Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/619545
AGGREGATES MANAGER / January 2016 37 EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT driving over rock spillage. A rock the size of a fist causes the most damage to equipment tires. • Start-of-shift operator inspections should include inspection of the tires and weekly pressure checks. Haul road maintenance is anoth- er critical aspect of an operation's tire management program. Regular clearing of debris from haul roads is a must for tire protection. Haul roads should be designed the width of three haul trucks. Narrow haul roads cause drivers to ride on or very close to the berm and can result in cuts and tire damage. A 'drive on the left' traffic pattern can minimize driving on the berm as the driver is better able to see the edge of the haul road. Consider also that mismanagement of the haul roads can result in decreased production as trucks will slow down to minimize fatigue when roads are in poor condition. Rock slots are another best practice in maintaining haul roads. When a motor grader is in the process of clearing rocks from the haul road, it frequently just pushes the rocks up against the berms. This results in two situations; the berm gets larger and the haul road gets nar- rower and/or rocks are still in the driving path of the trucks. The next aspect of great tire man- agement programs is to consider the effect equipment modifications have on the tires. The air inside a tire is the single most important part of the tire. It is the air that carries the load of the vehicle and its payload. The tire itself is the vessel that holds the air. Tires are designed to carry the quoted payloads and gross vehicle weight of the machine. Haul truck modifications such as the addition of sideboards to increase the payload or the addition of fuel tanks so trucks can run longer without stopping are great for increasing production, but at what cost? The addition of these items can increase the gross vehicle weight by thousands of pounds. Dealers make tire recommenda- tions based upon published gross vehicle weights and payloads. Savvy dealers will ask questions of the operations or main- tenance managers prior to making tire recommendations, but, ultimately, it is the responsibility of the operation to in- form dealers of equipment modifications to avoid premature tire removal resulting from overloading. To wrap up this discussion, consider that some damaged OTR tires can be repaired, so keep a scrap pile of slightly worn and repaired tires on hand. While these tires may not be suitable for your heaviest loads, you may be able to get a little more life by rotating them to the front of haul trucks or the rear of loaders. Remember the best recommendation is to be proactive and prevent early or unex- pected tire removal and keep production rolling! AM Article courtesy of BKT Tires, Inc. Connect Find us: Aggregates Manager Magazine Like /AggregatesManager Follow @AggregatesMgr Subscribe /AggregatesManager Experience: Retired November 2011 following 41 years with the U.S. Geological Survey Services Offered: Applied geology and geological research for construction rocks and minerals, with an emphasis on aggregates. Contact me at: Bill-Langer@researchgeologist.com www.researchgeologist.com • Resource evaluation • Expert testimony • Technical writing and review • Lecturer • USGS Aggregate Resource Geologist 1977-2011 • Past Chair and Distinguished Service Award recipient, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Industrial Minerals and Aggregates Division • Author of ASBPE award-winning columns - Carved In Stone, Aggregates Manager, 1998-Present BillLanger_AGRM0115.indd 1 12/16/14 1:21 PM