What are some dangers about dump trucks?

Answer 1

To the operator or to others?

They often carry loose material, which can shift. Most states have tarp laws, and they have to be diligent about rolling the tarp when they're loaded, or they risk material leaving the bed of the truck. Truck beds do get damaged, and they may form gaps between the tailgate and the bed through which material can get out, causing potentially hazardous situations in traffic. Companies or individual that operate dump trucks converted from road tractors - which typically have an airbag suspension - need to be especially careful, as those are extremely prone to swaying and possibly tipping over on turns and curves. Since a lot of dump truck work is sitework, the presence of moving machinery cannot be ignored, nor can the presence of site workers, and the driver needs to be wary and alert, lest someone should walk behind their truck without them realising it. The driver needs to be wary of overhead power lines, they need to be wary of how level their truck is before they raise that bed... those are just a few of them. A lot of people make the mistake of going to truck driving school then applying for a dump truck job, thinking it's going to be so much easier because it's a straight truck, but they don't know what they're getting into.

However, it shouldn't sound excessively difficult, either. As you gain experience as a professional driver, these things become second nature, and, truthfully, having operated a number of different types of commercial vehicles, I find roll-offs to be more difficult than dump trucks.