What exactly can (and what can't) a ‘sucker’ truck do?
Jan 23, 2023
Offering safe, efficient removal of all wet and dry waste products
There’s no doubt you’ve seen them on building, construction and industrial development sites around Australia, but one question we’re constantly asked is; what exactly can - and can’t - a vacuum (or sucker) truck do?
Naturally, it’s important to have informed and measured expectations to ensure you have the right equipment and labour on your building site so that things move along quickly and efficiently.
Essentially designed for suctioning various liquids into a tank for removal and safe disposal, a well-equipped and versatile sucker truck can be deployed in a wide range of industries and sectors.
Builders and site owners are normally required by a development consent to have adequate erosion control measures in place at construction sites, meaning there are mandatory regulations for controlling soil erosion including removing accidental spills of soil onto roadways, gutters and public thoroughfares.
This is where sucker trucks come into their own, providing a fast and safe method to get the job done without fuss, making professionally built and operated units a staple for the industry.
Used extensively in the construction sector, sucker trucks are also engaged in the petroleum, gas and mining industry for cleaning of storage tanks and spills along with removal of most wet material including drillers mud.
Sucker trucks can also be used for sewer pipe cleaning and septic emptying, clearing of storm drains, sewer lines and catch basins as well as just most projects requiring the removal of debris or liquids.
They’re equally at home when it comes to horizonal directional digging (ie: the installation of underground cables and pipes), utility location servicing and pot hole/post hole digging where safe and secure foundations are needed.
However, there are some areas where vacuum trucks may not be suitable, such as the clean-up of contaminant spills such as oil, petrol and other flammable fuels.
Similarly, when it comes to jobs such as pool excavations our advice is to explore your options. While vacuum trucks can certainly handle the job, normally the scope and extent of the work means manual methods may be more effective.
Excavac’s modern fleet of vac loading and vac excavation sucker trucks offer safe, efficient removal of all wet and dry waste products.
Our highly versatile units, hold 8,000 litres of spoil and 3,000 litres of fresh water each - plus we're Australian owned and operated.
Servicing Sydney, The Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and the Illawarra, Excavac is a full-service, fully insured contractor, available 24/7.
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Due to its effectiveness, hydro excavation has become increasingly popular in construction projects. However, selecting the right vacuum truck requires consideration of a number of factors.
Our comprehensive surveying methods, coupled with non-destructive hydro excavation, leave no stone unturned—quite literally—when prioritizing safety.
The advantages of hydro excavation are primarily centred on significantly reducing risks when compared to traditional methods like mechanical excavation, jackhammering, and drilling.
Sydney, Blue Mountains,
Illawarra & Southern Highlands
Illawarra & Southern Highlands
