Work Hard with Articulated Truck Operating Tips

DURING OPERATION

1. Check all around the truck before shifting into gear and taking off. 

2. Make sure any passenger sits in the training seat and fastens their seat belt.

3. Be especially alert for workers on the ground and near the vehicle. They can often be hard to see given the height of the cab.  

4. Always obey posted speed limit signs on haul roads.

5. Obey all traffic direction signs. 

6. Familiarize yourself with the truck’s brake and retarder control systems for safety on downgrades.

7. Maintain as much space as possible around other machines or structures. 

8. Stay away from the edge of cliffs, overhangs and slide areas.

9. If the machine begins to sideslip downward on a grade, turn the machine downhill. 

10. Avoid any conditions that can lead to tipping the machine. The machine can tip when you work on hills, on banks and on slopes. Also, the machine can tip when you cross ditches, ridges or other obstacles.

11. Do not load the machine beyond the machine capacity. 

12. Stay in the cab while the machine is being loaded.

13. Travel with the dump body lowered to the frame. 

14. Before operating a machine up a grade, select the gear that will give you full control under all conditions.

15. Know the maximum dimensions of your machine. 

16. Inspect tires periodically during your shift. Allow tires to cool before going near them.

17. Never coast with the transmission in neutral.

SLOPE OPERATION 

Slope operation is particularly dangerous for articulated trucks. Avoid operating across a slope, and instead operate up and down slopes. At higher speeds, inertia tends to make the machine less stable. Rough terrain can also make the machine less stable. 

More articulated truck operating tips for slopes: 

1. Always orient the heaviest end of the machine uphill when you are working on an incline. 

2. Check machine balance as it can be impeded by any equipment mounted on it, such as weights and counterweights. 

3. Be alert for ground that has been newly filled with earth. It could collapse from the weight of the machine. 

4. Rocks and wet or muddy surfaces can drastically affect the machine's traction and stability. Traction control and stability assist technologies will help combat these effects, but still operate as carefully as possible. 

5. Avoid excessive loads that can cause slippage on downhill tracks. 

6. Note that tires can dig into the ground when going downhill, which will increase the angle of the machine.

STOPPING AND PARKING THE TRUCK

When it’s time to stop and park the truck, never immediately cut off the engine. Stopping the engine immediately after hauling a heavy load can cause overheating and accelerated wear of engine components. Instead, allow the engine to run for five minutes before shutting down. 

Also:

1. Allow hot areas of the engine to cool gradually. 

2. If the “regen active” indicator is illuminated, do not shut off the engine. Refer to the monitoring system section in your Operation and Maintenance Manual for more information.

3. Always park the machine on a level surface.  

4. If you must park on a grade, chock the machine wheels.

5. Apply service brakes to stop the machine.  

6. Move the transmission control to the (P) position to engage the parking brake.

7. Disengage the service brakes and make sure the machine holds in place. 

8. Always lower the dump body to the frame.

Following these tips, and always erring to the side of caution while operating, can keep you safe and productive behind the wheel of your Cat articulated truck. 

Explore more articulated trucks technologies and features on our page for articulated trucks.