In the world of waste management, rear loader garbage trucks are some of the most commonly-used trucks on the market today. Reliable, durable, and with a proven design that has worked since the 1930s, it’d be hard to find a waste management company or department that doesn’t operate at least a few of these vehicles. Given how ubiquitous these trucks are, it’s important to understand how exactly a rear loader garbage truck works.
How Is Trash Loaded and Compacted?
The basic design of rear loader garbage trucks has not changed much since their initial invention. Trash is loaded into a hopper at the back of the truck, which gives these trucks their name. Trash is then moved from the hopper into the main body of the truck by hydraulics, where it is then compressed by the compacting mechanism of the truck.
The greatest advantage of the compacting unit is that by compressing trash, it allows the truck to haul the same weight in trash for less space taken up. This allows the truck to carry more trash in a single collection route, making it more efficient compared to a truck without one.
Once the truck is completely full, it takes the waste to the dump, where the rear of the truck tilts up like a dump truck and the hydraulics push the trash out of the truck.
How Many Workers Are Needed to Operate a Truck?
In theory, a single worker can operate a rear loader garbage truck. However, this would require the driver to repeatedly get in and out of the cab to pick up garbage cans and load them into the hopper. Therefore, rear loaders are operated by crews of two or three, with one driver and one or two loaders who hang onto the back of the truck while it travels from stop to stop.
Is There an Arm or Moving Parts on a Rear Loader?
Unlike front and side loaders, rear loaders do not feature a loading arm that picks up cans and empties them into the hopper automatically. This has its advantages and disadvantages. While rear loaders do require more workers to crew effectively, human workers can navigate obstacles or unforeseen complications that an automated arm cannot account for.
This sort of chaotic environment can be extremely common in residential waste management, ranging from cars parked too close to cans on the street to disposed furniture left in the way, so having human workers that can bypass these obstacles is critical.
If you’re looking for used rear loader trucks for sale, then contact Route Ready Trucks. We specialize in offering long-term trucking solutions for waste management companies, with a range of rear loaders, side loaders, grapple trucks, and other garbage trucks for sale. All of our trucks come with a top-to-bottom maintenance inspection, ensuring they perform just as well as a new truck off the lot. If you’d like to learn more about our services or request a garbage truck quote, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!