We talk an awful lot about lorries and ‘standard’ HGV’s on this blog. But there is a lot more out there in the HGV world, that maybe we don’t talk about as much. One of those is the dumper truck. Popular with kids the world around, the dumper truck is the hero of construction workers and the public sector. Whether they’re transporting materials to help homes be built, or emptying your bins every week, there are few HGV’s more noble. So today, we’re going to tell you all about the different types of dumper truck and what you need to know.
Related Article: The Driver CPC And Grandfather Rights Explained
Related Article: HGV Driver Hours – A Beginners Guide
The phrase ‘dumper truck’ covers a few different vehicles, all of which are commonly used in the kind of jobs you see advertised on this site and others. These include:
Rigid Dumper Trucks: These trucks are used for larger loads and are particularly good for construction projects, because they’re durable and yet fast. This makes getting between construction sites and materials yards a breeze. However, they usually only operate on the open roads, since they aren’t that manoeuvrable in confined spaces.
Articulated Dumper Trucks: Articulated dumper trucks come in once the materials arrive on site. These tough trucks are great for difficult terrain, but they can’t cope with the same heavy loads as rigid dumper trucks. These kinds of trucks need highly skilled operatives, so you’re very unlikely to be hired to drive these without some professional training.
Tracked Dumper Trucks: Tracked dumper trucks are the ideal for rough terrain and difficult weather conditions, so you will see them on construction sites in any scenario. These kinds of trucks can create a safer environment for other vehicles in the area, as they use their huge tracks to flatten the ground as they go. They’re pretty heavily favoured in early stages of construction because of this.
Mini Dumper Trucks: Mini dumper trucks are basically smaller versions of all of the above vehicles, and anyone can hire them as long as they have a category B license. They’re simple to use, and are usually deployed for home and garden projects.
There are other dumper trucks weighing different amounts, and depending on the jobs they do they may need additional licenses to operate. But these are the 4 most common types of dumper truck found out and about in the world.
Dumper trucks usually only need a CAT B license to drive – which is a standard part of your driving license if you passed your test on or after the 1st of January 1997. But just because you can doesn’t mean you should just hop in the next one you see and take it for a spin. If you want to take up a career as a dumper truck driver, you will still need some special qualifications. In particular, you’ll need a CPCS (Construction Plant Competence Scheme) license and a standard CPC as well. If you’re looking to drive a large dumper truck (over 2500kg), you’ll need to upgrade to a Cat C license as well, in line with the standard licensing laws.
Driving a dumper truck is an incredibly rewarding experience, particularly if you’re working construction and seeing homes built for those who need them, or if you’re part of the crew that clears up the streets. But it’s a pretty good earner too. If you’ve got the right qualifications and training, you could be looking at a starting salary of between £23,000 and £35,000. All you need to do is have a look through the job listings on the web or in the local papers to find out how in demand you are.
At The HGV Training Centre, we love helping new drivers on their next big journey. Our experts are on hand to help you work out what your next career move should be, and what kind of license you’ll need to get there. We can then place you in a dedicated training programme to help you achieve the qualifications and practical experience you need to start your new career as a dump truck driver. For more information, just get in touch with us today.
Website Content © 2024 HGV Driver Training Centre
Abbey House, 282 Farnborough Road, Farnborough, GU14 7NA
