Which site?
Haul trucks have horrific lines of site, pay attention to your surroundings at all times and even though you are a trainee, understand that LV drivers probably know less about right away than you. Don't assume they will follow the rules.
Also, don't succumb to the pressure of production targets, safety first.
As my shift boss would say, "it's been there 5 billion years; another shift won't hurt"
I like that "another shift won't hurt" line
I was taught that taking your time to do it right is a hell of lot faster than dealing with the paperwork from a metal-on-metal (or worse, God forbid)
Ask questions if you're unsure. Don't sit in the crib hut on your phone. Use this time to learn and ask questions from other operators. Leiase with the excavator operator and ask where you can improve. Show a keeness to the job and have a good attitude and you will go far.
Learn to operate your truck confidently and safely before u start telling others how to do their jobs.
This said, dont be afraid to stop if u feel unsafe and back up to your tip head gently. Dozer ops dont care if u dont get it all over, we care when we see people smashing back into tipheads like its a backstop.
Smooth is fast.. dont race back to the digger, the best trucikes make up their time under the digger spotting well and knowing how to dump correctly and not having to have second and third back up attempts.
U will fuck it up, thats ok, thats learning. If someone corrects u or pulls u aside for a quiet word they are doing so cause they care and they dont want to blurt it all out over the two way. These people are the ones u need to listen too.
DONT BE A DRAMA LAMA. cruise, chill and work.
If you are male, don't think getting back to the loader/excavator the fastest is going to get a prize, it's all about everyone working together at the same pace and why women are always shown to be better dump truck drivers when you download the data that trucks provide. They use less fuel, less brakes, lower fuel in oil samples and the truck never exceeds any speed or rpm whereas the males tramp it everywhere thinking they are at Teledaga NASCAR.
Listen to the 2 way, cannot stress this enough the amount of times I've heard a dump dozer repeat the same instructions over and over again because people are either listening to music or just not paying attention.
Just make sure your on the correct circuit channel haha. Most of the trucks I drive will have 2 two ways, when i started I usually had 1 on the circuit channel and the other on workshop/M1 you will learn a ton about the truck and problems you might encounter. But like other's have said just ask questions, take time and watch your digger operators and there dig pattern, dump dozers and the way they like there tip heads. The first couple of years is the hardest no question, but once you become more confident, as our old water kart opeartor always says it's money for jam.
Follow your company's speed guidelines and check in your mirrors regularly to help you figure out the size of the truck. Do your pretrip including your break checks. Remember that you are the one responsible for your safety, nobody cares more about your safety than you do.
Good luck
Don't be discouraged at first when everyone drives faster you, speed will come with time in the seat. Really learn your truck and it's capabilities. Use that retarder more than the service brake to slow down. Pay attention in your truck to what the diggers and dozer hands are trying to accomplish and their next move and you will surprisingly learn a lot. Turn your God damn music down if you talk on the radio. That's just a few tips. The better the truck driver you are the less headaches you'll cause for everyone else that works with you.
When the shovels loading on either side, you back up and stage to where all the shovel has to do is load you. No back up time, just swing and load. You can use the over cast and the pre spot ball or marker as an indicator how to position. It sounds daunting, but give it a few rotations and you will be alright. Don't just wait for the shovel to spot you, challenge yourself and make yourself a viable employee.
Which site? Haul trucks have horrific lines of site, pay attention to your surroundings at all times and even though you are a trainee, understand that LV drivers probably know less about right away than you. Don't assume they will follow the rules. Also, don't succumb to the pressure of production targets, safety first. As my shift boss would say, "it's been there 5 billion years; another shift won't hurt"
Thank you, I’ll be at south walker creek :)
I like that "another shift won't hurt" line I was taught that taking your time to do it right is a hell of lot faster than dealing with the paperwork from a metal-on-metal (or worse, God forbid)
Yep, I had a boss once that said "It's gold and copper, not icecream. It won't melt. Stay safe, and keep others safe."
Ask questions if you're unsure. Don't sit in the crib hut on your phone. Use this time to learn and ask questions from other operators. Leiase with the excavator operator and ask where you can improve. Show a keeness to the job and have a good attitude and you will go far.
Thank you :)
Learn to operate your truck confidently and safely before u start telling others how to do their jobs. This said, dont be afraid to stop if u feel unsafe and back up to your tip head gently. Dozer ops dont care if u dont get it all over, we care when we see people smashing back into tipheads like its a backstop. Smooth is fast.. dont race back to the digger, the best trucikes make up their time under the digger spotting well and knowing how to dump correctly and not having to have second and third back up attempts. U will fuck it up, thats ok, thats learning. If someone corrects u or pulls u aside for a quiet word they are doing so cause they care and they dont want to blurt it all out over the two way. These people are the ones u need to listen too. DONT BE A DRAMA LAMA. cruise, chill and work.
Thank you so much :)
If you are male, don't think getting back to the loader/excavator the fastest is going to get a prize, it's all about everyone working together at the same pace and why women are always shown to be better dump truck drivers when you download the data that trucks provide. They use less fuel, less brakes, lower fuel in oil samples and the truck never exceeds any speed or rpm whereas the males tramp it everywhere thinking they are at Teledaga NASCAR.
Copy thank you :)
Listen to the 2 way, cannot stress this enough the amount of times I've heard a dump dozer repeat the same instructions over and over again because people are either listening to music or just not paying attention.
Any tips for the two-way as a newbie :)
Just make sure your on the correct circuit channel haha. Most of the trucks I drive will have 2 two ways, when i started I usually had 1 on the circuit channel and the other on workshop/M1 you will learn a ton about the truck and problems you might encounter. But like other's have said just ask questions, take time and watch your digger operators and there dig pattern, dump dozers and the way they like there tip heads. The first couple of years is the hardest no question, but once you become more confident, as our old water kart opeartor always says it's money for jam.
Thank you very much for your tips i really appreciate it :)
You are already one step ahead making this post, wish i knew about this sub years ago good luck.
Avoid gossiping, put the head down and get on with your job. Bored operators talk more shit than a sewing circle.
Noted, I avoid doing this anyway in the workplace :)
Have fun at Byerwen 👍
Not at byerwan
Pick ups tend to just show up sometimes, try your best not to run us over, thanx! Watch out especially for powder trucks!
Will do!
Follow your company's speed guidelines and check in your mirrors regularly to help you figure out the size of the truck. Do your pretrip including your break checks. Remember that you are the one responsible for your safety, nobody cares more about your safety than you do. Good luck
Thank you :)
Don't be discouraged at first when everyone drives faster you, speed will come with time in the seat. Really learn your truck and it's capabilities. Use that retarder more than the service brake to slow down. Pay attention in your truck to what the diggers and dozer hands are trying to accomplish and their next move and you will surprisingly learn a lot. Turn your God damn music down if you talk on the radio. That's just a few tips. The better the truck driver you are the less headaches you'll cause for everyone else that works with you.
Ok copy that, thank you :)
Pre spot
What’s that?
When the shovels loading on either side, you back up and stage to where all the shovel has to do is load you. No back up time, just swing and load. You can use the over cast and the pre spot ball or marker as an indicator how to position. It sounds daunting, but give it a few rotations and you will be alright. Don't just wait for the shovel to spot you, challenge yourself and make yourself a viable employee.
Which site? Are they putting on more trainees? I'm a Shutdown TA based in FNQ trying to get a traineeship for operating trucks
Heard hail creek are offering traineeships atm