Question for Paver Operators.

[dirtdawg]

I am a triaxle driver with 8 years of experience hauling stone and dirt, the company I work for took a job hauling asphalt to a shoulder paver on the Interstate at night. We are in our first week of the job and I can't for the life of me figure out how to follow the paver and stay straight in the machine. The operators have been helpful, trying to tell me which way to steer but, a few times I've had to lower my body and reposition in the machine. I always get jammed on the left side of the paver. The stretch of road we are working on has long sweeping curves, with a 2ft x 2ft ditch milled to my right and the traffic lane on my left.
I know the operators have better things to worry about than telling me how to drive, and the other drivers have been of no help. I just want to get through the night without breaking something or pissing the crew off. Any help would be very much appreciated.

[wnydirtguy]

your not the only one. I can stay centered in a paver if my life depended on it. I always go back and forth in it even on straight runs. Hope some one has pointers. I hope they keep helping u. good luck.

[hoosier]

In my brief experiences running pavers/shuttle buggies,the dump man should be there helping you,I would just push the trucks along.
Are you not dumping into a shuttle buggy,curious as you say its interstate work?

[dirtdawg]

hoosier, I don't know why they aren't using a shuttle buggy, those I have dumped into before. I take my cues from the paver driver, to raise and lower my body, he's been good at pointing left and right, telling me which way to steer. I seem to be kind of getting the hang of it. Last night I only jammed him up 1 time out of 5 loads.

[muzy]

The way I was told "back in strait and quit turnnin the f-en wheel" worked for me. muzy

[telescooper]

Funny thing that is what I used to tell to drivers. They play the wheel all the time, make little adjustments. Paver operators don't like to steer any more than they have to either.

[dirtdawg]

I'm getting the idea of it now...Alot of my problem was backing straight up to the machine, the other problem is, the miller is zig zagging, forcing the paver to follow his trench. Working at night makes it that much harder, traffic whizzing past on the left, a 2ft deep ditch on the right. Thanks, munzy and telescooper.

[telescooper]

Are you backing into a widener or a paver?

[dirtdawg]

telescooper, It is a widener. http://www.nixon-egli.com/images/pro...andSPD8-3l.jpg The arm on it is 2ft. wide to fill in the trench. The trench is like a footer for when they mill and repave the lanes, the asphalt will have a shoulder to push against when it's rolled.

[telescooper]

Ok, I see. Yep its a widener, I think its a little more difficult to be pushed by a widener then a paver. Just drive straight dont play with the steering wheel to much.

Just my thoughts, Telescooper

[dirtdawg]

Thanks, telescooper, They switched operators on the machine I was assigned to. I ran 8 loads to him and didn't have a problem all night. Now that I've been on this job a few weeks, the other drivers are starting to share info. Apparently, the 1st operator was taken off the machine because he had a problem keeping his car out of bars before work.....Shoulders are done, on to milling and binder for the traffic lanes...Thanks for all the help and advice!