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Ledwell Team
In Energy, In The News, Innovation, Waste

Engineers Sharpen Skills at Cargo Tank Training

Ledwell attends NTTC Conference

Recently, two of our engineers, Will Norton and Gary Gathright, attended the NTTC Cargo Tank Test & Inspection Course, which was held in St. Louis by the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC). The course was designed to educate participants on the inspection and recertification of cargo tanks, especially those used for on-road transportation.

At Ledwell, we manufacture tankers under specific regulations set by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), specifically DOT 407/412 vacuum tanks. These regulations are revised every few years, so our team must stay up-to-date. The course was a refresher for Gary, who is already a certified design engineer, and an important step for Will to become a design-certifying engineer.

The training emphasized ensuring that the designs and processes we use for our tankers meet the latest safety and legal standards. By staying current with these regulations, we ensure that the vacuum tanks we build are compliant with the law and safe for everyone on the road.

Ledwell attends NTTC Conference
Ledwell Team
In Energy, In The News, Waste

ASME Code vs Non-Code Vacuum Tanks: Understanding the Difference

ASME Code vs Non-Code Vacuum Trucks - Understanding the Difference

Vacuum tanks are pressure vessels designed to operate under negative pressure conditions. They are commonly used in various industrial applications requiring a vacuum, such as the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food processing industries.

There are two types of vacuum tanks: ASME code and non-code. Follow along to understand the difference between ASME code vs non-code vacuum tanks.

ASME Code Vacuum Tanks

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is a professional organization that sets standards and codes for the design, fabrication, and inspection of pressure vessels, including vacuum tanks. ASME code vacuum tanks are designed and built according to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC), which provides guidelines for their safe construction and operation.

ASME code vacuum tanks are subject to rigorous design, fabrication, and inspection requirements. A qualified design-certifying engineer must design these tanks. They must also be fabricated by an ASME-certified manufacturer and inspected by an ASME-approved inspector before being put into service.

Ledwell Vacuum Truck DOT Certified

Non-Code Vacuum Tanks

Non-code vacuum tanks, on the other hand, are not designed or built according to any specific code. Although their designs follow many of the same features, they do not require design and fabrication by certified manufacturers. One noticeable difference is that, unlike ASME code tanks, non-code vacuum tanks don’t have to include roll-over bars at the top.

While non-code vacuum tanks may be less expensive than ASME code tanks, they may also pose a greater risk of failure or rupture. Non-code tanks are not subject to the same rigorous inspection requirements as ASME code tanks, and they may have different levels of quality control during fabrication.

Which Vacuum Tank is Right for You?

When choosing a vacuum tank, consider your application and the level of safety and reliability required. If your application involves hazardous materials, high-pressure differentials, or critical process conditions, an ASME code vacuum tank may be the best choice. ASME code tanks offer higher safety and quality assurance and are designed to meet strict performance standards.

However, if your application is less demanding or requires a lower level of performance, a non-code vacuum tank may be a more cost-effective option. Non-code tanks are typically less expensive than ASME code tanks and may be more suitable for applications that do not require the same level of regulatory compliance.

When choosing between ASME code vs non-code vacuum tanks, consider your application and the level of performance and safety required to ensure that you select the right tank for your needs.

Ledwell Team
In Energy, Government, In The News, Innovation, Material Handling, Transportation

Protect Your Cargo with Ledwell Gull Wing™: The Ultimate Solution for Safeguarding Cargo from the Elements

Are you tired of your deliveries being at the mercy of the weather? Look no further than the Ledwell Gull Wing™, the premier choice to safeguard cargo from the elements. With its innovative design and superior functionality, the Gull Wing™ offers a groundbreaking alternative to traditional curtain side trailers and stakebed trucks, ensuring your materials arrive safely and intact at their destination.

We understand the importance of protecting cargo from rain, snow, sun, and other environmental hazards. Our patented truck is engineered to provide unparalleled protection against the elements. Whether transporting sensitive electronics, delicate machinery, or perishable goods, you can trust the Gull Wing™ to keep your materials safe and secure throughout the journey.

The Ledwell Gull Wing™ is not just a one-size-fits-all solution. One of its key advantages is its versatility and customization options.

