Dump Truck recommendations as an Owner Operator.

I have no experience with either automatic or automated. As long as one can run the pto and maintain consistent speeds while spreading they should work well.

 

Everything here is up/down, sharp turns, off asphalt, 45mph is hauling ###. Ten million shifts a day. Automated/automatic would be great. We'll see how the new rig does with the AS2, should be a good test pulling the 110k plant around and a quad side dump.

Aluminum boxes wouldn't last long here hauling basalt, AR lined steel boxes get beat up fast hauling rip-rap and base.

 

First of all they're going to want you to add them on to your insurance policy. Here in Northern California generally it's a million dollars. They're going to want to see that you're part of a consortium for drug testing. If they do a lot of public projects they want to see your DIR number. Carb compliance. Some companies will require to see your bit inspection program. And other than that you pretty much just call them everyday around noon to find out if they're dispatching you the next day unless you get lucky with a long-term job

 

The only aluminum anything around here are some belly dumps they use for hauling sugar beets and some aggregate, and maybe the occasional aluminum dump trailer for hauling potato waste or compost.

 

NOT TRUE. If you've ever done trench paving on a mountain or one of those streets out in the bay clutching becomes a massive liability. Automatic is the only way to go for paving grinding etc

 

Dump trucks are actually exempt here from having a CDL and medical card, as long as you are just hauling exempt commodities like dirt or pit run. As soon as you haul something that has been crushed that goes out the door (I think).

 

Processed rock isn't an exempt commodity, which surprised some here. Being so close to the borders with so much work going on the next couple of years- "you've got authority??? We need to talk..."

 

There's a beautiful 900L 8 axle truck/pup shiny black and chromed out with polished aluminum boxes running around the area here, the only thing that's ever in the boxes is asphalt. Probably sits in a heated shop 300 days of the year.