Pulling End Dumps OTR

run, run, run. lol.

 

I'd recommend a good roll-up tarp system that works with your trailer and have plenty of replacement bows. Many states of course require all loads to be "covered". When hauling gravel, make sure after load load and dump there is no loose gravel sitting on the trailer sides or rear of the trailer. DOT inspection will also cite for gravel that might be lodged between the trailer and the roll-up device (unsecured cargo and road hazard) The public, and especially cops DO NOT like to see rocks/small gravel falling off and bouncing around on the road.

Eventually YOU WILL get out of your truck to be confronted with an irate motorist wanting you to replace his windshield ... it's inevitable if you pull an end dump or belly-dump long enough. Make sure the rear door "seals well" ... cops don't even want to see leaking water.

When the temp falls below 25 degrees try to stay away from wet sand and gravel (or stay home) unless your dump facility has some warm high pressure water system to get out the last ton or so that may remain inside, frozen. I've heard some drivers spray diesel in the trailer prior to loading to prevent frozen product sticking to walls of trailer but then you end up with a "contaminated" load.

 

When the temp falls below 25 stay away from beer bottles. They freeze and are bad to get out of a trailer after all its broken glass. You will never believe what you can haul in an end dump including, pig iron, ground alternator housings, baled waste, trash from a salvage yard including soil which you take toa seperator and they clean it and you haul it back. Chicken poop, bat poop, fertilizer and grain. Lots of short haul and it does'nt pay all that great if its a 250 mi haul 1 way. Hay cubes, palletized bricks, horse feed and anything you want to put on one. Leave yourself 400 lb for fuel and leeway, don't leave a biz with 80,000 lb if you're only tagged 80. Oh yes Coal, cement, sacks and bulk. pumpkins, potatoes I can go on for quite awhile.

 

Also what type of end dump, box or barrel? The boxes are prone to tipping over if you're not setting level, when you raise the bed. I watched one lay down and body slam the tractor over. Wasn't pretty, totaled the tractor. Barrel beds are a little more forgiving, still you should make sure you're setting level before you raise that bed!!

DOT can be very pizzy with dumps. When I was working for a construction company last year, the DOT was citing for dust blowing from under the tarp. The only way to avoid it was to water down the rock just prior to leaving the quarry. Problem our guys had was there was no way to do this.

 

You need a square shovel and you may haul coal ash from coal fired power plants. the ash from a 1900 degree furnace is called roofing granules, it goes on shingles, the other is from 3200 degree furnaces and they use it in paint, 1 being Lexus primer. The first is loaded hot the other from a pond and is very light.

 

Always wipe the rear apron clean!!!!

 

All end dumps can tip over if your not level. All kinds of scrap and lots of it is moved by end dumps all over the US. Make sure you don't go over 80,000 and your axles are right, I had Right Weigh gauge on the tractor and one on the trailer. Best thing to do is load your first load and go to a truck stop scale and weigh then adjust your gauges according to your axle weights. Your going to get dirty, you will be climbing in and out of the trailer often either sweeping it out or removing your bows to load. Keep a eye on your trailer tires and make sure they are in good condition and have plenty of air in them, you don't want a low or flat tire when raising the trailer. I did it for nine months and enjoyed pulling a dump, my but puckered the first time I raised my 40ft dump in the air. Good Luck!

 

If I had a dusty load and there was no water, I'd just strap the tarp down like I do when I haul a load of hot-mix blacktop. It generally worked well.