Our classic model features a 25’ 6” steel bed length, perfect for accommodating multiple pallets along the length of the bed. However, we understand that every business has unique needs and requirements. That’s why Ledwell offers customization options to tailor the Gull Wing™ to your specifications, ensuring that it meets your transportation needs.

The unique wing design allows for safe and efficient loading and unloading of heavy materials from both sides of the truck. Combined with center tie-downs, aluminum skin, and a full-function wireless remote, the Gull Wing provides added convenience and peace of mind during transportation.

In fact, one of our customers experienced a remarkable increase in on-time delivery rates, soaring to an impressive 98% from 87% after switching from a flatbed trailer to the Gull Wing™.

In addition to its exceptional performance, the Ledwell Gull Wing™ offers a range of optional extras to enhance its functionality and versatility further. It can be customized to suit your needs, from a multi-view camera system for enhanced visibility to low clearance half-hinge doors and a forklift package for added convenience.

When protecting cargo during transportation, trust the Ledwell Gull Wing™ to deliver unparalleled performance and peace of mind. Contact us today to learn more about how the future of curtain side trucks can revolutionize your transportation operations and keep your materials safe from the elements.

Gull Wing by Ledwell
Ledwell Team
In Energy, Government, In The News, Waste

ASME Certification Continues

Ledwell continues ASME certification

In 1916 ASME began its program for certification to companies in the pressure equipment industry. This program was developed to certify quality control systems for the design, fabrication, assembly, and inspection of boiler and pressure vessel components during construction.

Products manufactured by ASME BPVC certificate holders include a certification mark in accordance with the applicable certified section also known as a “U” stamp. A company can also be certified to make repairs or alterations to pressure vessels under the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors under an “R” stamp.

Ledwell began building pressure vessels, or in our case DOT Cargo Tanks, in the spring of 2010. This past May, we successfully completed our 5th joint review for ASME and National Board certification.

The purpose of the review is to evaluate the quality program and ensure the implementation for each product manufactured for fabrication, alterations, and repairs. Each assessment ensures the applicant’s quality program is implemented successfully and complies with requirements based on the ASME standard.

Certificates are granted after a review of the previous 36 months of work, verification of record-keeping requirements, personnel training, and required knowledge of pressure vessel design and fabrication rules.

Ledwell Team
In Construction, Energy, Fire, Government, In The News, Innovation, Rental

Top 5 Qualities to Look for in a Water Truck

4000 Gallon Water Truck by Ledwell

Water Truck Buying Guide

2000 Gallon Quality Water Trucks For Sale

Are you thinking about buying a heavy-duty water truck?

Shifting from renting to buying is a significant investment, and the vast options available on water trucks can be daunting. Whether you need a customized water truck or a stock water truck, you must consider several important qualities before you buy. Our water truck buying guide has the top 5 things to consider when purchasing a heavy-duty water truck.

1. Tough keel
Opting for a quad-bent design in the tank’s foundation ensures you’ll have a heavy-duty, stout truck. Also look for scalloped, interior-welded seams. This makes it harder for the seams to crack, making the tank last a very long time—possibly longer than the chassis it sits on. Internal piping should be welded before the tank is installed, and your manufacturer should test it to 120 psi before it leaves the plant.

2. Heavy-duty liner
The thicker the liner, the better. Our standard is a 30-millimeter finished thickness, which is the thickest in the industry. A good liner protects the tank’s interior from corroding, so the thicker the liner, the longer your tank will live. Look for a tank that’s blasted inside and out for a smooth finish. And pay attention to the type of liner you’re getting. If you’ll be carrying drinking water, your tank needs to have a potable compliant liner.

3. Strong pump and valves
A water truck’s pump is like the heart of the truck—it keeps everything moving. Selecting a water tank with an American-made two-bearing system with at least a 1.25″ input shaft and 3″ diameter driveline will help to keep water flowing. Incorporating in-cab air-operated controls is the best choice to work in tandem with the pump for maximum spraying.

Ledwell Water Tank Trucks For Sale
4000 Gallon Water Truck by Ledwell

4. Sturdy, well-protected hose reel
Keeping your water truck’s hose protected is key to making it last longer. A good water truck will have a rear internal hose reel mounted inside a frame that protects it from the elements. Mounting the hose reel inside of a frame also reinforces the reel to be sturdier. When it comes to your reel, extra storage is always a plus. Look for a water truck that has a storage box for side nozzles, suction hoses, and other accessories right where you need them.

