Any industrial job that requires holes to be dug into the ground calls for a digger derrick – a crane-mounted truck with a large boom and an auger (a drilling device).
Depending on how big the auger is, a digger derrick (some call them auger cranes) can dig holes that are 18 inches in diameter and 10 ft deep. They also lift and shift heavy materials, like poles, and hoist personnel to perform aerial tasks.
The utility sector is where digger derricks find the most use, in power distribution and power transmission applications, but they’re also used by telecom, construction, forestry, and other industries.
THE HISTORY OF DIGGER DERRICKS
Like so many industrial solutions that evolved in the post-World War II climate of retooling and reinventing engineered products, the digger derrick was designed in the 1940s to modernize electricity.
Until then, electric pole installation was a slow and labor-intensive process with work crews digging holes using shovels and hand-augers.
Leroy C. Lindquist, owner of an equipment manufacturing company in Minnesota, came up with the idea of a machine run by power take-off on a truck’s transmission in order to speed up the digging process. By the 1950s, mass production of digger derrick trucks was well underway.
A hydraulic version of digger derricks was introduced in the 1960s. As the years went on, more innovations were introduced. These include fiberglass components to improve insulation and radio controls for remote operation. From digging to lifting heavy materials, these trucks could perform a multitude of tasks that simplified operations in a variety of jobsites.
DIGGER DERRICK TERMINOLOGY YOU MUST KNOW
Sheave Height
Defines the unit’s optimal digging radius and what size pole the digger derrick can lift.
Maximum Capacity
A metric to describe a unit’s maximum lifting capability – but only when the boom is fully deployed, straight up, at its highest angle, not at any other angle.
Capacity At 10-ft Radius
As is apparent from the phrase, this defines the amount of weight a digger derrick can lift when the load is 10 feet from the center of the truck. Ten feet became the industry standard measurement probably because it is the smallest load radius that has practical value when gauging a unit’s capacity. Keep in mind, though, that this capacity can change depending on the location of the boom on the truck.
Thanks to their versatility, digger derricks save on cost, time, and manpower. They reduce or eliminate the need for extra boom trucks on the worksite, and the same crew can accomplish both digging and hoisting jobs.
Any safety or operational decal that has worn out should be replaced. Make sure there are no mistakes in where they are positioned.
Timely change of oil filters is one of the most neglected forms of maintenance. Also check hydraulic oil levels frequently to make sure that the hydraulic system isn’t damaged.
Don’t just do a daily visual check. A manual check of the winch rope is the only way to guarantee operators’ safety.
Do this according to manufacturer specifications to avoid unwanted downtime and costly repairs from bearing damage.
Bucket liner damage from daily usage can affect its dielectric strength.
Waterlogged, sandy, swampy or snowy grounds may also be hard for truck wheels to negotiate. The continuous band of track treads has superior traction and covers a larger surface area, which better distributes the weight of the truck on uneven ground.
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MAIN DIGGER DERRICK SAFETY CONCERNS
Custom Truck One Source has you covered with the industry’s most respected brand names in our inventory like Terex and Elliott.
CHECK OUT OUR INVENTORY OF DIGGER DERRICKS FOR SALE OR RENT BY CLICKING HERE.
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