Wouldn’t it be great if there were some easy ways to increase profitability without spending any money? Good news – there is! Garry Moore, Rokbak Customer Support Manager APAC, EMEA & UK, shares some easy changes you can make that will help to drive profits up.
1) Make sure daily checks are completed and service schedules are being adhered to
Daily checks are critical to prolonging component life and avoiding breakdowns. Operators should perform pre-start inspections such as checking tyres, hydraulic lines, cables, lights and fluid levels daily. This allows any minor issues to be dealt with before they escalate. For example, insufficient fluid in the hydraulic tank could cause a serious problem, and not checking your tyre condition and pressures could lead to a blowout. These are both examples of where performing daily checks will save you time and money. Site managers should ensure operators have time to do this task and provide them with a checklist that requires sign-off to record that it has been completed.
As well as undertaking daily checks, it’s important to conduct regular machine inspections to look for any early visible fatigue or wear issues. You should also follow service schedules. Some components need to be checked every 250 hours, others every 500, 1,000 or 2000. Correct maintenance will ensure you get the best productivity and results from your articulated hauler.
2) Load the truck correctly
The truck should be loaded and unloaded on relatively firm, flat ground, and the material should be evenly distributed in the body to avoid spillage and the risk of the truck tipping over. It’s important not to exceed your truck’s payload capacity. Doing this adds stress, which will go into the frame, axles and tyres. It will increase the amount of money you spend on maintenance as well as your risk of downtime.
If you have an onboard weighing (OBW) system, which is optional on the Rokbak RA30 and RA40, make sure it’s working correctly and that both the ADT and excavator or wheel loader operator loading the truck are familiar with the system. With Rokbak’s Haul Track telematics system connecting to the Rokbak OBW system, any underloading or overloading can be easily identified. This combination of technology offers huge potential to monitor production management and costs for higher efficiency.
3) Maintain your haul roads
If you don’t properly maintain your haul roads, your articulated dump truck could potentially get stuck in a rut, or you could damage the drivetrain. Haul routes should be walked when it’s safe to do so and inspected regularly, and operators should raise any poorly maintained sections with management.
4) Avoid excessive speed and harsh braking
Excessive speed and harsh braking not only increase fuel consumption, which adds to your operating costs, but also cause unnecessary wear on the braking and driving components. When going down a gradient, you should use the hauler’s retarder systems to ensure smooth braking. Operators should be trained on how and when to use the different retarders in combination, such as the engine and transmission retarder, to reduce wear on the braking components.
Site managers and machine owners can check Rokbak’s Haul Track telematics system daily to ensure there is no excessive speeding or harsh braking.
5) Ensure good communication and visibility on site
Good communication is essential to site efficiency. The hauler and loading tool operators, as well as the ground staff, should be communicating via radio. This will help the operators be in the right place at the right time, avoid congestion and reduce wait times.
Maintaining optimal visibility will ensure high levels of safety and productivity. This means ensuring mirrors are clean, in good condition and correctly adjusted. Rear-view cameras must also be clean, with reverse alarms operational. Headlamps and beacons should also be clean and operational.