5. Dependable service
Ask about the water truck’s warranty, and ask about service after the warranty runs out. Will you be able to get parts quickly? Will the company be able to repair your equipment at a reasonable cost? Will the service team continue to help you troubleshoot issues with your equipment for the duration of your ownership? These are essential factors to consider when you’re talking with references and peers in the industry.

We hope these top five qualities will help you when looking to purchase your next water truck. If you would like more information on a Ledwell Water Truck, be sure to reach out to us.

Ledwell Team
In Construction, Energy, Feed, Fire, Government, In The News, Material Handling, Rental, Service, Transportation, Waste

Change in Season: Time For Preventative Maintenance

Ledwell 6 Yard Dump Truck

Season change means different behaviors for your trusted equipment. But you can make sure that this doesn’t affect your work on the job. There are a variety of actions you can take that your equipment needs to stay efficient and running. One of them is preventative maintenance. Not all equipment is as easy as your typical loading ramp – having to grease the landing gear only once a year. But maintenance is imperative for longevity.

We believe wholeheartedly that maintenance schedules will allow your equipment a long, happy life, no matter the piece.

We’ve devised several Preventative Maintenance sheets for your benefit. These outline how you can prepare your equipment for various conditions and what you must do to get the most out of your money. Preventative Maintenance checklists are available for the following equipment:

You can also tune into our social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube. We know it’s tough to remember when your equipment needs routine maintenance when you have a million other things happening on the job. That’s why we do our best to provide you easy access, like adding preventative maintenance questions and answers to those above-mentioned social media outlets.

If these aren’t enough for you, and you’re looking for something a little more specific, you can always check out our FAQ page on our website or give us a call. One way or another, Ledwell is determined to gain your satisfaction through equipment performance.

Ledwell Team
In Energy, In The News, Industry, Material Handling, Waste

Partnership leads to new tracked hydroexcavator

hydro excavation system from Ledwell

In 2019, we had the opportunity to manufacture one of our vacuum tanks combined with a crawler carrier that could change an industry.

This project was similar to others- taking an idea and turning it into reality.

To provide a solution.

In Ledwell fashion, we ran towards the opportunity.

The Opportunity

When a hydro-excavation contractor needs to perform work in hard-to-reach or environmentally sensitive areas such as swamps or marshes, it is often difficult to use large trucks.

Mats can sometimes be placed down for the trucks to drive over to protect the environment from any damage the heavy machines may cause.

Those mats are heavy, bulky, and expensive, though, and they take additional time to utilize.

hydro excavation system from Ledwell

The Solution

However, through a collaborative effort with Ledwell & Son, PRINOTH and Pipeline & Utility Rental Equipment (PURE), the pipeline and utility industries have a new tool to make digging easier.

The TrakVac is a compact hydro excavator built by Ledwell and mounted on a PRINOTH crawler carrier buggy. It combines the agility of a crawler carrier to access hard-to-reach areas with low-impact vacuum technology where traditional digging is more difficult, especially close to underground utilities and pipelines.

The idea was to get a more compact hydro-excavation unit into some of the harder-to-reach or environmentally sensitive areas of pipeline construction.

“The total package of hydroexcavation with the ability to ‘Go Anywhere’ (which is PRINOTH’s slogan) makes the TrakVac a true initiative and an answer to the growing demands of the pipeline industry,” says Gary Gathright, Ledwell engineer.

An industry first, the TrakVac provides a solution for unique job sites. After countless hours of engineering, manufacturing, and perfecting, we are proud to share this innovation with the world.

Dig Different’s March issue features this unique machine as a Product Spotlight. Read more about it in Dig Different’s Product Spotlight.

Ledwell Team
In Construction, Energy, Feed, Government, In The News, Industry, Innovation, Rental, Service, Transportation, Waste

Lube Buddy Provides Service On the Go

Ledwell Service Skid - Manufactured in America

When you’re on the go, working a time-sensitive job, or just looking for convenience, you need access to service equipment fast. Ledwell has your quick solution to perform in-the-field equipment PM service and maintenance with a portable service skid – Lube Buddy.

Our Lube Buddies provide an easy and efficient way for you to keep your equipment serviced and ready to go. This equipment can be utilized as a mobile unit or serve as a stationary portable maintenance center at the job site!

