A warm welcome to you all for the latest episode of the Trucks Concept video blog. Recently, a colleague in the industry told me that there are two things that matter most in the life of a driver on the road. Firstly, good joystick control, and secondly, the ‘trough’ – in other words, good food. Trucks Concept isn’t a cooking show, so rather than rambling on about delicacies, today we’ll talk about the truth behind that joystick. And here’s an industry joke: What’s the number one rule for a tipper truck operator? Don’t let just anyone play with your joystick, or you’ll be in trouble. We can divide the controls into those that have locks in various positions. Here we have a controller with a lock in the lift position, a lock in the lower position, and a lock in the neutral position. Thanks to the lock in the neutral position, the controller cannot be activated accidentally. We also have controls that do not have this lock in the lifting and lowering positions, in which case the controller automatically returns to the neutral position. And here is an important legal point. In accordance with the provisions of Directive 2006/42/EC/ Article 3.3.1: If the operation of control devices may lead to a hazard, in particular to the machine performing dangerous movements, these devices must return to the neutral position as soon as they are released by the operator. This can be interpreted to mean that the tipper’s control should not be locked in the lifting or lowering position. Only in the neutral position, as this prevents accidental activation. Nevertheless, controls with a lock in the lifting and lowering positions are permitted for sale. It is also worth mentioning controllers with automatic PTO shut-off. These enhance the operator’s comfort, as they do not need to manually control and monitor the activation and deactivation of the PTO after unloading material from the tipper. This makes work more efficient and safer, allowing the operator to focus on other important tasks. It is also practical to use controllers with an indicator light that signals the PTO operating mode. On – the LED is lit; off – the LED is off. Here we have a controller with automatic PTO shut-off. Press the up button to engage the implement; in the lowering position, the implement switches off automatically. Sometimes regulations are tedious and complicated, but they are there to ensure our safety. Thanks to them, we can be sure that the driver is keeping a close eye on things and isn’t fiddling around with the vehicle, which helps avoid unnecessary trouble. For the operator themselves, a controller without a lock may be less convenient to use, as it must be held in the position for raising and lowering the body, but from the perspective of the vehicle owner or the company, it is simply a matter of complying with the law. You know, sometimes it would be more convenient to use the ones with a lock, but in the event of an unfortunate situation, they could turn out to be our enemy. So, it’s better not to take any risks, because the regulations are there to protect us on the road and at work. That’s the end of today’s episode. I hope you now know everything there is to know about the types of pneumatic controls for tippers. And finally, a little joke to lighten the mood: Why do drivers argue so often about controls? Because everyone wants the one at the top. Right, jokes aside. Remember to choose a controller that suits your needs. And mind the regulations. Stay with me. See you next Monday! Yours, Asia Pieprzyca.
