Nope, the largest axle combinations you will see will be in Ontario and Quebec, unless its a huge equipment move in Alberta, those things can be impressive. Con-Way doesn't run any different equipment up here than you huys do down there.
The run you made on 17 across Ontario is a nice run, still pretty populated compared to what I am used to, but obviously pretty sparse compared to those big cities in the south. Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, British Columbia, they are absolute treasures for scenery. I'm glad you had the chance to experience it. I made enough runs through the 290/294 corridor and back and forth across the GW to make me shake my head wondering how people live like that every day. The biggest thing with border crossings is attitude. You have to remember that regardless of where you come from, or are going to, when you are at the border, you are in no-mans land, and you belong no-where until they say you do. I have seen to many indignant and ignorant people, on both sides, who think that just because they are canadian/american, and they are going home, that they pull some kind of attitude when they walk into the customs shack thinking they are home. The truth is, you have no rights and you are nobody UNTIL they grant you access. I always went in there with a 'yessir' attitude and never had a problem.