Shiny new Mcneilus M/A- my first ASL experience

This is one of the 2 new M/A's we just got for a city contract that begins December 1st, less than a month from now. I still dont think I'm going to sign up for it, I make more money on my current route. I had the chance to try out the truck though, and here you go.
My camera battery went dead, but after about half an hour of practice I was doing much better than what you see in the vid.
I like this truck, it has some nice features. \Seems like the arm should be a bit faster on the upswing but I'm sure thats adjustable.
I was only practicing with empty carts in the yard though, I couldnt give my final verdict on this truck until I actually hauled a significant amount of trash with it, and that might never happen.
Guess we'll see...

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• garbage
• truck
• trash
• mcneilus
• ma
• M/A
• rubbish
• refuse
• waste
• asl
• automated

[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"!

[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...

[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.

[TrashKid63]

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

[TrashKid63]

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

[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?

[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.

[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