink instantly due to wet and soft ground conditions, the FAT TRUCK proved to be the right tool for the job, carrying up to eight people and powering through terrain with up to three feet of water. CBS6 Albany Before using the FAT TRUCK, crews sometimes had to wait for mats to be laid down just to safely reach a structure. Now, the vehicle glides over rough terrain without leaving deep ruts, reducing environmental impact and saving valuable time on the job site. CBS6 Albany The story was covered exclusively by CBS6 (WRGB Albany), highlighting how purpose-built amphibious technology is helping utility providers modernize critical infrastructure while keeping crews safe and operations on schedule. We are proud to see the FAT TRUCK making a difference in the field.