Small dozer load push off time

[PBEtrucking]

Got my older john deere 450 dozer on a job currently and it got me thinking about efficiency and average times for pushing off a tri axle dump load of material. Doing a job with a buddy and I think he severely underestimated how efficient a guy can be on a small dozer, im also starting to think I should have bid hourly instead of a by the load push price. Almost need another tri axle in rotation to keep the dozer moving. When you guys are estimating a job, what do you assume in time to push off a dump truck load? Now what do you assume to not just push off in a fill type scenario, but to accurately grade off a load? Just curious what others are getting with similar sized dozers.

 

[MG84]

I'm running a 1987 Case 450C wide track, weighs about 13-14K, 70hp, 104" blade, power shift/power reverser, torque converter drive. Most of the time I'm doing the hauling myself also, haul about 14-15 tons on my tandem. I haven't timed it exactly, but I can certainly push it off and rough grade it in less than 10min. Might even be closer to 5-6min if it spreads nicely and I don't have to push it far. If I have others hauling for me I like a truck coming every 15min or I'm waiting around. This is assuming top soil, clean gravel, etc that doesn't need compaction. If its clay or shale and I'm pulling the sheepsfoot roller with the dozer and compacting at the same time it takes considerably longer. Both in time maneuvering and time for compaction.

 

[CM1995]

Using our 953, D5G or Next Gen 3 I usually estimate 10-15 mins between tri-axle loads depending on material. Nice sandy clay is very quick to blade out compared to rocky chert for example.

95% of the time if we are hauling in material it's structural requiring compaction and testing to grade. The 10-15 min average still applies. Now this is with 2 machines and 2 operators. One on the dozer and one on the compactor. Keeping the trucks on the advancing fill lift and dumping at the edge helps speed up compaction as well.

 

[PBEtrucking]

I'm running a 1987 Case 450C wide track, weighs about 13-14K, 70hp, 104" blade, power shift/power reverser, torque converter drive. Most of the time I'm doing the hauling myself also, haul about 14-15 tons on my tandem. I haven't timed it exactly, but I can certainly push it off and rough grade it in less than 10min. Might even be closer to 5-6min if it spreads nicely and I don't have to push it far. If I have others hauling for me I like a truck coming every 15min or I'm waiting around. This is assuming top soil, clean gravel, etc that doesn't need compaction. If its clay or shale and I'm pulling the sheepsfoot roller with the dozer and compacting at the same time it takes considerably longer. Both in time maneuvering and time for compaction.

Okay, glad to see I'm right on ballpark here, up in NY we're running 20 ton or better on most tri axles so it's a little more to deal with, but running similar times. I was thinking a truck every 15-20 minutes at most would be ideal to keep the ball rolling.

 

[CM1995]

We can gross 25 tons on tri-axles here legally.

 

[PBEtrucking]

We can gross 25 tons on tri-axles here legally.

In NY upstate of the city area best we can do is 72,500 on a tri axle if you have enough wheelbase, which generally means 18 or 19 foot boxes, generally places expect a tri axle to do 20 tons or better, 21 is great, some guys have perfect specs and can get 23 legally, but those light trucks that get 23 legal don't seem to last long lol.

 

[skyking1]

Those numbers sound OK. I do not have much experience with dealing with trucks with a dozer that small, it is typically a 5 or larger. Last knockdown show I did was ~9,000 ton a shift with this.
That's the fill we were building with it next to the lineup.



The Fill in street view:



It's the upper gravel lot at Point Defiance. The lower paved lot and that slope above the marina were the cuts. Short cycles with 3~4 trucks as shown.


Earlier that year it was for Scarsella, and stacking it rather than dozing it out. I had a half dozen dump and pups or belly dumps bringing it in.



I tried to keep two sides going and ran the belly dumps up and over. That is fun stuff building a pile and not sticking the trucks.