How safe, speedy, and versatile side dump trailers bring fleets success

Stable and safe operation

While there are several ways in which side dump trailers can improve a hauling operation, Myears points to improved safety as an important benefit. The ability to avoid overhead obstacles is just a starting point for added safety when using a side dump. The ability to handle all the needed operations from within the cab means drivers are less exposed to bad weather and slippery conditions.

“You don’t get out of the truck, so there’s a safety factor that prevents drivers tripping on their steps or sliding around in inclement weather. You pull up and do everything from the driver’s seat,” Myears says.

The side dump motion improves stability and safety overall, allowing the opportunity to dump on uneven or soft ground. It can even be used to create windrows by dumping on the move.

Maintenance is also safer, and easier, than other types of haul trucks or trailers. All grease points for the trailer are accessible from ground level, including the hydraulic cylinder and dump body pivots. That reduces downtime while keeping drivers and mechanics clear of potential harm.

Another benefit of side dump trailers is the wide array of materials that can be hauled compared to traditional dump trucks or end dump trailers. Many side dumps are in use at aggregate and mining sites, where they often handle large material sizes. This makes them more capable than end dump or belly dump units, Myears says.

“With a belly dump you can only haul so large of an aggregate – it can only be so big because you’re driving over the pile, it would get stuck in the hopper, or you would pull your axles over it and damage suspension parts. If you get large or odd-shaped pieces, a lot of times they’ll get hung up in an end dump and won’t slide out. In a side dump, if you get it in there, you can dump it out.”

In B.C., many side dumps are used at mine sites to haul concentrate. The trailers work well as they can be fitted tightly with sealed tarps, keeping the valuable product dry and enclosed.

In uses such as road construction, where the old road surface is broken up and hauled away for recycling, side dump trailers can carry larger pieces of material speeding up the process. Plus, Myears notes, the truck can then haul fill dirt back to the site, windrow material for edging, and handle other tasks.

SmithCo has specific models of trailer for demolition, while land clearing operations can use side dumps effectively for hauling tree limbs and trunks in larger pieces, cutting down on labour. Municipalities use side dumps to haul sludge from wastewater treatment plants, taking advantage of their watertight nature to avoid leaks.