How To Transport Hot Asphalt Safely

Asphalt is one of the most common materials dump trucks haul, but transporting it can be one of the trickiest jobs to undertake. Though dump truck operators are used to transporting potentially hazardous materials between job sites, hot asphalt is often considered the most troublesome. Not only does asphalt need to stay heated in order to spread properly, but it’s also the most likely to stick to the truck bed. These factors affect how quickly drivers can deliver this material as well as how much risk is involved during the unloading process. This is how to transport hot asphalt safely and ensure drop-off is efficient.

Familiarize Yourself With the Route

Before you begin the asphalt transport, it’s wise to familiarize yourself with the route. As asphalt is being transported, it’s common for it to begin cooling and form a crust that makes it more difficult to dump. Because of this, it helps for dump truck operators who are hauling asphalt to be familiar with the quickest routes between the loading station and the drop-off point. Knowing this route, and the local traffic patterns, ahead of time will allow you to make the most informed driving decisions and even make the necessary detours. This strategy also helps reduce the amount of time you spend on the road and, therefore, decreases your chances of getting into an accident, letting you transport your asphalt safely.

Load the Asphalt Properly

In order to transport hot asphalt safely, it’s also vital you load it properly into the truck bed. Asphalt is a mixture of several different materials of varying densities. So, when loaded incorrectly, certain sediments will separate and roll off the top of the pile, increasing the chances of spillage. To keep this from happening when you’re going to be hauling asphalt, load the asphalt in three separate piles along the truck bed. You’ll also want to have a dump truck liner to prevent the asphalt from sticking. Proper procedure for loading on a dump bed liner made for asphalt is to accept the first load directly on top of the bolts. Subsequent loads should be front to back from there. This allows the liner to begin its expansion from the heat towards the tailgate of the bed and away from the bolts where it can grow without restriction. This is very important to avoid any wrinkles in the liner and to have optimal success. It’s also easier for the materials to stay mixed together while being delivered.

Cover Dump Truck Bed

As previously stated, hot asphalt will begin cooling as soon as it’s deposited into the dump truck. As such, you, as the operator, must do all you can to keep it warm and mailable while the asphalt is in the truck for a smooth delivery. One way to do this is by covering the top of the dump truck bed with a tarp or specially-designed cover. This not only will this help retain the internal temperature for longer by retaining the asphalt’s heat, but it’ll prevent debris from spilling out while in transit, allowing you to transport your hot asphalt safely.

Drive Efficiently, Yet Carefully

Most importantly, make sure you’re driving as quickly as you can while also staying careful. Though delivering hot asphalt comes with a few time constraints, by no means should you adopt reckless driving practices just to get to your destination more quickly. Speeding or sudden turns greatly increase the chances of tipping your truck. So when hauling asphalt, it’s every bit as vital that you’re driving defensively and obeying traffic laws as when transporting other materials. We offer many different dump truck liners so that you can find the one that’s most suitable.

Asphalt hauling can be difficult, but we’re committed to helping keep your dump truck safe. At Linings Inc., we understand the importance of transporting materials efficiently and safely. This is why we seek to provide each of our customers with only the best dump truck liners to protect their equipment. These products act as an extra layer of protection for your dump truck—preventing damage and even making it easier to deliver certain loads. For more information on how you can ensure your load of hot asphalt gets delivered safely, get in touch with us today. You can also read our blogs to learn more about asphalt transport and other jobs.