Dump Truck Safety And You
Dump trucks are immense, powerful vehicles built for heavy labor so that you don’t have to lug away all that dirt or debris by hand. Convenience aside, the size and power behind these machines can be a bit daunting, and they’re naturally a bit dangerous to operate or be around. Even if you’ve got years of experience with dump trucks, there are always extra safety steps you can take to improve worksite safety.
We here at McCandless Truck Center want to make sure you and yours stay productive and healthy, so we’ve put together a few tips for safely operating a dump truck.
If you want to know more, or you’re looking for a great deal on quality dump trucks, contact our stores in Colorado and Wyoming. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will find what you need at the price you want!
Drive Safely
Obviously, the most important part of safely operating any vehicle is to drive safely and defensively. That goes double for large and heavy equipment like a dump truck. You’ll want to watch your surroundings much more carefully and keep to speed limits when possible. Your dump truck isn’t going to slow and brake as smoothly or quickly as your car at home, and it becomes even more difficult to slow down when the bed is full. Your turn radius will also be fairly wide, and if your bed is full, hitting any bumps at high speeds will do a number on your shocks. Give other vehicles and pedestrians a wide berth, especially on the freeway.
Remember also that a dump truck tends to be taller than the average consumer vehicle. Keep the height in mind when approaching any low-hanging obstacles or bridges, and if possible, plan a route to avoid these entirely. You don’t want to end up stuck in front of a bridge you can’t fit under, and you certainly don’t want to try and force it. Consult a map of the area beforehand, and never, ever drive with the bed raised, even over short distances—bridge or no, power lines are everywhere.
If you ever need to back the truck up, ask for guidance from people on the ground. Pull back slowly with a spotter standing behind and to the side to look for any trouble.
Safe Loading And Dumping
The other primary function of the dump truck is, obviously, to dump. Safe loading and dumping starts with properly loading up the bed. Never fill the upper portion of the dump box when it can be at all avoided. Overloading the box can interfere with your driving and makes your truck more top-heavy, which then increases the risk of tipping and rolling. Pack your cargo low and evenly throughout the dump box, and make sure it’s tightly secured. We recommend securing a tarp across the top to ensure nothing flies out, and in fact this is required in most states.
Once you’re loaded up, you just need to worry about getting there, and then it’s time to safely dump the cargo. That’s mostly a matter of paying attention to your surroundings, and again you should rely on a spotter for guidance. Always dump on solid, level ground, never on a slope. Be wary of everything around you, especially pedestrians and other vehicles, and use hand signals or headsets to communicate with fellow workers. Double check that the dump area is completely clear before you start dumping.
Maintenance
Naturally, part of safe operation is keeping up with your vehicle’s maintenance, since it can be dangerous to you and those around you to operate a truck that requires service. Any maintenance problem can potentially become a safety hazard, so get your truck inspected regularly by a professional to catch any problems before they can get worse. Keep up with routine maintenance tasks that you can handle, like oil changes and tire pressure checks, and if a serious issue ever crops up, make sure to get it looked at as soon as possible.
We hope this guide helped you and those around you stay a little safer! If you want more tips, or if you’d like to see the dump trucks we have for sale, contact us at McCandless Truck Center. We proudly serve the people of Colorado and Wyoming—let us serve you today!