Now It Ain't Funny

When I was in construction it wasn't uncommon to see one of those peeling out of the jobsite while the dump body is still lowering. The dump drivers paid by the load drive like complete nutjobs.

 

You can do 70 mph with the bed up,
But if he sits at a stoplight more than 5 minutes
The truck shuts off to save fuel.

 

A friend of mine was running a dump truck for Ciconne paving on Rt 512 in Bath PA in 1984. Left the batch plant after dumping for the umpteenth load that day, back to the quarry. Dropped the dump body back down, drove north, not realizing the PTO was still engaged and lever still in up position. Got 1/4 mile down the road, struck an out of service RR overpass, it came down and squashed him like a bug in the cab. He died instantly. The dump truck business is very repetitive, mind numbing at times, just like OTR. And frequently the controls as installed by the body company are Mickey Mouse at best, no clear indication or feel what is and is not engaged.
Very experienced driver, many years experience, very conscientious, excellent safety record.
Of course it was his fault. But every single one of us have had a close call where we didn't pay attention for a second and almost killed someone or ourselves. It is the nature of the beast.
By the way, his wife sued ConRail for leaving an abandoned unmaintained structure in place. she prevailed in court.

 

My thought is the pick up driver dindt have time and was driving too close. If they had hung back they wouldnt be dead now. Yet 4 wheelers dont have to think about their driving as we whom drive commercially. We have to think as we go down the road of "if this is dangerous should we be so close to danger"

 

Voice of experience?

You do make a valid point concerning a different feel with the body in the air. I’ve never done it fortunately.

I’ve been told that where I used to live (NY) that a warning device is required on dump equipment and the boys will check for it.

But alas, head phones, ear buds, head up where the sun don’t shine, would today’s “drivers” even hear a beeper or see a light?

 

I would think the wind drag alone would make me wonder what the hell was going on.

 

The devolopement company that has been building a bunch of warehouses on a tract of land next to the warehouse I’m in just finished there last big million square footer right outside our docks. The dump contractor co trucks were coming in and out so fast. As soon as they cleared the street curb into the site they would start lifting and hammer down in reverse to get the body up quick then they would hammer down forward and slam it down hard “Bang!” and burn rubber out of the location. Then repeat with a different truck.
Seemed like the smaller independent guys with the tore up looking ex fleet trucks were actually taking things a little more easy.
Proof that the faster you go the faster that pto will move that body.

 

Oh boy this looks like fun.

 

There is an overpass on I 10 that at least 2 dumps have hit squishing both drivers. Its way over 13'6 but not high enough for a raised bed dump. What is the height of a dump with the bed raised?

 

Some frameless end dumps can reach 30 ft.