Shiny new Mcneilus M/A- my first ASL experience

[TrashKid63]

does this work on the wierd things that dare call themselves `garbage cans`?

[Trashman242]

Nice work!! Did pretty well for not having been on auto before!! Are there outside controls for the arm or do you have to operate it from inside the cab? Also I was wondering about Mcneilus MSLs in general--is there a single pack option or is it only multi-pack? Thanks for the vid!

[WasteCnxsideloader]

There are rocker switches to control the arm just below the seat that you can use when you have to get out to dump a cart.

Although I hate the cab setup (uncomfortable chair, gas and brake pedals to far away when sitting) this truck has some nice features. As soon as you operate the joystick control for the arm the packer starts automaticaly, and if you put the pre-crush panel down it automaticaly comes back up when you lift the next cart, so that reduces the need to reach over to the console.

[WasteCnxsideloader]

...and to answer your question you can set the packer to cycle from between 1-10 times which is the same as my truck. Most of these trucks that we have are set to cycle 5 times including mine (743).

I decided not to take this auto route but I switched out the guy who drives this truck now (gave him my truck while I dumped his so he didnt have to make a transfer trip) and I ran about 60 stops with it, and its definately more challenging to operate "on route"!

[Trashman242]

haha did it handle the Ameri-kart 'shopping carts' that scatter your routes though??

OK, thanks for answering my questions! Does sound like some nice features with the crusher panel raising automatically and packer activating as well. So the only 'outside' controls for the arm alone are below the seat?

[Garbagetrucks]

How do you like the Macks? Are the international RL's good?

[caltrain2]

you were pretty good im in pressed my freind was trying it out he was spereing bins lol

[JohnsDisposal]

That's a nice looking unit setup Eric! With a little tweaking of the system. That arm will work better if speeded up. Don't let it scare you though. It took me at least 1 month to realy get compfortable operating an ASL.

You'd be surprised at all of the little tricks you will learn in time (if you do take this job) that will make you quicker at getting the job done! As you mentioned, You would get a little out of shape realy fast in one of these trucks. Later!

[WasteCnxsideloader]

I did not take the route but I had the chance to run this truck on the route about a week ago, picked up about 60 stops with it. Its definately more of a challenge in real situations. I found it rather awkward to pick carts up off the curb as oppposed to on a surface level with the truck because you have to tilt the arm up. If not you will grab it by the wheels and cause problems lol.

Then there are parked cars, mailboxes, extra trash,etc. Those people arent used to automated service yet...

[JohnsDisposal]

At 1st it is a very challenging setup! It took me at least a good month to get things down pat to where I could realy move!

I know what you mean by the curb senario. It took me a while to get where I'd get use to the curbs. When setting my toters down, I'll leave the arm slightly raised so it'd be ready for the next stop.

It just takes a little time to get use to it I guess. Heh, I've been on the same routes for 6 yrs now. Some people just don't care where they park & or place their toters at.

[shawnlalanne]

New garbage truck smell. Like new car smell, nothing beats it (until the trash starts piling up & the new smell is overcome by the stench of the trash).

[doowop62]

Great technology, it give credence to the connotation of the metaphor that money truely stinks. Ha ha ha ha.  Said, remember the old compared to the new.

Dabe, Dave Stacey, aka doowop62

[andersonTVs]

Good first evening my friend

I want to ask you, on the arm of ASL there is one will be on camera who transmition in cockpit ? eyes on the arm , certainely, is that my friend ,

good truck the new Mcneilus.

[TRASHWOW]

should u be backing from the right hand side drive

[WasteCnxsideloader]

@TRASHWOW

Yes its fine, unlike some other places we dont have ridiculous rules like no backing from the right side, that makes no sense to me. If you know how to drive the truck there is no difference. I actually feel more comfortable maneuvering from the right side, thats where I spend the vast majority of my workday.

[MitchellM15]

Really is a different thing going from years of manual experience to the use of this technology. Just a matter of getting used to the new arm, practice makes perfect.

[WasteCnxsideloader]

@MitchellM15

Funny thing is that after about 15-20 minutes it felt completly natural to me, I think within the first week I could master this truck no problem.

