Construction Machine Blog

A dump truck, also called a Mack truck is a commercial truck used for carrying materials used for construction. Dump trucks normally carry loose materials like sand, gravel or soil. There are many types of dump trucks but all of them have hydraulically operated containers that are used to “dump” their contents from behind. Most rental dump trucks, however, come with drivers, so most people don’t really worry about it. However, as easy as it may sound to just dump its load, you must have proper knowledge to operate this machine aside from driving it around.

1. Driving skills – First and foremost, to be able to drive a dump truck, you must have at least the basic driving skills. You must be aware of driver’s etiquette on the road and in parking, starting up the vehicle, aware of traffic regulations in the area that you are driving and of the speed limit. You must also know all the controls that your truck will have because it will vary per type of dump truck. Remember to keep the bed down before starting to drive the dump truck to avoid dangers on the road, on other people or yourself.
2. License – Like all vehicles, you must also have a license to drive a dump truck. Specifically, you must have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). This can be acquired through applying at your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) who would process your acquiring of such a license. If you have not undergone any test for your license yet, prepare for necessary medical tests and other forms they may ask you to fill out.
3. Types – You must also be aware of the different types of trucks that are being used. Dump trucks have various types of equipment to support different types of loads. Larger dump trucks have the capacity to carry large amounts from place to place. These are often used as freightliner trucks to deliver various materials requested by clients. Articulated dump trucks are dump trucks which have a hinge between the cab and the dump bed. These permanent hinges are what differentiate articulated dump trucks from transfer dump trucks, whose dump boxes can be removed from the cab itself.
4. Equipment – You have to be aware of your truck equipment before you start driving. There are variations in the placing of the controls themselves. In most trucks, the handlebar that controls the hydraulics for the bed is found near the bed itself and not in the driver cab. Most other controls in the dump truck are what you find in normal trucks and other vehicles. There might be other switches or levers you have to be aware of, so make sure you acquaint yourself with them before starting to use a dump truck.
5. Education – The National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools in the United States is a professional association of Heavy Equipment training schools. To be able to drive a dump truck, you need to be certified with a Class-A CDL (Commercial Driver’s License). Associated Training Services, the oldest training school in the United States, offers 3-week short term courses in how to drive and operate a dump truck.

A person with a Class A CDL may get a job in one of the many construction companies. An operator normally gets $15 – 20 an hour. Class A certified drivers, however, can get as much as $30 per hour. Most jobs, however, also require the driver to be able to maintain the truck as well.

Excavators Loaders can be of two types: 1- Backhoe Loaders, and 2- Wheel Loaders.

Backhoe: A backhoe, also called a rear actor or back actor, is a piece of excavating equipment consisting of a digging bucket on the end of an articulated arm (also called a stick or dipper). Modern backhoes are powered by hydraulics. They are typically mounted on the back of a tractor or front loader. (Similar attachments for skid loaders are still called backhoes even though they are mounted on the front of the vehicle). A backhoe attached to a swiveling cab on top of tracks is called an excavator.

Backhoe Loader: Backhoe loader, also called a Loader backhoe, is an engineering vehicle, which consists of a tractor, front shovel\bucket and small backhoe in the rear. Due to its relatively small size and versatility, backhoe loaders are very common in urban engineering and small construction projects such as building a small house, fixing city roads etc.

A common backhoe-loader. The backhoe is on the right, the bucket/blade on the left. Invented in Burlington, Iowa in 1957 the Backhoe loader (note: this needs checking – may have been invented in the UK by Joseph Cyril Bamford, founder of JCB) is probably the most common variation of the classic farm tractor. As the name implies, it has a loader assembly on the front and a backhoe on the back. When both the loader and the backhoe are permanently attached it is almost never called a tractor, not generally used for towing and usually does not have a PTO. When the backhoe is permanently attached, the machine usually has a seat that can swivel to the rear to face the hoe controls. Removable backhoe attachments almost always have a separate seat on the attachment itself.

Their relatively small frame and precise control make backhoe-loaders very useful and common in urban engineering projects such as construction and repairs in areas too small for larger equipment. Their versatility and compact size makes them one of the most popular urban construction vehicles.

WHEEL LOADERS: Wheel Loader is a Front end loading machine. Wheel loader dig and as well as do secondary loading. Wheel loaders which do only secondary loading are called Pay Loaders.The Wheel loaders are classified according to there bucket size and operating weight. The bucket size ranges from 1 cum upwards. The Wheel loaders can be tyre mounted or track mounted. The more popular version being tyres.

A Wheel loader typically has semiautomatic or autometic transmition with autometic gear sifting. The power train will include engine, transmition, related propellar shaftes and powered axles at both front and rear.A typical hydrolic curcuit for implimentation will include fixed/variable displacement pumps, controll valves, and actuators for boom, arm and bucket operation. Normally the steering curcuit is kept separate from the impliment curcuit.