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Respect the Truck
The Off-Road King of the Jobsite Deserves Correct Handling and Proper Maintenance
By Steve Moore |
Any good tool man knows that he must respect his tools. From the simple hammer to the lumbering dump truck, each instrument of construction demands that correct operation is understood and proper maintenance is executed. To take a closer look at one of the jobsite’s most dependable workhorses, the Weigh Station salutes the articulated truck.
Sure, it’s considered one of the most versatile hauling vehicles in the world — maneuvering through thick Georgia clay or plowing over snow-packed Minnesota mining country, carrying a 40-ton load.
So why is one of the toughest working pieces of construction equipment also one of the most mishandled and misunderstood on the lot? Take a look at who’s behind the wheel. Typically, the driver is the most inexperienced, least-skilled member of the crew. So what’s a crew chief to do to garner just a little more respect for his articulated trucks? It all starts with a walk around the truck.
First Things First: A Pre-Operational Check
It’s the first rule of a construction site and it doesn’t get any simpler or truer than this: What you do at the beginning of the day will definitely influence what you do for the rest of the day. A pre-flight check of your articulated truck is the first and best chance to catch any problems or future malfunctions. The truck operator must consider it part of his routine and start his day with a walk-around. An experienced operator’s eyes, ears and brain are much better and more efficient and able to take in more information than any display of onboard diagnostics. Nobody ever likes to do a walk-around, but a quick review by the operator is the best way to be sure the truck is carefully inspected.
Each and every walk-around should start with a check to make sure there’s no obvious physical damage to the machine including broken parts or low tires. Take a look under the truck to ensure nothing’s leaking. Then, once the operator has stepped inside the cab, check the fluid levels and gauges. These simple and quick checks will help prevent unwanted down time and loss of production.
Navigating the Worst Terrain
Many articulated truck owners find there’s a serious lack of respect, or conversely too much of it, when it comes to planning the truck’s route. Since most operators view their trucks as the off-road kings of the jobsite, they’re willing to plow through the muddiest and most difficult terrain to get to their final destination. But the smartest way can often be the long way around. The longer distance at higher speeds can often save time and wear and tear on the truck. Also, fuel savings can be significant.
But what happens when you’re operating on steep slopes and plowing through the mud? Having the ability to control the transmission is key. While automatic transmissions generally select the correct gear automatically, relying on the truck’s brain is not always the best choice. Since the operator is smarter than any automatic transmission, he needs to use his eyes and his brain to spot any area the truck might get bogged down — then he looks for the transmission hold switch. By pushing the transmission hold switch, the operator can hold the truck in the best gear and optimize performance.
When the Going Gets Tough
The operator has many options to optimize performance of the articulated truck. For example, the differentials can be locked or unlocked, causing the wheels to spin at the same rate or independently, respectively, to improve traction in the worst conditions. All engines are equipped with power/economy switches that control power and also with a switch that controls the engine idle speeds between a high and a low setting. The combination of power and idle speed control switches allow the operator to match engine power and speed to the job requirements so fuel economy and performance can be optimized, sometimes by approximately as much as 10 percent.
From a big picture, the combination of articulated trucks and excavators are doing most of the hauling in this country, which is why the excavator/truck team is so important. The best possible scenario is to place an excavator on a bench above the vehicle and swing the excavator arm in less than a 90-degree arc. That’s the most efficient way to load a truck. A bench set up is the most efficient way to load a truck because excavator lift height and swing times are minimized for maximum performance. The height of the bench that the excavator sits on is usually equal to the height of the truck.
Garnering More Respect
No matter which manufacturer’s articulated truck you’re operating, chances are your suspension system has a big impact on a truck’s productivity. Komatsu’s truck, for example, has a trailing arm front suspension to provide a smooth ride. In those models the high-tech suspension system reduces vibrations with a hydro-dynamic suspension system in both front and rear drives. Improvements like these go a long way toward reducing wear and tear, not only on the trucks, but also on the operator’s body, especially over difficult terrain.
If an operator learns to respect the capabilities and features, he or she can drastically improve productivity and profitability.
Steve Moore is product manager for trucks and motor graders, for Komatsu America Corp. |