I like the idea of being able to listen to music or audio books uninterupted, and staying inside a nice warm cab on cold crap weather days... but I'm going to stick with my MSL route.

[MitchellM15]

Yeh I guess all you really have to do is get used to roughly aligning the cart and lifter, and then getting used to the lifter's operation in general. Driving would be pretty much the same and I suppose the truck has a similar concept to your own. Suppose you'd get too fat sitting inside a truck all day; that's what a lot of garbos have told me lol

[NYMegaMan]

Very cool but stay in the MSL. Can't have as much fun on an ASL. What would TTD do???

[WasteCnxsideloader]

@NYMegaMan

Exactly. Not only that they finally came up with a pay scale for automated and after doing a little math I figured that I would make considerably less than what I do now, even with putting in more hours.

I actually think I would really like going automated but I cant afford a paycut, and I like 743 and my current route anyway.

I think it would certainly be a case of the grass not being greener on the other side. I'm going to stay where I'm at.

[NYMegaMan]

Really glad to hear your staying on 743. Tips might be better on your current route too. Not sure if customers will tip the same on automated routes

[Angeldp777]

ya know, as cool as it is having this giant arm pick up the barrels, it takes the fun and hard work out of the job. plus it's just one more thing that can brake lol. they're cool to watch, but I enjoy being able to pick...

[WasteCnxsideloader]

@Angeldp777

I like the hard work and the physical challenge of my job as well, and automated would remove alot of that satisfaction, which is one of the things I would be afraid of. It might get boring. Plus, Ive already somehow managed to gain 20 lbs in the last year or so despite working harder than ever, so driving an ASL would probably make me fat too lol.

And you are right, the more complicated the truck the more oppurtunties for mechanical failures- not cool!

[arkansastrash320]

Hi Eric and in a town the size of mine where you have a driver and 2 workers on a RL it would mean job loss or being placed on some different type of job when they worked RLs for long time.Not really good for jobs.I don't blame you for stickig to the way you like it....

[DrumKing95]

How far does the arm reach out? That is a pretty sweet rig. Im impressed.

[WasteCnxsideloader]

It doesnt have the reach that I would like,not sure exactly what it is seems like 5-6ft at most. For instance it would not be able to pick up a cart placed on the curb if there is a car parked nearby, you would have to get out and move it.

The farther away that you have to reach out for a cart the slower this truck seems, but in areas where you can pull the truck right up to the cart with minimal reaching this thing will be plenty fast I think.

[KabakaLion]

You're right, that thing is pretty slow on the dumping. The whole process seems pretty sluggish compared to how quick you move. That whole arm mechanism looks very beefy, at least.

[Danny19921125]

Wow, nice so this will be your another new truck you going to work with, so you have two trucks MSL 734 and this ASL 751?

It is hard to operate MSL and ASL? I only know how to operate RL lol.

[mcbombtings]

Wow that is one new truck! Is WC contracted w/Mack and McNeilus for trucks? Not too shabby for your first time at it! Truck looks clean, although I never really understood the point of these. Either you are going to pick up carts+extra (MSL) or just carts (ASL)...I don't get the inbetween. You could jump out and dump a cart just as fast as you could from sitting in the cab. I guess an M/A would just be nice on cold, rainy days ;-)

[packerblade]

wow! it's been a long time comin

if anyone deserves this it's you, but i bet some days you might miss the manual loading and catch yourself hopping out at certain stops, lol

[r6man2]

That's really cool Eric!

[ThaThunderStorm]

Its amazing how much quieter the new Mack Engines are. Pretty LEU there Eric, how'd you lie her overall?+ By the way, how has your LEU been holding up? Any problems at all with her?

[cd8100]

nice truck! I will be posting a curbtender route video when im on thanksgiving break

[trashman243]

So is this gunna end up being the truck youh drive regularly.?

[davesfarmdozer]

i wish we could have them in the uk our wagons are rubbish

[mikeyfromnj]

Hi Eric!! Nice truck, plenty of those around. You say you make more driving 743, but I would think that eventually they would replace all of the present msl's, so would that mean less pay in the future or would the whole pay structure be adjusted??

