Three Heavy-Duty Vehicles Highlight New Equipment Acquisitions
Whether its heavy-duty vehicles or hand tools, Public Works staff keeps a watchful eye on their department’s equipment needs to offer outstanding service and keep the city running.
Supporting employees with modern tools to complete jobs more efficiently is critical. Thus, much of the equipment used in the City’s Park Maintenance, Streets and Utilities divisions adhere to a replacement schedule, dictated by the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Equipment purchasing is also determined by a Public Works scoring system, which considers the age of the vehicle, its condition and usages. For example, if the condition of equipment is good and primarily used for certain specific jobs (i.e. a vacuum trucks), it could be up for replacement later than its standard 12-year window.
With a skilled team of mechanics, the life of equipment can be prolonged granted proper maintenance is completed, which reduces expenses significantly. “Every piece of equipment is different, but for our fleet of heavy-duty vehicles, we hope to get at least 15-20 years out of each one,” said Equipment Operations Supervisor Richard Poppitz.
Typically, when Public Works purchases a piece of equipment, it is done directly through vendors as opposed to secondary or used markets. Equipment is almost always purchased new for enhanced quality as well as State pricing. Despite over 20 new pieces of equipment arriving at Public Works within the past year, three heavy-duty vehicle purchases headline the list of acquisitions, including a new multi-purpose truck, a specialized log loading truck and vacuum truck for utility work.
Type of Equipment: Multi-Purpose Truck
Make/Model: 2023 Western Star Model 4700X
Primary Usage: This multi-usage and highly versatile truck is used primarily to plow roads in the winter, pull concrete trailers and haul rubble from summer street construction projects. The trucks have detachable plow blades and have been fitted with brine tanks for winter weather operations.
Department: Street Department, Concrete Division
Due for Replacement: 2035
Type of Equipment: Log Loader
Make/Model: 2023 Western Star Model 4700X
Primary Usage: This specialized truck is used for tree removal, as well as hauling brush and branches from park maintenance projects. The log loader uses a heavy-duty, multi-purpose truck equipped with a flatbed and hydraulic arm to load the bed. The arm is controlled by an operator located in the cab of the truck, and can move large tree trunks in one piece. This equipment is great for day-to-day operation, and can be utilized in urgent situations such as removing fallen trees from streets after storms. Department: Park Maintenance Division
Due for Replacement: 2039
Type of Equipment: Vac-Con
Make/Model: 2023 Freightliner Model 114SD
Primary Usage: Vacuum trucks (also called vac-cons) are a type of tank truck designed to pneumatically suck liquids from locations for transport on roadways via tanks. The vac-con is great for hydro excavating around fiberoptic cables and wires where it is hard to use a typical excavator.
Department: Utilities Division
Due for Replacement: 2035