Any major project will not be complete without construction vehicles, which offer the heavy-duty power needed to move materials, excavate, and otherwise support the many processes involved in construction. These machines are specific in the tasks they perform, be it transporting materials, digging, grading and demolition. To ensure that the project becomes efficient, safe, and successful, they have to be chosen, utilized, and maintained appropriately. This paper discusses the use of construction vehicles in large projects, the types, uses and significance of construction vehicles in construction sector.
What Are Construction Vehicles?
Construction vehicles or construction machinery or heavy equipment are large machines used to help in the construction industry in a number of tasks. Earthmoving, material handling, lifting and demolition are some of the activities that require these machines. They will be able to withstand the negative conditions of construction sites, including sloping surfaces, heavy loads and long shifts.
Types of Construction Vehicles and Their Roles
The construction projects involve a great number of vehicles of different kinds, each has its purpose. The most common kinds of construction vehicles and their usage are as follows:
1. Excavators
An excavator is one of the most versatile and irreplaceable construction machines. They are applied when digging, lifting and demolishing. Excavators are available in all sizes and forms, and their hydraulic system allows them to carry out the following tasks:
- Digging trenches to put down foundations and utilities and drainage lines
- Moving and transporting such objects as rocks, soil or rubble
- Demolition of small scale buildings or building components
Excavators can be fitted with different attachments such as buckets, breakers and grabs among others, and this makes them versatile to match the many tasks. They can rotate 360 degrees, which makes them very suitable to work in tight areas.
2. Bulldozers
Bulldozers are heavy duty machines that are used to relocate masses of soil, sand or any other material within a construction site. They also have a large metal blade in front that can be pushed, leveled and graded surfaces. Bulldozers have some of the following key functions:
- Site preparation for building foundations or roads
- Grading and leveling of large areas for construction
- Clearing debris and vegetation from the site
Bulldozers are mostly applied in the initial phases of construction projects particularly where the construction involves a lot of earth moving.
3. Cranes
Bulldozers are largely used during the early stages of construction projects especially when there is a lot of earth moving in the construction.
- Tower Cranes: These are usually applied in construction of tall buildings. They have a vertical mast and the arm swings and can lift heavy materials to a high altitude.
- Mobile Cranes: The cranes are mounted on a wheeled chassis which enables the cranes to be moved easily within a construction site.
- Crawler Cranes: Crawler cranes are used in the uneven or soft surface as they are fitted with tracks instead of wheels.
Cranes are also vital during constructions in lifting steel beams, concrete slabs and other heavy materials that are to be fitted.
4. Dump Trucks
Dump trucks are the vehicles that carry the loose materials like sand, gravel, dirt and demolition debris. They possess hydraulic lift system which makes the truck bed to be lifted up so that the materials can be unloaded easily. The dump trucks are applied at different phases of constructions such as:
- Trucking in and out of the construction site excavated materials
- Moving of the construction waste to dumping grounds
- Transporting aggregates and other materials to the site with the aim of undertaking construction work
Dump trucks are divided into different types such as rigid and articulated dump trucks which are applied to transport different loads and on different terrains.
5. Wheel Loaders
Wheel loaders are heavy construction machines used in scooping, lifting and transportation of materials at the construction sites. They are normally applied in the transportation of loose materials like gravel, sand, dirt, and snow. Wheel loaders can scoop and lift huge amounts of material with the front bucket. They are traditionally applied in:
- Placing materials on dump trucks to move
- Elimination of waste or delivery of products at the place
- Leveling and grading of construction
Such machines are very versatile and necessary in handling materials in different construction projects.
6. Backhoe Loaders
Backhoe loaders are a hybrid of an excavator and a tractor, and therefore, one of the most versatile machines on a construction site. They have a large bucket in front to pick up the stuff and a small bucket in the back which is hydraulically powered to dig. The principal activities of the backhoe loaders are:
- Piping/ foundation trench.
- On site construction of moving and lifting materials
- mini demo & clean up
Backhoe loaders are suited to smaller building jobs or where space is limited to accommodate bigger equipment.
7. Compactors and Rollers
Soil, gravel, asphalt, and other materials are compacted and pressed using compactors and rollers to form a solid foundation on which construction work is to be done. The machines are necessary in road construction, pavement and foundation. They help:
- Compact soil and other materials so as to avoid settlement in future
- Construct flat smooth roads, parking lots etc.
- Discover the basis of the construction projects
Compactors and rollers come in many forms, such as static rollers, vibratory rollers and pneumatic rollers, and have different functions and are used on different materials.
The Role of Construction Vehicles in Major Projects
The use of construction vehicles is crucial to the success of any major project since it assists in accelerating the process, lower labor cost, and the project is of quality and safety standards. This is why such cars are so important:
1. Increased Efficiency and Speed
The construction vehicles are made in such a way that they do their work at a very high speed and with a lot of efficiency as compared to manual labor. The heavy equipment such as excavators, bulldozers, and cranes could dig, lift and grade in a fraction of time that it would have taken the hand tools. This greatly accelerates the process of construction enabling the project to be on schedule.
2. Improved Safety
The use of construction vehicles minimizes the chances of accidents at the site. Since the heavy lifting and digging are done by machines, there is less probability of the workers being injured in the process of doing so. Moreover, the latest construction vehicles have safety mechanisms such as rollover protection, hydraulic systems and remote control to guarantee safety of the operators and workers.
3. Cost Savings
Even though construction vehicles are a considerable initial investment, they save money in the long term. Their productivity and quickness of work lowers labor expenses and saves time to finish a project. Also, most of the construction vehicles are long-lasting and durable providing a decent return on investment during their lifetime.
4. Enhanced Precision
The construction vehicles have high technology that enables them to be more precise in the tasks like grading, digging, and lifting. To illustrate, bulldozers and excavators that have GPS can make sure that the materials are moved or positioned with precise accuracy, eliminating errors and the necessity to correct the situation at an expensive cost.
5. Environmental Impact
Most of the new construction machines are made according to the environmental standards, and their characteristics are aimed at decreasing the amount of fuel and emissions. Electric powered machines, hybrid cars and environment friendly technologies are increasingly being used in construction and this is one way of ensuring that the impact of construction projects on the environment is minimized.
Conclusion
Major projects cannot be successful without construction vehicles. These machines include excavators and bulldozers, cranes and dump trucks and are important in enhancing speed, efficiency and safety in construction works. They help the construction companies to finish the construction projects on time, within cost and to a high level of quality. Technology has brought about the development of more efficient, accurate and environment friendly construction vehicles. To the construction managers and contractors, investing on the right vehicles is a key to the success of any major construction project.
