Keep Mix from Sticking, Release Agent in Reach

Haul truck drivers have as much need of a biodegradable release agent as any other member of the paving crew for keeping their equipment clean. A clever way to keep release agent within easy reach is to make a holder for the spray can right on the truck chassis. Look at this good idea.

In this example, the driver has a specific truck that he’s responsible for. He delivers asphalt mix to the paving crew every day, so he knows he will have to keep the truck clean to prevent material from building up and potentially causing problems if it breaks loose and gets into the new mat. To make the job of cleaning easier, he will use release agent to lubricate areas of the truck body before taking on material, and will use release agent when cleaning the still-warm truck body at the end of the shift. For all the times in between, and to make the spray can easy for other members of the crew to access, the mechanic has welded an open-ended metal cylinder, almost like a bucket, at an angle behind the truck’s cab.

Now when the driver is in the designated clean-out area at one end of the work zone, he can grab the spray can from the receptacle, spray down the appropriate areas, and return the spray can before heading back to get another load. The receptacle is welded on at an angle to prevent the can from falling or rolling out, and to make it quick and easy to grab and use.

The receptacle is welded onto the truck at an angle to prevent the spray can from rolling or falling out, and to make the can easy to access.

John Ball is the proprietor of Top Quality Paving and Training, Manchester, New Hampshire. He provides personal, on-site paving consulting services around the United States and into Canada. For more information, contact him at (603) 493-1458 or tqpaving@yahoo.com.