DUMP TRUCKS TIPS

Are Dump Trucks really hazardous?

New technologies are being invented each day and with the development of these new technologies come increase in risks and uncertainties. Dump Trucks and Semi trailer dumping rigs are getting longer each day due to the demand from consumers as they have more capacity to load goods. Due to elongated rigs the cases of tipping over of these bodies have increased, more incidents are noted with semi trailer rigs compared to straight trucks.

The last decade has seen more number of severe deaths due to fatality caused by the dump trucks tipping over. Most of the accidents are being noted which are caused by dump tracks and semi trailers which are long. Although there are no specific numbers of cases reported, the occurrences are really higher than we can really think of. The personnel from construction company agree to the fact that dump truck tip over are more frequent and rampant than any other heavy vehicle machine.

The industry labor management committee was specially formed to solve the problem and it strongly goes on to recommend that construction and trucking sector become more aware of the problem and get involved in finding various remedies to avoid the hazard. With the help of multi nationals they can find methods to control such incidents in the future.

Stability factor

Stability is the main factor when we discuss various factors relating to end dump trucks or trailers. When the box is in the raised position, the stability of end dump unit comes under great risk. There can be various reasons of dump truck tipping over, the main reason is that when the center of gravity of box and load of the machines is not balanced between the frame rails of the unit. Even a slight slope can lead to tipping over, if the contained material sticks to the top of the box.

There is various reasons affecting the stability of the rig, due to which it can lead to adverse effects. Some of these reasons are:

1. that the unit is not on a perfect level surface while dumping
2. more material is loaded on the top or upper portion of the raised box
3. the rear wheels don’t evenly settle while the load moves to the rear end during the dumping of the material
4. the material contained does not flow out on the top portion of the box or does not flow from one side of the top portion
5. in the case of end dump and semi trailers, the wind may exert lateral loads in the case if the box is long.

The stability is one of the utmost important factors to take note of when the balancing of rear and back of dump trucks comes into picture. The stability conditions of any machine also to a large extent depends on the unit’s mechanical condition, such conditions do arise when:

1. there are uneven tire pressures in the rear wheels
2. there are worn out or inadequate lifting cylinders
3. there is poor rear suspension systems on any one side of the vehicle
4. there are inadequate components of the lifting system like that of pins.

Methods to Control the Hazards

As we discussed earlier too, that stability is the main problem with semi-trailers, it is advisable for the users and industrial users not to use such machines for haulage or rough grading or even for filling areas where the surfaces are uneven or even loosely compacted. The vehicles like pup trailers, straight trucks are more used and appropriate for haulage on highways for these dump areas. The off highway vehicles and straight trucks are more strongly recommended if the haulage and dumping are all over the site.

Road construction are happening so rampantly every where, there are various types of vehicles and machines being used by companies but when it comes to road construction, the belly dump semi trailers are the first priority than end dump semi trailers. The contractor may be using any type of vehicle on a construction site, the selection of the vehicle is not an option for the contractor, the material suppliers or the haulers use the equipments which are not appropriate to a particular site. It is strongly advised that when these contractors do have a choice they should opt for the equipment which is perfectly suited to the type of work that can reduce the tip overs.

Sometimes it does happen during cold weather various components of the machine gets affected, these may also lead to freeze the material contained in the box and stick inside while dumping. To reduce such chances, the use of heated boxes may reduce the problem and take care not to keep the load for overnight inside the dump boxes that may lead to strong freezing.