Loading Wheel Loaders: Tips For Safety and Efficiency

In Australia, you’ll see many enormous vehicles and giant dump trucks being used by companies to haul their ore and materials off of the mining site. Metal ore and other minerals can be extremely heavy, weighing up to over 450,000 kilograms for a full load. Since smaller trucks might take weeks or even months transporting a full extraction, the biggest trucks in the world are often used to expedite the whole process. Here’s more information on the largest trucks available in the industry:

Why Mining Trucks Have to Be Massive

If you’ve ever seen a mine site, you’ve seen the dips, the terrain, and the conditions people operate in every day. Australia has an incredibly demanding terrain, which requires trucks with large tyres and extremely powerful engines. The general rule of thumb is that a larger vehicle requires an equal or larger motor powering it to ensure that its entire chassis gets hauled effectively. If you’ve ever tried driving a heavy and underpowered car up an uphill slope, you’ll know its difficulties and challenges.

Manufacturing Measurements of Industrial Trucks and Vehicles

These large trucks are often built with monster sizes to be effective in mine sites. They won’t be any good on the road because of how large they are, making them dangerous for those driving around them. However, they are given the right measurements for practical use. Here are some measurements used by truck manufacturers:

1. Height: The total measurement from the ground to the highest point. The truck’s bed must be level.
2. Length: The total span from the front to the rear while the bed is level.
3. Payload: Refers to the maximum carrying capacity of the truck.
4. Gross Vehicle Weight: The total weight combined with the payload maxed out.
5. Engine: Measured using horsepower.

These measurements allow manufacturers to produce some of the largest vehicles that operators can use effectively and efficiently while mining and transporting materials.

The Terex MT 6300AC

The Terex MT 6300AC was dubbed the largest available industrial truck. It might not be the size of a crane for skyscraper construction, but it puts even the largest trucks in its shade on the job site. It was introduced in 2008 and showed the mining industry how big a hauling vehicle could get, which created more options for hauling heavy ore and coal. Since Australia’s mining industry just increased over the years and continues to be powerful, it can haul over 400,000 kilograms on top of its own weight. It first saw use in Canada’s oil fields for tar sands but has since seen use in Australia for the booming industry.

It might be a truck that costs over $4 million, but it has plenty of features that can make it usable in various situations. Canadians use the heated bed to transport tar sands without them freezing and sticking to the metals. It can also allow easy transport from the mines to the processing centres nearby in one pass, making it more fuel-efficient than running tons of trucks in and out daily.

Conclusion

Heavy-duty trucks are essential in Australia’s job sites, as they can haul both waste products and ores in and out effortlessly. Compared to your usual consumer-level ute, it pays to invest in the large trucks for your mining operations, as these can further expedite the level of productivity and success.

KEE Transport offers top-tier options for Australia’s industrial sphere, whether for construction, mining, or other urban development projects. We believe that machinery is the key to success in the industry, so we offer the best options in the Australian market. Contact us today for truck hires in Perth and learn more about our services.

Our clients regularly need the help of low loaders and operators in Perth to carry and transport their cargo. This requires specialised equipment, knowledgeable operators, and wide-load vehicles.

Throughout the transportation, our prime movers and low loader trailers will need to be regularly inspected. One of the most important parts of the vehicle to check is the tyres. The tyres are constantly and thoroughly looked over for wear and tear for long-distance loads and will be immediately replaced when needed.

Our drivers inspect their tyres every single time before using their trucks and trailers to ensure they’re in optimum condition. That way, they’ll immediately know if they’ve got tyre punctures or other problems that could make it dangerous for them to manoeuvre their low loaders.

If you’re a driver, or you’ve ever thought about becoming an operator, here are a few tips that our professional team take into consideration daily:

Inspecting Tyre Treads

A low loader’s tyres have treads that provide the grip and traction needed to make sure your truck stays on track and doesn’t slip or slide when on the move. If you spot uneven wear patterns on your tyres, that’s a good sign they’re due for replacement. Generally speaking, you must replace your tyres when the tread is worn to 2/32 of an inch.

Fortunately, tyres have tread wear indicators that help notify drivers when it’s time to replace them. They look like raised bumps that are spaced at the bottom of the tread grooves. When you spot these indicators on the outside of the tread, that means it’s due for a replacement.

Looking Out for Punctures, Cracks, and Foreign Objects

For your tyres to function correctly and safely, they must be completely intact. If it’s riddled with cracks, punctures, or even foreign objects, it will allow air to escape from the tyre, which could result in a blowout. If you see any foreign objects wedged into your tyre tread, remove them right away to avoid more damage. If you observe a minor crack in your tyre or you know that it’s punctured, you might be able to plug the hole and patch the area surrounding the hole until you can get to a safe location for replacement. However, if your tyre’s sidewall is punctured, you’ll have to immediately replace it. Make sure to entrust this job to a professional.

