Skip to Content

Why Do Garbage Trucks Have Two Steering Wheels?

Why Do Garbage Trucks Have Two Steering Wheels?

The garbage trucks are specifically designed vehicles to collect the solid wastes and then transport them to the waste management company.

They have two steerings, and you can operate the automatic control arm of these trucks to collect garbage by using right-side steering.

Why Do Garbage Trucks Have Two Steering Wheels? Garbage trucks have two steering wheels because they are larger and heavier to distribute the load on both sides. In addition, it can also increase safety by preventing damage to the axle. It will also make the picking of the dumpster process easy. Moreover, the two steerings will also provide clear visibility on the vehicle’s curbside. It can also increase a truck’s stability, primarily on the turning points. Due to the presence of two steerings, they can also carry more weight. These are also beneficial for saving the fuel cost and time of the drivers.

Why are there two steering wheels in a garbage truck?

This dual steering system is majorly installed in these trucks to decrease drivers’ confusion and make them less hectic while performing this duty.

Distribution of load

The garbage trucks are larger to carry more weight of the dustbins and other debris. These are specially designed so the driver can easily take all the garbage from different areas.

In addition, it also has multiple wheels to decrease the stress and increase their durability. In addition, more wheels also provide better control.

These types have two steering wheels to distribute the load on both sides. When you have one steering in a large and heavy vehicle, it can damage the axle joints.

It can increase their risk of wear and tear and cause their bending.

In addition, you cannot drive appropriately with a bent axle because it can start to produce uneven noise and disturb the alignment.

The two steerings can resolve this issue in heavier trucks and distribute the weight in both axles.

The weight distribution on both sides also decreases the risk of damage and increases their longevity.

Increase safety

The two steerings are mainly present in garbage trucks to make them safer while driving. One person cannot drive alone with this large truck.

They also help provide better control and stability during driving at high speed. These vehicles are primarily known as side loaders to collect the debris from different points.

The collection of debris while driving is problematic because you have to make the extra effort. The addition of two steering makes the wheels safer by increasing the life of their different parts.

In addition, it is also safe for drivers because it can decrease the risk of their accidents.

Easy to pick dumpsters

Two steerings are beneficial in garbage trucks because they can make the collection process safer.

The driver has not to come out of the vehicle again and again to see the process of wasting. Instead, they can sit on the left side and see all the process.

Moreover, they can also correctly control all the required systems for proper disposal. In this way, the drivers become less hectic because they do not have to come out again and again.

In addition, it will also reduce their stoppage on different points, and they do not need to turn off the vehicle again and again.

They can only replace their place to do the whole process, which is comfortable and time-saving for them.

Save time

Time is essential to consider in this busy routine, and every person wants to save time. The modern technologies in the world also save most of our time by providing easiness.

In addition, the addition of modern technologies in our lives saves time and reduces the effort of work.

The two steering wheels save the driver’s time because they can do all tasks while just changing their sitting position.

Furthermore, in old times, the drivers need the help of other people to guide them while driving and picking up debris.

It also requires more time to drive by a single driver because they have to come out from the truck to see all the operations.

Increase visibility on the road

Clear visibility on the road is also necessary for heavy trucks’ smooth and safe driving. The larger size of garbage trucks also have broadsides which can decrease the visibility on the road.

The decrease in visibility, especially at turning points, will increase the risk of accidents. You can easily see the vehicle’s curbside while sitting in the cab.

It becomes easy and safe to drive a larger truck with proper visibility. However, it becomes difficult to drive when the trucks do not have two steering to make the road visible from the sides.

It became hectic for the driver to see outside while driving.

Carry more weight

When you increase the weight in the truck, it will disturb its stability and make its tires more at risk of wear and tear.

Due to heavy loads, the suspension system is also at greater risk of damage and starts to produce uneven noises.

The heavy loads also disturb the stability of the steering wheel while driving at average speed. When these types of trucks have two power steering wheels, you can add more load to them.

It also has two axles that can easily bear the more loads of the garbage trucks and cannot cause any issue with its parts.

Increase productivity and efficiency

When you can carry more weight with these garbage trucks than in return, it helps increase the company’s productivity and efficiency.

It also saves fuel costs because the drivers can carry all the debris in one or two turns; they do not have to go back again and again.

It becomes productive for the company when you save the fuel cost. The company also needs fewer employees for two to three turns during the day.

In addition, the employee costs will also decrease due to less use of garbage trucks again and again during the whole day.

Control the automatic arm of the truck

The automatic arm is the component of the garbage trucks that helps collect the debris in the hoppers of these vehicles.

The two steering wheels in these types help to control this automatic arm so you can change your place and control the movement of the automatic arm.

The control arm, in return, will help to put the debris in the hoppers safely without causing spillage on the road.

Easy to turn the truck

The turning of large and heavier trucks is also the main problem. Turning the truck can stress the axle joints and other suspension system parts when you want to turn it.

The turning of these larger vehicles becomes easy with these two steerings because it can also clear the view of the curbside, increasing the visibility on the sides.

Do all garbage trucks have two steering wheels?

Yes, all garbage trucks have two steerings commonly present in the USA to carry heavier loads.

In some countries, these trucks do not have two steers because it can confuse the driver driving.

They add the button in their vehicles to control the automatic control arm for disposal of the debris.

Is it easy to drive a garbage truck with two steering wheels?

Yes, it is easy and safer to drive the garbage trucks with two steerings because it is not a complicated process.

According to the requirement, you have to move inside the cab from one side to another.

It can also provide a smooth and comfortable ride while maintaining the control and stability of the vehicle.

How to drive a garbage truck with two steering wheels?

It is easy to drive the garbage trucks with two steering wheels because it can give a broad view of the road and its sides.

 One steering is on the left side, and the other is on the right side. The ones present on the left side are primarily used for driving purposes.

The right side helps to control the automatic arm of the garbage truck. So when you have to collect debris, you just come on the right side to operate the control arm.

When you operate this part, it can put all the debris upside down in the hoppers of the truck without causing any spillage.

After collecting the garbage, you can come towards the left side to drive the vehicle again. For this purpose, you do not need two drivers separately.

Only one driver can alone do all the operations adequately, and it also saves the employees cost of the company.

Related Articles:

Diesel vs Gas Truck for Towing

Silverado Tow Haul mode not working