What Is a Street Sweeper?
Sweepers are generally defined as garbage collection vehicles, including street, tunnel, and airport-specific sweepers. The first street sweeper, a self-propelled garbage truck, appeared in 1897, with vehicles similar to today’s street sweepers emerging in the late 1960s. Officially known as dust trucks, they also go by names like garbage truck, packer truck, sweeper truck, and dust collector. Modern sweepers may include a weighing device for trash.
Uses of Street Sweepers
Small 2-ton trucks are commonly used for household refuse collection, while larger 4-ton trucks serve business establishments. The actual capacity of a 2-ton truck is about 1 to 1.4 tons, varying with refuse quality. Sweepers are used globally not only for garbage collection but also for transporting recyclables or landscaping waste, contributing to clean and comfortable living environments.
Structure of Street Sweepers
Street sweepers consist of a discharge plate, operation panel, sewage tank, and press plate or turntable, equipped with safety devices like rear view cameras, emergency stop devices, and fire extinguishers for accident and fire preparedness.
Types of Street Sweepers
Selection of street sweepers depends on their intended use, with variations in compaction and discharge mechanisms.
1. Classification by Trash Compaction Type
Press Type: Utilizes a press plate for trash compaction at the inlet, suitable for household and oversized trash.
Rotating Plate Type: Employs a rotating plate for less forceful compaction, ideal for small household waste and landscaping debris.
Rotary Type: Features a cylindrical drum for continuous trash feeding, less common due to low compaction power.
2. Classification by Discharge Type
Extrusion Type: Works like a syringe to efficiently push out trash without leaving residue.
Dump Truck Type: Similar to a dump truck, it lifts to discharge trash, but may leave small debris behind.
Other Information on Street Sweepers
License Required to Drive a Janitorial Truck
No special license is needed for pre-March 11, 2017 license holders to drive certain janitorial trucks. Post-March 12, 2017, a revision in the license system requires a semi-medium license for up to 3-ton vehicles. Medium and large-sized licenses are needed for vehicles with gross weights of 5-11 tons and over 11 tons, respectively. It is advisable to have a manual license, as most cleaning trucks are manual transmission.