Most road and highway construction projects that include FDR or Base Stabilization involve a huge amount of bulk materials, including cement, fly ash, LKD, quicklime and other materials. That means there’s a good chance your next project will require the use of dry bulk trucking. But what is dry bulk trucking, and what kind of specialized equipment and processes are utilized for it? Read on to learn more about this essential aspect of the supply chain for many road construction jobs.
Understanding the Basics
Because dry bulk trucking deals with cargos that are different from standard packaged goods, it requires some special trailers and loading/unloading procedures. For instance, the typical dry bulk trailer is segmented, meaning it features a series of cone-shaped compartments, creating a series of hoppers that each have their own individual valve at the bottom. These valves are connected to pipes that run along the underside of the trailer. At the top of each hopper is an opening typically referred to as a manhole.
Loading the trailer with most bulk materials is a relatively simple operation. Under most circumstances, the driver of the truck pulls up underneath a chute attached to the silo containing the material, and it flows down the chute through the manhole into the hopper until it is filled. Where it can become trickier is if the materials are being transferred from a railcar, in which case they need to be moved with the use of pressurized air or top loaded with a transloader.
In terms of unloading, the valves at the bottom of each hopper are opened, allowing the material to flow into the pipe on the underside of the trailer. From there, the materials can either be pumped into a spreader with pressurized air or into a tank for on-site storage. Pumping out the trailer must be done with care, as too much pressure will result in the lines becoming clogged.
Perhaps the most important step involved in dry bulk trucking occurs after the trailer is completely emptied. This is when it is taken to a certified tank wash station to be cleaned. This is crucial because any materials left over from one load could contaminate the next one. At the tank wash, the insides of the hoppers are thoroughly cleaned with specialized water jets. If the next load is identical to the one before it, no cleaning would typically be required.
Advantages of Dry Bulk Trucking
The benefits of dry bulk trucking when provided by an experienced company such as Rock Solid Stabilization & Reclamation, Inc., are numerous. We bring the expertise and experience needed to handle your bulk materials correctly and with the highest levels of efficiency.. Our services have helped numerous clients save money and complete their work on schedule.
We provide complete dry bulk trucking of cement, fly ash, quicklime and other materials. Choosing us means you can be sure that loads will be delivered promptly and as safely as possible. If you’d like to learn more about our full capabilities and how they can be of service to you, reach out to us today.