Improve off-highway haul truck efficiency

By |  April 2, 2018

For off-highway hauling, the right truck body can greatly boost efficiency and profits for your operation.

Photo courtesy of Ironclad Marketing

Photos courtesy of Ironclad Marketing

Volumetric capacity, weight distribution and the type of materials being hauled can limit the productivity of many standard OEM truck bodies. To get the most out of your fleet, consider these options:

Add a tailgate.

While it may seem like a small feature, not having a tailgate typically results in loads that are 10 to 15 percent below rated capacity.

By increasing haul volumes to meet a truck’s rated capacity, tailgates can quickly and easily boost an operation’s profitability. For example, a 100-ton-capacity truck with a tailgate hauls nearly 15 more tons per load than a 100-ton truck without a tailgate. If a fleet of eight trucks adds 15 tons to each of its respective 10 loads per day, an additional 1,200 tons of material moves daily.

Consider rear-eject bodies.

Photo courtesy of Ironclad Marketing

Quarry managers use tailgates to increase load volume and job site productivity.

Rear-eject bodies can improve off-loading efficiency by pushing materials out with a blade while leaving the truck bed down.

By eliminating the need to raise the body, the truck can safely dump materials while in motion and in the presence of overhead barriers. This versatility increases efficiency without reducing stability by providing a lower center of gravity, and allowing dumping on downhill slopes and conditions with a soft footing.

Look for 450 Brinell steel.

To ensure durability and extend the service life of both the truck and body, consider opting for reinforced bodies made with 450 Brinell Hardness Number steel.

Due to the steel’s hardness, abrasion resistance and lack of ductility in both warm and ultra-cold climates, it can increase the life of a truck body by 25 to 30 percent. For added reinforcement, look for bodies with floor bolsters that run from side to side under the body’s floor, as well as load distribution cones around the “sweet spot” of the center floor section. The added strength from this floor support structure allows for maximum payload capacity by supporting the full weight of materials while not stressing the truck’s chassis.

By boosting haul truck efficiency and extending the service life of off-highway equipment, operations can increase revenue in the short term, as well as over the life of each truck.


Josh Swank is vice president of sales and marketing at Philippi-Hagenbuch Inc.

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