Better Loading Leads to Better Productivity

Most everyone is short on some type of resource, whether it’s equipment, properly trained employees or time.

There are no magic formulas, but there are dozens of places in a work cycle where you can improve efficiency—in other words, where you can save time and money.

Let’s start with loading. An efficient load area requires a good layout, a good shot and a trained wheel loader operator who has the time and experience to manage his area.

The proper driving pattern can drastically improve your efficiency. It’s not uncommon for two minutes to elapse between the time one truck is loaded and when the next gets into position. Imagine how this time impacts your operation.

A two-minute exchange time can cost you 10 percent of your productivity. It is possible to get a truck exchange time down to one minute or less. In a large operation, that could mean an increase of a million tons a year per truck.

During the exchange, it is very important for the haul truck to spot under the loader. The truck operator should line up the sideboard under the bucket’s hinge pin. If the truck misses the mark, the loader ends up chasing the truck, which reduces production because of the distance the loader travels from the face to the truck.
The little things add up. Get out the stopwatch and take a look at your crews in action. Are they following the proper truck positioning and driving patterns? You could save seconds here and there—and significantly more over the long run.

Looking for more details on how to save time at your operation? Talk to your local Cat Dealer. They offer, or can direct you to, training to help make your fleet more productive.