[mcbombtings]

The only way these would replace all MSL's is if residents were restricted to cart use only. If you have a cart plus 3-6 bags extra at each stop or bulk items, you're not saving any time because you have to get out anyways. And if service is restricted to carts only, then you might as well just get an Auto Reach.

[cubcadetpuller]

those trucks are nice, but my gramp still has his old '84 and '84 international s-1900 6 wheelers with 20yd packmors. he also got a '86 mack r685st sixwheeler with a 25yd loadmaster, mack automatic to boot. we still run the old school rearloaders due to these newer rigs being all computor controlled and cost to fix.

[trashmaster684]

Thats a really nice truck.

Can it pick up those wider bins?

5 n fav.

[WasteCnxsideloader]

@trashmaster684

Technically it can pick up the short wide carts, but it crushes them in the process because they are not round.

The town where the contract starts currently has a mix of carts, serviced by 4 different companies, including us. We are in the process of switching them all for the 95 gallon Rehrig "Husky" carts that you see in this video.

[trashmaster684]

Ahhh.

Those bins short wide carts are plastic?

I thought they were metal.

[WasteCnxsideloader]

@trashmaster684

The frame is metal but the tub is plastic. They are more expensive to manufacture and maintain than the newer carts, so they are a dying breed.

[trashmaster684]

Oh. So Waste Connections s just buying Rehrigs now?

No more of those Ameri-kart carts.

[WasteCnxsideloader]

@trashmaster684

Yeah, thats all we get now.

[mcbombtings]

I think the Ameri-Kart versa carts (newer ones w/out metal frame) are better than the Rehrigs. Rehrigs are the cheapest $ cart out there, thats why we buy 'em...and it shows. They are not even a year old and we have a pile of broken ones in the back.

[trashmaster684]

Yeah. Rehrigs are garbage. I have no idea why our city bought em.

[TrashKid63]

@mcbombtings well you have to consider how violent yor trucks are

[daewooparts]

l.o.l @0:11~0:17 they look virgin with no junk in her trunk yet ! :P

[daewooparts]

if you sign up for it WAIT UNTILL YOU GET YOUR CHRISMAS TIPS FIRST on your old route. before doing the new route :P  the mcneilus is cool though,nice to see it munching on a light snack before they go pig out and eat the massive holiday meals right around the corner

[Buckshot3715]

Nice truck!

[Ferretguy55]

if your making more moey on the other route i would stay with it

[RainbowDisposal]

This video: Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

#81 - Most Favorited (Today) - Autos & Vehicles

[RainbowDisposal]

Hey Eric, loving the new automated truck.

Here's a tip I'd like you to know: When you come across an overfilled cart, grab, pull the arm ALL THE WAY back to the home position, and then dump. That way nothing will spill out.

Heck you don't have to follow that but it's just a tip in case because around Christmas, there'll be some overfilled carts even though there will be stuff on the side. 5 stars and a fav.

[bitterman112]

Coll Stuff! 5*!

[3amrepmike3]

very nice! looks like fun! always nice to play with the new toys huh?

[skizmog]

wow that truck is beutiful! i cant believe you mite pass up this! just think of it as helping your back a little bit lol great video!

[FormerWMDriver]

That looked great for a first time! Well done! My first time on a route with an ASL, I knocked over a lot of carts - mainly from trying to reach out and grab at the same time. Definitely looking good.... please let me know if you ever do decide to take one of these out on route. I would like to hear your opinion on it.

[lahluv]

nice job eric

[trashmaster818]

good that it starts in december cause its winter and cold, so it will be nice and warm in the truck. not as much going out. and from what i know it gets real cold out there in those areas or parts of the U.S. not bad for a first time. ull open up and get used to it eventually. oh and do you like the automated truck better?

5 stars

[internationalRLfan]

how did it feel to use a automated truck for the 1st time

[rjman159]

And you are saying NO to that!!!

[jeremy1350]

On the upside automation works. On the downside, you still have to get out and pick up trash that isn't in the bins. I wonder if all this technology works in the long run? And if it is efficient and would cut down on non bin usage?

Jeremy

[rempledisposal]

beautiful :D

[JaccobDalton]

That Truck is a BEAST!! Awesome Job. I give you 5 stars and a fave