The Valve Stem

Apart from cracks and punctures, you’ll also need to survey your valve stem for cracks. The valve stem is necessary for inflating the tyre, so if it has cracks, then the tyre cannot be adequately inflated, necessitating a replacement.

The Tyres’ Age

Your tyres’ age is also a significant factor in whether or not they’re due for a replacement. Tyre manufacturers have different service lives on certain tyres, but a low loader tyre’s average life is around five years under everyday use and maintenance conditions. You should start considering tyre replacement after three years, even when the tyres still have sufficient tread depth.

It’s also important to know the causes of trailer tyre damage so you can help avoid them and extend the tyre’s life. These causes include improper tyre pressure, driving with excessive speed, improper loading, infrequent use of the low loader, axle issues, and too much exposure to moisture, sunlight, and extreme temperatures.

Conclusion

Looking after your tyres on the road is essential when transporting equipment, as it will make sure you get safely to your destination. By being aware of the signs of tyre damage like cracks and punctures and knowing when to replace them, you’ll ensure not only your safety but ensure the safety of your cargo as well.

KEE Group is a collaboration of KEE Hire, KEE Surfacing, KEE Transport, and KEE Fuel. We have low loader operators who specialise in transporting heavy-plant hire equipment, providing uninterrupted logistical support for our clients. If you’re looking for dump truck hire or excavator hire in Perth, we’re the ones to call. Contact us today to learn more!

Transporting heavy machinery and equipment is an incredibly complicated job that requires laser-sharp focus, sharpened skills, and years of experience. Whether it’s the most essential aspect of acquiring transport vehicles or dismantling and reassembling equipment, you’ll need a seasoned professional who knows the proper way to complete these processes. Leaving it in an amateur’s hands may lead to expensive problems that can compromise the whole operation.

While getting equipment from one point to another sounds simple enough, the equation changes when you’re handling large machinery. You’ll have to make sure that you have everything you need to guarantee the safe transport and arrival of your machinery or vehicles, as moving involves a lot of logistical challenges. Here are five aspects to watch out for when transporting heavy machinery:

Using The Right Binders and Tensioners

A crucial part of transporting your heavy equipment or machinery safely is investing in the right tie downs. It will protect your cargo and absorb shocks that often come with navigating roads, such as road bumps, rough weather, and other aspects. Moisture can also damage your equipment, so it’s imperative (if needed) to choose the right covers that will not only safeguard your items from damage and scratches but also rust and dampness.

Dismantle and Reassembly

Some equipment must be taken apart before it can be transported to its final destination, as carrying it whole may be too unwieldy while risking damage. However, it’s also essential to ensure that they can be reassembled upon arrival. This process requires in-depth, extensive knowledge and skill, and manoeuvering to get advanced equipment, so it’s crucial to entrust this task to professionals. Any mistake can wreck your cargo and require costly repairs or replacements. Ensure that you hire a specialist to guarantee your equipment’s safety from point A to point B.

Proper Vehicle Management

Carrying heavy machinery and equipment across long roads means that the operators may encounter many challenges, requiring them to be incredibly skilled and precise. They must manoeuver all roads, avoid hazards such as potholes and hairpin turns, and ensure that the equipment stays safe and secure in the prime mover. You’ll want only the best for your cargo, so it’s important to entrust it to haulage solutions that are renowned for their proper vehicle handling and management, as it will safeguard your sensitive equipment.

Access to Specialty Equipment

It won’t be possible to transport your machinery using regular private vehicles, which means you’ll need access to specialist moving equipment that are specifically designed to transport heavy loads safely and securely. With the proper tools, you can rest assured that your cargo will make it to its destination in perfect condition. Be sure to work with a contractor specialising in heavy machinery transportation and have the most modern and up-to-date equipment available.

The Different Moving Vehicle Types

There are many moving vehicles available, making finding the right one to transport your cargo a challenge. You’ll also need to find drivers who can manoeuver these vehicles with skill and expertise. For instance, KEE Transport has a team of expert operators and a fleet of dollys, low loaders, and prime movers, which we will select according to your needs. Our models include the Freightmore Transport 3 x 4 Drop Deck, the 2020 Mack Superliner Prime Mover (130t), Kenworth Prime Movers (130t), Drake 2 x 8 dollies (100T) , and Volvo FH16 700 Prime Movers (131t)

Conclusion

Keeping these aspects in mind is crucial when transporting heavy equipment or machinery across long distances, as you’ll want to guarantee their safe arrival. By considering each of these factors, you’ll enjoy smooth and stress-free transportation of your precious cargo.

For all your heavy equipment transportation and advanced equipment needs, be sure to contact us at KEE Transport! We transport heavy plant machinery to sites around WA, but we also service Australia. Our operators are highly-skilled and well-trained, which means we can take care of hauling your expensive assets safely to their destination. Contact us today to find out how we can help!