The Dangers of Oversized Truckloads

Even the most durable pieces of equipment have their limits. So, while dump trucks, in particular, are designed to withstand large and heavy loads, it doesn’t come without an increased amount of risk. Because of this, it’s vital that you know exactly what could happen to operate one of these machines in the safest possible way. These are some of the dangers of oversized truckloads and why you should always ensure you’re within your oversize load truck’s performance guidelines.

Collisions

With a larger mass than other vehicles on the road, dump trucks are already at high risk for devastating collisions. However, when they’re overloaded with materials, they can almost be impossible to control. The additional weight will increase the amount of time and distance it takes for the truck to stop. As such, it’s much easier for the operator to make a mistake that leads to a crash.

Rollovers

Rollovers are also more likely when a dump truck bed is overloaded because it’s much harder to correct a turn when the bed’s weight is working against you. You never want the weight of the load to exceed that of the truck itself. Otherwise, reverse steering loses its effectiveness and it becomes much harder to prevent the bed from capsizing.

Blown Tires

Another key danger of oversized truckloads is the potential for them to blow out your tires. Like dump trucks themselves, their tires are also given a maximum weight capacity to abide by. Passing it exposes these products to a level of weight they weren’t designed to handle. This speeds up the rate that they’ll take damage from the road and, eventually, even cause them to blow out when you least expect it.

Clearance Issues

Oversized load trucks have been known to exceed certain clearance limits for bridges as well. So, should you come across one while in transit, you could accidentally hit the underside of the structure. Accidents like these can be catastrophic—causing car pileups, debris to spill, and the bridge’s security to become compromised. For these reasons, it’s essential that you’re abiding by all weight, height, and load size standards for your dump truck model.

If you’re looking for additional ways to make your truck safer and more efficient to handle, reach out to Linings Inc. Our heavy-duty truck bed liners are specially crafted with larger loads in mind, making them the perfect modification for transporting things like pig iron and rip rap. Our products will also help prevent any daily wear and tear on your truck’s bed and lengthen its overall lifespan.