When building a trash truck that meets your needs and the needs of the job, there are several elements to take into consideration.
Curtis Dorwart
There are many types of garbage trucks — or “refuse” trucks as we call them — available today, but regardless of what they are called, they are very purpose-focused pieces of machinery that perform incredible tasks every single day. Cities, suburbs and all locations rely on refuse trucks day in and day out in a never-ending battle to maintain public sanitation. In order to get the trash picked up, the industry uses a wide variety of different configurations, including the rear loader, the front-end loader and the side loader, which are the main types of refuse trucks. Within each of these configurations, there are many different variations and customizations that can be made to tailor the truck and body to meet the varying needs of customers and the job at hand. The type of routes the truck must collect on, the weight limitations, productivity goals, truck life cycle and even fuel type play a considerable role in what to consider when building a truck.
Environmental Factors
Refuse trucks are engineered to be well-suited for the environments in which each respective customer works. However, there are some extreme conditions that must be considered and managed primarily at the local level. High temperatures will put a burden on the air-conditioning system of the cab, so a well-performing climate system or a supplemental unit may be necessary. Rolling or hilly terrain will drive changes in horsepower and gearing so that adequate “startability” on grade can be achieved. The productivity on the route also needs to be considered, and let’s not forget what the truck will be doing. A truck that goes in and out of a landfill will have different needs than a truck that only rides on city streets to the transfer station. And these are just some of the things that can drive changes in horsepower, rear axles, frames, transmissions, and cab systems.
State and Federal Regulations
Remember, what works well in one state may not work so well in another. This is where details are extremely important. Every owner needs to take into consideration what the laws are in their state. For national operators, this means an annual re-evaluation of what they are specifying and how they conduct business. A truck can be perfectly “dialed in” for a particular state, route and location, but the configuration may not work so well if that very same truck is relocated to a different location even if it is within the same state. Take for instance a fully automated side loading truck. It will perform great in a suburban environment with customers well acquainted with placing their carts in the proper way on the curb. The same truck placed in New York City would not be able to finish the route with the same efficiency as a rear-loading unit.
Truck Features
Chassis
A good sturdy frame system has the ability to take the total load with some reserve built in is ideal. Once a frame system starts to give you problems, it is rough going from that point on. Think of the frame as the “backbone” of the truck. I think we all know that a bad back causes all sorts of problems. On the other hand, if knowing what the truck is going to be doing (type of truck), where it will be working (state, location, terrain, etc.), the frame can be optimized for the task. For example, an option may be to eliminate the inner channel reinforcement, offering a big weight (think payload) advantage compared with an otherwise same spec truck.
Inside the Cab
If the operator is not reasonably comfortable, all bets are off. The person behind the wheel can make or break the route, the truck or the reputation of the company. The ease of getting in and out of the truck, the forward and side visibility, the ease of accessing controls, the ability to store equipment, good power and productivity are just a few considerations when spec’ing a cab. Give these guys a big hand for doing what they do.
Body durability
Each body manufacturers has strengths, and they are quite ‘high tech” these days with sophisticated electronics and control systems. Choose your body company wisely for a good balance of serviceability, weight, payload and after sales support is imperative.
Engines
One of the first things to consider is what type of fuel you will use. A few years back it was a “no brainer.” It was diesel. Today, however, there is a very viable natural gas alternative. This can be either CNG or LNG. The natural gas option will add some additional costs and complications to the decision, so the switch to gas is not to be taken lightly. Many operators are thunderstruck by the comparative pricing between diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) and the price of a gallon of diesel fuel; however, be aware that there are other costs, sometimes hidden or “soft” when it comes down to how the trucks will be fueled, maintained, range, and how the fire marshal works into things. The capabilities of the service area in the shop may need some changes in the heating and ventilation systems just as an example. The bottom line is that it is critical that all factors are contemplated well before a significant investment is made.
Ensuring Versatility
Versatility can be added or enhanced by including an automated “can” to a front-loading truck. The automated can will provide some of the features of an automated side loading truck for a lesser price and improved visibility. An automated can is a great way to start a route toward a fully automated route as well. The operator can very easily exit the truck and pick up loose items or position carts for pick up.
Getting the Most Out of Your Truck
At the end of the day it comes down to getting the most out of each piece of equipment. Proper review of the goals and route constraints, location and the productivity targets all will help drive the right specs. A lighter weight option will potentially increase payload, but may not work as well if the truck needs to go in and out of a landfill. Match the body with the routes. Don’t forget performance enhancers like automated cans and camera systems. Involve the truck and body manufacturers in your decisions. They both have a wealth of knowledge and can help maximize the productivity and uptime and will help yield a good result every time.
Curtis Dorwart is the Vocational Marketing Product Manager for Mack Trucks, Inc. Greensboro, N.C., and is responsible for the commercialization of the Mack Granite, TerraPro, and Titan by Mack truck models. He has been in the trucking industry for over 30 years, starting in the business as a diesel truck mechanic. He has been active in many aspects of the business, including service, warranty, customer support, dealer technical support, and he has been a senior staff engineer in electrical engineering and an engineering manager where he filled the role of lead engineer for projects that implemented the Mack MP7 series engine, V-MAC IV electronics and new cab and interior projects for Mack Granite and Pinnacle truck models. In recent years he has been Product Manager in product planning for the Mack TerraPro low cab forward models with a key focus on the refuse industry and the emerging areas surrounding alternative fuels. Curtis can be reached at (336) 291-9147.