Most pumper truck operators take pride in their school of hard knocks degree. One such hard knock is arriving at the pump site only to realize that your truck is just a little too full to completely the job. Now, unless it’s a 4:30 pm Friday job that caught you thinking about your favorite vacation destination, you probably have a pretty good idea of how full your tank is without a load level indicator. However, most trucks have at least one form of level indicator just for that Friday afternoon! Maintaining your level indicator will save time and money allowing you to arrive with plenty of capacity at every job site.
The most common level indicators are the small sight eyes that most tank manufacturer’s install on the back of the tank. Level indicators featuring a small plastic or glass lens that can be removed for easy cleaning are probably the easiest and cheapest way to verify your load level. A clear polycarbonate sight tube may be used in place of the sight eyes to see exactly where your level is at all times, rather than guessing where it is between the sight eyes. These tubes have exceptional durability and the valves and camlock fittings make them fairly easy to clean.
Maintenance of needle indicators can be tricky. These indicators rely on a float ball inside the tank. If there is sludge in the tank these float balls can get stuck, resulting in mistaken level reading outside the tank. If equipped with a grease fitting, be sure to keep them well greased. If possible, look inside the tank to make sure that no debris is caught on the float ball.
The See Level Annihiltor is one of several options for electronic level reading. These also rely on a float inside the tank that should be periodically checked for sludge and debris build-up. Although this is not a common problem, keeping it cleaned will save a lot of frustration resulting from being overloaded. These types of level indicators are popular for night operation and provide accurate readings.
Some pumper trucks are equipped with multiple styles of level indicators. Cross checking between them can provide accurate, real-time level indication. Uncertainty of the volume of waste being loaded or unloaded, weigh scale fines as a result of being overloaded, and pump damage that can occur when pumping with an overloaded truck are three more hard knocks that you can avoid! Keep your level indicator maintained and keep your profits climbing!
