Digger Derricks – What Are They Good For?
Digger derricks are trucks with several uses and functions. Basically, they help install and maintain large vertical structures such as lamp posts, oil rigs, and electrical or telephone poles. Industries involved in oil, electricity, telecommunications and construction are only some of the businesses that make good use of these massive trucks.
Before digger derricks were made available on the market, a large group of people was needed to dig the holes and prop up the posts. Over time, more posts needed to be erected over a long distance, making manual labor costly, inefficient, and no longer practical. Manually digging, propping up and maintaining the posts also took longer. The invention of the derrick made it easier and quicker to perform such tasks and more.
The truck’s main purpose is to set up a pole. Aptly named the digger derrick, one of the truck’s functions is to dig a hole deep in the ground. To perform this function, a long and wide earth auger is attached at the end of a boom-like device. The tool is powered by a hydraulic mechanism. This tool can dig a hole 18 inches wide and around 10 feet deep. It can even bore through solid rock. The boom on a digger derrick can also be used to lift a pole and keep it straight before it is plumbed. When in use, digger derricks are parked and stabilized using. This will keep the truck steady while boring a hole in the ground or propping up the beam or post. A bucket can also be attached at the end of the boom which can help lift workers and equipment to a desired height.
Different industries have varying uses for digger derricks. For instance, the telecommunications and electrical industry use the derrick to fix telephone lines and electrical wires. The same device can also be used to trim impeding branches. Government agencies involved with fixing public structures also use the derrick to bring personnel down underneath streets to dig holes or fix potholes.
Although the invention of digger derricks has made the performance of certain tasks quicker and easier, it is still a massive device which can cause a lot of damage when used incorrectly. Controllers need to be well-versed in how the derrick functions and works. Other personnel should also remember to wear safety gear at all times. This reduces the risk of being hit with debris while working.
Using Your Bucket Truck in Snow & Ice
Many parts of of the United States and Canada experience extreme winter weather. They consistently receive large amounts of snow and ice during the winter season. Many parts of this region get hit with late-season snow and ice storms. Parts of the area may experience power outages which are much more dangerous in the cold and harsh weather than in more southern regions.
During Winter, a huge challenge is working safely when outdoors. Utility bucket truck workers face some of the greatest challenges while working outdoors near power lines, ice covered trees, and other dangerous areas all while working in cold, icy weather. Since the effect of large snowstorms and freezing rain often includes broken power lines, damaged utility poles, and fallen tree limbs or even trees themselves, there is a very good chance that workers will need to respond to these problems during and after these storms.
An insulated bucket is a safe-guard against live electric lines coming in contact with the boom. If it somehow comes in contact with live lines, the insulated bucket provides extra protection from energizing the truck and creating a possibly deadly situation for anyone working in or around the utility truck.
Working with live power lines means extra precautions and only experienced and knowledgeable workers should perform these tasks. All utility workers should be familiar with and follow OSHA regulations. It is helpful to have a ground person at the work site to aid with the lift operation and help the vehicle operators avoid blind spots. Always follow safe bucket truck operation procedure.
When ice – snow accumulation becomes heavy on tree branches, limbs often break because of the extra weight. There is a very high probability of tree limbs breaking loose and causing harm to people, homes, vehicles, and other things. To prevent these things from happening, professionals are hired to cut down the threatening tree limbs. Bucket trucks are one of the most dependable vehicles to get rid of these tree branches. While removing this threat from exposure to the general public, the safety of the workers should always be a top priority. Forestry bucket trucks are used by tree trimming companies to remove dangerous limbs and trees.
Maintenance of utility trucks is critical to safe operation. A seasonal check of the truck and it’s components is mandated by OSHA and other federal regulatory commissions. It is also advisable that owners/ operators make necessary adjustments on the electric choke and to make sure there is a spare spark plug for future use. It’s also very important to have a daily check list. A typical daily checklist could look something like this:
- Make sure the fuel tank is full before going to any work-site. Also, it is important to verify that propane tanks are full and the starter is able to power up the electric generator.
- The bucket of the vehicle should be clean and consider replacing the cover with a new one.
- Double check the -emergency stop- is functioning properly as well as the emergency lowering device. Know how to lower the bucket safely should there be any power failure.
Quick response to winter storm emergencies with caution and using safe practices, will greatly decrease the number of injuries and deaths. It is just as important to deploy bucket trucks with operators that are well-trained and well-equipped, especially when responding to tasks that require working near or on live electric lines. It is of the utmost importance, to both the public and workers, that these vehicles are operated with the top priority being safety. Then bucket trucks can truly provide a speedy recovery from the dangerous results of snow or ice storms.
