Rigid Bodies   Hardox 7

There are many skills required in order to become a professional Heavy Vehicle operator.

When you have been one for a long time, you become so familiar with the way your vehicle handles, it’s like an extension of your own body. Which is why understanding your truck’s limits is extremely important. One of the most important limitations is that of your payload. It’s more than just taking into account your vehicles abilities, it’s also about safety for you and others on the road.

Below we’ve collated a few points to consider when making sure your vehicle, and its load, are at their safest.

Maximum widths

The maximum width limit for all vehicles is 2.5 metres. When you measure the width do not include external rear vision mirrors, signalling devices and tyre pressure monitors.

The right vehicle

To carry a load safely you must make sure the size of the load space and the condition of the platform are suitable for the job you want to do.

Vehicles carrying:

  • Long loads should be long enough to avoid excessive overhang and ensure good weight distribution for vehicle stability; and
  • Liquids and loose bulk material must be designed to completely contain the load and to minimise the effect of load movement.

To carry a load safely you must make sure the size of the load space and the condition of the platform are suitable for the job you want to do.

Contained loads

Tipper bodies are best to contain loose loads such as bush rock, sand, gravel etc. The most suitable vehicles for these loads have solid sides and tailgates such as tippers. The solid sides prevent the load from spilling. Sheets or tarpaulins should be used to cover loose loads to prevent them from being blown out of the truck. Liquid loads or ‘fine powder loads’ such as cement powder, flour etc are best contained in tankers.

Heavy loads

A long, heavy load can also make your vehicle difficult to handle. You can overcome this by using the right vehicle for the job. An incorrectly loaded heavy load can take weight from the front wheels and make steering difficult. On rough roads, the truck may pivot on its rear wheels, lifting the front wheels entirely off the road.

High loads

With high loads or those with a high centre of gravity you need to be extra cautious with cornering to prevent potential tip overs. To reduce the chance of a tip over, high loads should be carried on vehicles with a low platform whenever possible, such as a drop frame trailer or low loader. The overall height of a loaded vehicle must be checked to make sure that it clears any overhead bridge or other obstruction on your route. It must not exceed 4.3 metres in height unless you have a special permit.

Payload limitations, and the way they are managed, are a huge safety concern. The better a load is managed, the less risk they pose to the driver and other motorists.

Borcat can custom manufacture a trailer to suit your individual requirements; whether that be hauling grain, feed, sand, building debris or mining rubble. All Borcat trailers and tippers are built with your safety at the forefront of our designs.

If you are looking at expanding your fleet or looking to upgrade contact us on 02 9631 9594, or send us an online enquiry here, and one of our consultants will be in contact as soon as possible.