Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/452309
27 AGGREGATES MANAGER February 2015 P eople love the adage "less is more." But sometimes "more is more" is just as true. The team that scores the most points wins. A car with more horsepower is faster. In the aggregates industry, "more is more" is a universal concept. Savvy quarry manag- ers know that if they can haul more and make more passes without maintenance, they can put more money towards their bottom line. Even though that's widely understood, some companies still lose profi ts every day because of one missing component — a tailgate. To tailgate or not to tailgate Most trucks come standard without a tailgate. While it might seem like a small feature, not having a tailgate often results in loads that are typically 10 to 15 percent below rat- ed capacity. Though not intentional, loading a unit without a tailgate may result in less material on the truck to prevent the inher- ent spillage out the back and over the side. Sacrifi cing 15 percent per load each trip is simply not acceptable in most operations. It costs relatively the same amount of money in labor, fuel, and wear on a truck to haul a half-full load as it does a load fi lled to capacity. By allowing for volume increases to meet the truck's rated capacity, tailgates quickly and easily boost an operation's prof- itability. For example, a 70-ton-capacity truck with a tailgate hauls nearly 11 more tons per load than a 70-ton truck without a tailgate. If a fl eet of six trucks adds 11 tons to each of its respective 12 loads per day, an addi- tional 792 tons is hauled daily. That equates to nearly $7,049 in profi ts if hauling aggre- gates at an average of $8.90 per ton. It's like adding another truck to the fl eet without the increase in fuel, maintenance, or labor. And capacity is only part of the equation. Tailgates not only allow for maximum payload, but also provide the loader-operator a better, larger loading target, which enhances speed and effi ciency while reducing wear and stress Adding a tailgate to your haul truck can boost capacity, protect tires, and lower maintenance costs. by Josh Swank Bump Your Payload The large tires found on off-highway haul trucks are not cheap to repair or replace after damage occurs. Adding a tailgate can reduce that expense and downtime.