Also known as “dump trucks”, tipper trucks are among the most commonly used machines in the construction, mining and industrial waste management industries. Built strongly enough to carry materials ranging from dirt to gravel to sand, they’re fast, efficient and cost-effective. But of course, safety is an important factor in their operation. Tipper trucks can sometimes tip in the wrong direction, and there’s an art to how to tip a tipper truck safely.
It’s more affordable to hire a tipper truck than buy one, and not every job that involves hauling materials requires a massive truck. If you have a one-off job to do or only need it for a limited time, tipper truck dry hire is a short-term arrangement that saves you money on operator fees.
Here’s a brief guide on how to tip a tipper truck so you can prioritise your safety and your staff while getting the job done properly and quickly.
Preparing the Area
You should always unload the tipper truck on firm, level ground. Avoid operating the truck on a slope or during strong winds or other weather conditions that may destabilise it. Also, ensure you’re in a place with proper drainage and steer clear of soft or waterlogged soil.
Once you know you’re in a secure and stable area, here is how to prepare the ground that you’ll be working on:
Check for obstacles
Ensure the tipping truck is clear of obstructions like power lines and trees. Keep your eye out for obstacles large and small, high and low, from power lines to low-hanging branches and logs.
Establish entry and exit points
Ensure you’ve set up unobstructed entry and exit points so you know you can get the truck in and out of the worksite.
Set up traffic control
If you’re near a road or a footpath, it’s important to have traffic control measures in place to benefit motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Provide lighting if working at night
You or a team member might have to drive the dump truck during the night shift, especially in an industry like mining. Sufficient lighting helps ensure adequate safety.
How to Tip a Tipper Truck
Once you’re on stable ground, clear of pedestrians and vehicles, and have taken all other safety precautions (including a pre-operation inspection), you’re ready to go. Here’s a brief guide to how to tip a tipper truck:
Start the engine
Give it time to warm up, and watch out for warning lights on the dashboard.
Engage the parking brake
Ensuring the truck is in a secure position first.
Engage the power take-off (PTO), if applicable
If you’re driving a dump truck with a PTO-powered tipper bed, this is the time to engage it.
Load the material
Back up the truck to the gravel, sand, soil, etc. You want to load and lock it in with the bed locking mechanism.
Secure the load
Make sure it’s evenly distributed and doesn’t exceed the load capacity.
Drive material to the desired location
Once you’re there, engage the controls and slowly raise the bed. Make sure the ground below you is clear, and follow all the aforementioned safety guidelines before you activate the bed-raising mechanism to tip the material on the ground.
As soon as you’ve tipped the material, lower the bed for safety reasons. Retract the PTO if applicable before shutting down the engine and making sure all controls are in the off position.
Safety and Operation Tips
In industries like mining and construction, the safety of you, your team and bystanders is always a crucial concern. Following simple procedures will help minimise risks so you can get the job done. Here are some top safety tips for carrying out work in a tipper truck:
Follow instructions
This one may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s a simple step that can prevent many problems. Follow the operator’s manual from the manufacturer and the instructions you’ve been given to operate the machinery, and you’re off to a better start.
Check the tipper truck’s oil, coolant, etc.
Check that you have enough oil and coolant in your tipper truck and refill if necessary, keeping an eye out for any leaks. This is an excellent time to check the tyre pressure, the brakes and all the lights and signals.
Distribute the load evenly
An important aspect of how to tip a tipper truck is loading it up and stabilising it to maintain its balance. The type of load you have, and its weight determine where you should place it to maintain balance. Placing materials in the centre of the truck bed and working your way outwards in a side-by-side motion can be effective. But sometimes, it’s better to load the material at the top end of the tray near the headboard or even towards the side. You should tie down the load and potentially cover it with tarpaulin for safety on the road.
Tip at the recommended engine speed
When tipping, unload at the RPM recommended for the hydraulic system. Exceeding the recommended RPMs leads to excess fuel use and reduces the lifespan of the hydraulic parts.
If the load doesn’t discharge, stop
If raising the tipper tray significantly doesn’t discharge the load, it’s time to stop and see if you can identify the problem.
Hire a Tipper Truck at Ryno Hire
A very important factor in the safety of a tipper truck is how often it’s serviced and maintained. When you rent a tipper truck from Ryno Hire, that’s one of the biggest benefits; you know it’s been well looked after and is in top condition.
Ryno Hire provides tipper truck hire for jobs both large and small. Our tippers range in size and payload capacity and usually require a manual driver’s licence or an Australian LR or MR driver’s licence to drive.
A family-owned business, Ryno Hire specialises in the dry hire of tipper trucks and machinery hire Brisbane wide, including bobcats, excavators, compaction, and loaders. Our machines are simple to use, easy to get the hang of and don’t require you to pay an operator to get the job done.For more information on how to tip a tipper truck or choose the right dry hire machinery, contact the Ryno Hire team.
18 December 2023
