JOB EFFICIENCY GUIDE

LOADERS / SHOVELS / TRUCKS

DFM/CMG 1999
CATERPILLAR INC.

Before starting, do a visual walk-around and report anything unusual

Keep the operators cab clean and tidy
Start the engine:
Buckle up for safety
Check all EMS
Warm up the machine and more so in cold weather conditions
Prior to working, test brakes and hydraulics

THE LOAD AREA

- Loader/shovel operator is "Team Quarterback" Think dig pattern!!!
- Is the face material properly blasted for easy digging with consistent loading cycles?
- Is a trap dozer needed is it cost effective?
- Is the loading tool properly equipped for the job (tires, bucket, edges, GET)?
- Is the bucket leveler properly set or adjusted? Is the hoist?
- Does the loader operator use first gear when truck loading?
- Is the truck spotted with a full bucket?
- When over trucked, do truck operators use a good pre-position for fast efficient
exchanges?
- Is the truck positioned at a good angle for easy loader cycling and less maneuvering?
- Is the minimum one-and-a-half tire revolutions rule being applied?
- When dumping the first pass, is the bucket lowered into the bed minimizing load
impact?
- On remaining dump passes is the bucket positioned at a reasonable height to avoid other
truck body damage?
- Does the loader operator use proper techniques when loading, transferring weight to the
front axle and avoiding unnecessary tire slip?
- Does the loader operator shake the bucket at the toe to avoid hanging material from
spilling on the work floor?
- Are good housekeeping habits being applied (sweeping & cleanup)?
- Is the floor level and smoothness bench grade maintained Is floor padding used
when needed?
- Do loader/shovels operators prepare the face during truck delays?
- Are trucks normally spotted on the vision side?
- Is bucket comer loading being avoided?
- Do operators avoid tire grinding on loaders and trucks?
- Is the loading unit trucked up to maximize loading production?
- Are at least 70% of the truck exchanges under one-minute?
- To enhance production are you taking advantage of double side loading with face
shovels?
- Do shovels have proper clean-up support in the loading zone?
- Does the mine/contractor have a continuous training program in place?

(Continue Efficiency)
HAUL & RETURN ROADS
- Are Haulroads In Good Condition To Permit High Travel Speeds?
- Do The Roads Have Sufficient Top Dressing To Permit All Weather Use?
- Does The Road Begin At The Loading Face & Continue To The Dump Point?
- Are Operators Selecting Proper Gears To Operate Safely?
- Is Road Width At Least 3 Times The Width Of The Largest (widest) Haul Unit?
- Have Bottlenecks Been Eliminated To Minimize Hauling Delays?
- Does The Loaded Haul Truck Have Right-Of-Way?
- What Is The Traffic Pattern, Right Or Left Hand Is It Safe? .
- Is The Use Of Excessive Water Avoided For Dust Control On The Roads & Ramps
(Excess Water Contributes To Tire Cutting)?
- Are Curves Superelevated To Minimize Steering Effort, Load Shifting, Tire Roll Yet
Maintain High Travel Speeds?
- Is The Road Properly Crowned & Ditched To Shed Water?
- Does Road Layout Offer Good Visibility For The Truckers?
- Are Intersections Spacious & Safe?
- At Dangerous Points Is A Flag Man Or Some Sort Of Traffic Control Used?
- Are The Truck Operators Familiar With The Retarder Braking System (Retarding &
RPMs Go Hand-In-Hand Like Beaches & Cream Or Laurel & Hardy)?
- On Downhill Hauls Is The Operator Using The Optimum Gear & Maintaining High
RPMs For Sufficient Brake Cooling Based On Conditions?
- Are Road Signs Used To Indicated Proper Gear Selection On Grades & Safe Operating
Speeds?
- Are There Enough Motorgraders For Haul Conditions & Distance?
- Is The Road Well Maintained Keeping The Surface Clean Of Debris & Minimizing
Rolling Resistance?
- Are Trucks Properly Equipped For The Job (Tires, Body, Sideboards, Ducktails)?
- Have The Truckers Been Properly Trained?
DUMP AREAS
- Is The Dump Large Enough To Handle Traffic Flow Does It Drain Is The Floor
Stable, Level, & Smooth?
- Does The Safety Berm Meet Mine Safety Regulations Is It Properly Maintained?
- Is There Enough Support Equipment To Handle Truck Flow?
- Is The Dump Pattern Adequate Minimizing Truck Delays?
- Is The Dump Set- up In A Right To Left Hand Pattern With Trucks Dumping Ahead Of
The Support Tractor?
- Does The Support Tractor Act As A Spotter?
- Near The End Of The Dump Cycle Does The Operator Creep Forward Clearing The
Load Eliminating The Bed From Wedging Against The Pile?
- Is The Truck Bed Free Of Carryback?
- Can Truckers Enter & Exit At Comfortable Safe Speeds?
- Do Truckers Lower Beds Before Moving Away From The Dump Point?

(Continue Efficiency)
GENERAL COMMENTS
- Has The Fleet Been Properly Sized Along With Support Equipment?
- Can A Few Hours Of Dozer Or Motorgrader Work Change The Job Layout Increasing
Production And Place Less Strain On The Equipment?
- Do Operators Understand Proper Start Up And Shut Do Procedures For Diesel Engines?
- Was Standardization Of Equipment Considered Minimizing Parts Storage And
Maintenance Or Repair Cost?
- Is There Adequate Well Trained Supervision On Site Do They Know Good Basic
Operating Practices Do They Recognize Those Equipment Signals Requiring Service
Or Repair?
- Is There A Standard Reporting System For Operators And Supervisors To Report
Equipment Problems Or Malfunctions?
- Do Your Employees Make Suggestions To Improve Operations?
- Are Good Training Programs In Place Is Continuous Improvement Your Goal?
- Do All People Get Safety Training Do They Know What To Do In Case Of An
Emergenc y Situation?

If Answers To The Above Questions Are Yes Then You No Doubt Have An Efficient
Project. It Should Be Remembered That Experience And Common Sense Will Be Your
Best Tool In Utilizing The Equipment Under Any Set Of Given Conditions; However,
These Few Questions May Remind You And Your People There Are Ways To
Improve Any Operation. Good Efficiency Habits Is Everyone's Job!!

Last, but Not Least Is Practicing Good Communications Say What You Mean, Make
Sure Everyone Understands Poor (FUZZY) Communications May Result In Costly
Mistakes To The Job!!