1.3. Impact of Overloading on Truck and Tires

Another important thing you have to keep in mind is, for any machine whatever may be the mission we have discussed about different types of machines so far. All the machines we are concerned about the safe gravimetric capacity of the machine. For every machine, what is this safe operating load in terms of weight is given by the manufacturer, so that we call it as a gravimetric capacity. So, only that capacity your machine can take because the structural frame of the machine is designed to handle that particular load only. So, we are not supposed to load the machine beyond the gravimetric capacity. So, since the density of material can vary from case to case, it is always advisable to check whether the load weight is within the safe gravimetric capacity.

Gravimetric capacity refers to the maximum weight a machine can safely handle as specified by the manufacturer. Each machine has a structural frame designed to support a specific load. Therefore, to avoid damage or failure, it is crucial not to exceed this capacity. Additionally, since the weight of materials can differ based on density, one must verify that the actual load does not exceed the machine’s rated gravimetric capacity by checking material density and weight.

Think of a person's weight limit on a swing. Just like exceeding a swing's limit can cause it to break or become dangerous, overloading a truck can damage the vehicle and lead to breakdowns.

Check the load weight against the gravimetric capacity of the truck, how to check that? For that you need to know what is the unit weight of your material, if you know the density of your material you can multiply it by the volumetric load you will get the actual weight of material in the truck, you will get the truck load. That should be within the rated gravimetric capacity of the machine given by the manufacturer, check truck load is less than rated gravimetric payload.

To ensure compliance with gravimetric capacity, operators must calculate the weight of the load in the truck. This involves determining the density of the material being transported and using that to convert the volumetric load into weight. The resulting weight must then be compared to the truck's rated gravimetric capacity to ensure it is safe for operation.

Imagine you are packing a suitcase for a flight. Before leaving, you weigh the suitcase to ensure it meets the airline's weight limit. Similarly, truck operators must check the weight to avoid exceeding the truck’s capacity.

So, many times you can see that people will put these side boards, and in the trucks commonly you can see they put the side boards and try to increase the volume of the truck. If the material which you are going to handle is less denser, in that case it will not create much problem. However, if the material is going to be denser like wet sand or other denser material, what happens is there are more chances that your machine may be overloaded. That means the weight of material in the truck will be above the safe gravimetric capacity defined by the manufacturer. In that case it will result in a lot of wear and tear to the machine, so particularly your tires will flex and it will result in the abusing of tires.

Overloading can lead to significant machine wear, particularly affecting tires. When sideboards are added to trucks to increase carrying capacity, it may not pose an issue for lighter materials. However, heavier materials such as wet sand can easily push the load beyond the safe limits. This results in excessive strain on the machine’s structure and components, especially the tires, leading to premature wear and expensive repairs.

Consider driving a car with too much cargo. Just as overloading a car can cause tire wear and suspension issues, overloading a truck can lead to similar mechanical failures. Regular maintenance becomes more important with excess weight.

For most of the machines, the tire cost almost to 35% of the truck operating cost. So, if you overload the machine it will result in abusing of tires and it will increase the tire cost significantly. So, this thing you should keep in mind; by keeping sideboards and the overloading the trucks though you are able to increase the productivity for a short time, those benefits will be only for a shorter time, this is because if you keep on overloading your truck it will result in premature aging of the truck, and it will result in huge loss for you, it will result in yearly replacement of your truck.

Overloading affects not only the physical integrity of the truck but also its economic viability. The costs associated with tire replacements can account for as much as 35% of overall operating costs. While short-term productivity gains might be tempting, they ultimately lead to increased maintenance costs and the potential need for frequent truck replacements, leading to significant long-term financial losses.

Imagine a restaurant trying to make quick profits by using low-quality ingredients. It might work temporarily, but soon customers will notice the decline in quality, and the business will suffer. Similarly, short-term gains from overloading can lead to long-term losses.

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