A dump truck is a truck used for transportng materials (usually gravel or some type of soil) for construction. A typical dump truck is equipped with a hydraulically operated open-box bed hinged at the rear, the front of which can be lifted up to allow the contents to be deposited on the ground behind the truck at the site of delivery.

Many snowplow units are based on dumptrucks, to allow the placement of ballast to weigh the truck down or to hold salt for spreading on the road.

Types of dump trucks

Dump trucks come in a variety of configurations each specified to accomplish a specific task in the construction material supply chain.

Standard dump truck

A standard dump truck is a full truck chassis with a dump body mounted to the frame. The dump body is raised by a hydraulic ram mounted forward of the front bulkhead, between the truck cab and the dump body. The tailgate can be configured to swing on hinges or it can be configured in the "High Lift Tailgate" format wherein pneumatic rams lift the gate open and up above the dump body. (Please see the transfer dump roll-off image below to view a High Lift tail gate in the raised position.) A standard dump truck can have as few as 2 or as many as 5 axles. The typical configuration is 3 axles and is colloquially referred to as a "10 Wheeler." The key advantage of a standard dump truck is its ability to manuver into very tight places where a long semi could never go.

Transfer dump trucks

A Transfer Dump (colloquially referred to as a "Slam-Bang!" because of the noise made when transfering) is a standard dump truck which pulls a separate trailer which can be loaded with aggregate (gravel, sand, etc.)

The aggregate container on the trailer rides on wheels and rolls off the trailer and into the main dump truck. The key advantage of this configuration is to maximize payload capacity without sacrificing the manuverability of the short and nimble Standard dump truck. Transfer dumps are typically seen in the western United States because of the peculiar weight restrictions on western highways.

Truck and pup

A truck and pup is very similar to a transfer dump. It consists of a standard dump truck pulling a dump trailer. The pup trailer, unlike the transfer, has its own hydraulic ram and is capable of self-unloading. The key advantage of the truck and pup is rapid unloading.

Super dump truck

A Super Dump is similar to a Standard dump truck except it is equipped with extra axles to carry more weight. Its key advantage is manuverability.

Semi trailer end dump truck

A Semi End Dump is a tractor-trailer combination wherein the trailer itself contains the hydraulic hoist. A typical semi end dump has a 3 axle tractor pulling a 2 axle semi_trailer. The key advantage of a semi end dump is rapid unloading.

Semi trailer bottom dump trucks

A semi bottom dump (or "belly dump") is a 3 axle tractor pulling a 2 axle trailer with a clam shell type dump gate in the belly of the trailer. The key advantage od a semi bottom dump is its ability to lay material in a wind row. In addition, a semi bottom dump is manuverable in reverse, unlike the double and triple trailer configurations described below.

Double and triple trailer bottom dump trucks

Double and Triple Bottom Dumps consists of a 2 axle tractor pulling one single axle semi trailer and and additional full trailer (or two full trailers in the case of triples). The key advantage of a double bottom dump is the ability to rapidly lay material in wind rows without the driver ever leaving the cab or even stopping the truck. The key disadvantage is the inablity to easily back double and triple units in reverse.

Side dump truck

A Side Dump Truck consists of a 3 axle tractor pulling a 2 axle semi-trailer. It has hydraulic rams which tilt the dump body onto its side spilling the material to either the left or right side of the trailer. The key advantages of the side dump are that it allows rapid unloading and can carry more weight in western United States. In addition, it is almost immune to upset (tipping over) while dumping unlike the semi end dumps which are VERY prone to tipping over. Its key disadvantage is its length which impeads manuverability and general lack of versatility.

Off-road dump trucks

Off road dump trucks more closely resemble heavy construction equipment or engineering vehicles than they do on highway dump trucks. They are used strictly off road for mining and heavy dirt hauling jobs.

See also

• Peterbilt
• Semi-trailer