Bucket Truck & Power Lines
I came across this video the other day and couldn’t help but share this with the readers of our blog. This is a popular video shown in lots of lineman safety classes.
What do you think happens here? To me it looks like the primary wires have fallen or arced into the lines that feed into the home. Another interesting part is how the relays were skipped or didn’t function properly.
For more information, check out our bucket truck safety guide. There is a lot of tips and instructions for safe bucket truck operation.
I-80 Equipment uses Line-X on every Bucket Truck We Sell
You know you have a durable protective coating on your bucket truck if the StormChasers use it on their Tornado Chasing Dominator Car
Check this video out from the recent SEMA Show or watch them on the Discovery Channel.
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/storm-chasers/
Uses for bucket trucks in the Holiday season
We’re rapidly approaching the Holiday’s and people everywhere are fearing the worst, getting off of the couch and setting up decorations. Ok, maybe it’s just me. Some uses of bucket trucks during Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year (among others) take on a more residential feel. The first use that comes to mind are the professional decorators that use bucket trucks to hang ornaments, lights, and other do-dads from homes. Let’s look a little deeper at some Fall, Winter time uses for our favorite aerial lift trucks.
For some gutter cleaning companies, using a bucket truck to reach their job site is a huge advantage. Instead of trudging up a ladder, workers can knock out a project in half the time. I know I’d love to have a lift truck for personal use for this reason alone. Also, some businesses and homes with gutters can be pretty tall and a bucket truck is a much safer option than a 30+ ft ladder.
Yep, decorating for the Holidays is huge here in America and bucket trucks are used to help with the process. Many big-time decorators use bucket trucks to reach the higher areas of a home or tree to decorate. Professional decorators on a budget will often rent a truck for the season… I’m sure it pays off big time. Decorators can work much more efficiently and safely with a lift truck than with a ladder. I don’t blame them at all. After years of climbing a ladder and walking on a roof to hang Christmas lights, I would love to have a bucket truck for this job.
Bucket trucks decorate a tall tree for Christmas
Another use for bucket trucks during the Holiday season is to get a great view of decorations and the area. Last year, I was lucky enough to go up in a bucket during Christmas time and get an incredible view of the city and the Christmas decorations. The lights and everything from that vantage point was amazing. If you have the opportunity to get a view from a bucket truck during the Holidays, I highly recommend it.
Have any more uses for a bucket truck during this time of year? Jot it down in the comments, we’d love to hear them!
A little bit about digger derrick trucks
Basically, digger derrick trucks are designed to drill a hole and put in a hole. The cases where we see these trucks is mostly in mining and well digging areas, cable fields and electrical telecommunication areas also use them of late. They have proved to be of relevance in the world today and many have opted for them. Digger derrick trucks have auger to drill the hole and also the pole clamps so that it can hold the pole as it is being inserted. These trucks are multipurpose and are equipped with an auger that is powerful and it can even go through solid rock depending on the specifications which the truck or machine has. They use the auger on the truck to drill holes of electric and telephone poles during placement. They also assist in moving of solid or liquid materials or substances through rotating helical flighting. The auger of the drill can use a similar mechanism to eliminate shaving from the hole which is being drilled.
Digger derrick trucks can also be found in towns and cities though they are mostly used at mining sites. People in these urban areas may not necessarily notice these trucks but they are usually on the streets mostly when construction companies are making potholes or digging up holes to fix up the conditions of the roads. The mobiles often carry the various types of digger derricks on top for example hydraulic outriggers and speed diggers to function on various kinds of work. These trucks are very key to the construction industry since they make the digging process much easier and quicker.
Digger derrick trucks just like any other types of machinery, can be very dangerous if used by someone that is not experienced and lacks complete knowledge of its functioning and processes. These dangers are prevented by restricting the use of these trucks to people that have undergone professional training and have passed the training successfully. They also advise the operators of these trucks to keep re-training so that they can utilize the full strength of the trucks. This truck is said to have the same control panels of a helicopter and this means that for the operator of the machine, safety is key. The people that operate these machines don’t necessarily have degrees in engineering but for these machines to perform efficiently, it’s necessary for some physics principles to be applied otherwise the operator may be at risk. These people thus have to have some physics knowledge to operate these trucks successfully. They also have to understand the safety techniques as well as operational ways of the truck to avoid any form of physical danger. These trucks should be operated by careful, qualified and competent people who are also mentally and physically stable.
Digger derrick trucks have this look that instils confidence of safety to the operator but they have to be aware that accidents can happen at anytime. They thus have to protect themselves from any form of injury or even death. It is advised that they don’t start a job until they have proof that it is safe to start operating the machine.
Feel free to browse I-80 Equipment’s digger derrick trucks for sale.
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