Canada prepares for the implementation of a more compact truck fleet

The Canadian military expects to acquire a new fleet of trucks starting in 2026 — but it will order fewer vehicles than it has in its the current fleet. The Canadian government announced Jan. 10 it had selected General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada of London, Ontario as the preferred bidder for the Logistics Vehicle Modernization (LVM) project. The new vehicles will replace the current in-service fleet of 1,300 light support vehicles and 840 heavy logistics vehicles as well as the fleet of heavy engineer support vehicles. However, the government won’t be buying the same number of vehicles. An April 4, 2023 Canadian Army briefing to defense industry executives in Ottawa provided a general outline of the service’s acquisition plans. Those included one variant of light truck, four variants of light trailers and 14 variants of interchangeable modules that would provide a variety of specialized functions. In addition, the project will deliver seven variants of heavy trucks and three variants of trailers for those vehicles. It is anticipated that first deliveries will occur in the 2026-2028 timeframe, and the contract will include interim in-service and logistic support as well as long-term in-service support. General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada will be the prime contractor in a consortium that will provide the Canadian Forces with Mercedes-Benz Zetros trucks.