Dump Truck- Operation & Safety

Course Content 

Lesson 1: Introduction

• Review the content of the entire course.
• Overview of the types of dump trucks and basic safety.

Lesson 2: Getting to Know Your Truck

• Identify key truck components

•   Identify controls and understand their usage

•   Identify instrumentation and gauges

•   Understand and respond to warning indicators provided by

     the manufacturer.

Lesson 3: Pre-use and Post-use Inspection

• Explain the importance of completing a pre-use inspection

• Identify general things to look for when inspecting your truck

• Identify the steps to take to complete a pre-use inspection

Lesson 4: Operation

• Perform safe pre-start procedures

• Perform proper starting procedures

• Prepare to operate the truck safely

• Safely park the truck

• Shut down the truck

Lesson 5: Loading

• How to safely approach the loading area.

• Different loading techniques and why they are used.

• Various ways to position your truck when loading.

• Correct spotting methods for over-the-rail and thru-the-tail loading.

Lesson 6: Hauling

• Explain the final preparations for highway travel

• Understand safe rules of the road

• Explain how to properly negotiate corners and turns

• Demonstrate use of auxiliary lift axles

• Explain the process for starting travel and braking

Lesson 7: Unloading

• Understand how to properly approach the dump area

• Identify the basics required to dump the load

• Understand the process for dumping with or without a spotter

• Identify ways to avoid roll-over accidents

• Explain changes to make when dumping on an incline

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

• Identify safe operating practices and warnings

• Discuss how to perform a pre-use and post-use inspection,

• Identification and use of controls, gauges, and indicators,

• Discuss correct start-up and shut-down procedures,

• Demonstrate operating techniques for loading, hauling, and unloading

   material, and,

• Identify ways to park and secure the truck at the end of the day.

Recommended Background

Although we recommend that you take the following prerequisite courses, this course is suitable for anyone with an interest in equipment operation and safety.

• Recommended prerequisite courses:
  • Heavy Equipment – Introduction and Safety
  • Heavy Equipment – Pre-Use Inspection.