Our Lube Buddy, Jr. is suited for light-duty vehicles. Its smaller stature makes it lighter, and easy to move from location to location. Convenient to place. Allows for easy access to air, fresh fluids, and properly dispose of waste. This piece of equipment comes with spill and overflow pans to minimize mess, and non-corrosive pipe fittings to ensure longevity.

If you’re searching for something a little more heavy-duty, we’ve got you covered.

This Lube Buddy option can turn any of your medium-duty hauling vehicles into a skid-mounted, self-contained fuel and lube service center! Much like the Lube Buddy, Junior, the Lube Buddy Max is designed in such a way to prevent excessive spillover and ensure a long lifespan.

Easily move these units with a forklift. Place on a level surface to avoid any spills and to ensure proper operation. Be sure to always read the accompanying operators’ manuals in regard to all pieces of equipment you own.

To learn more about the Lube Buddy, Jr. or Lube Buddy Max and other service equipment, visit our Service Truck page.

Ledwell Mobile Lube Service Center with Compressor
Ledwell Lube Buddy Jr
Ledwell Team
In Construction, Energy, Feed, Fire, In The News, Industry, Material Handling, Transportation, Waste

Top 5 Tips on Telematics

The future is digital, and that includes how we keep track of equipment. Whether in the rental industry or construction, you want to know where your equipment is and how it’s performing. Rental Equipment Register put together a few industry experts’ tips on utilizing the most out of telematics and software.

What is telematics?

 

Telematics is a technology that monitors and gathers the logistics of a vehicle or an entire fleet. Telematics utilizes computer systems to collect data from various operation points, including location, driver behavior, fuel, and overall health.

 

Why should I consider using telematics?

 

There is always room for improvement, and we think these tips on telematics are just the way to help you do your job better. 

1: Make the right IT investment decision:

says Loren Carlson, operations manager, Star Rentals. “Once made, it is very costly to rectify,” Carlson says. “Make sure you have a clear understanding of the pain points of the current system, or lack of system. Establish a clear understanding of what you intend to improve, and how you will measure success. The best way to do this is to solicit input from every level and area of the company.” Once completed, this serves as the basis for evaluating IT options and helps to keep the evaluation discussion focused.

2: Create an implementation roadmap:

Once the IT decision is made, invest time in configuring it before it’s rolled out, to make the user interface as intuitive as possible, says Carlson. “It may be capable of great things, but if users struggle to adapt to it, your returns will be delayed while you waste time and energy pushing users to use it. The same applies with back-end system integration. Creating an implementation Roadmap ahead of time will ensure you realize the benefits as quickly as possible.”

3: Focus on impact, not just ROI:

As you evaluate IT options, think about who and what will benefit from technology first, says Martin Roath of ZTR Control Systems. “Some benefits will be easy to quantify, while others may be more financially intangible,” Roath says. “For example, technology benefits could affect culture or customer experience in undeniable ways that are difficult to measure in dollars.”

4: Consider application flexibility:

As time passes, requirements for IT can change so be sure to look for solutions that don’t limit your future, says Roath. “As you think about your people, processes, and other business systems, be sure to consider integration capabilities that connect your business systems together,” he says.

5: Develop a training support structure:

Make the structure accessible to everyone in the company. “This can be scaled to any size business, but the key is to have expert level assistance readily available,” Carlson says.

These five tips are just the beginning. Over two dozen experienced industry professionals helped put together 50 telematics tips. We hope these help your company become more effective. Learn how even the slightest change with telematics and software can make a world of difference.

Read about all 50 tips from Rental Equipment Register.

Ledwell Team
In Construction, Energy, In The News, Industry, Rental

It’s time to winterize

Ledwell Water Truck winterization

Take a moment to picture yourself on a crisp winter morning. With a cup of warm coffee by your side, you’re bundled from head to toe. In the distance, the rays of the morning sun are creeping over the limbs of a row of steadfast trees as the chirps of birds provide the signal of daybreak—flashes of light dance across the frozen lake. The beauty is mesmerizing – hypnotic even. Suddenly, you’re pulled from your winter wonderland by the realization you need to winterize your equipment! While a frozen lake might look pretty, a burst water line sure does not.

As water freezes, it expands. Because of this, your equipment has to undergo a winterizing process. If water freezes in pipes, it can damage parts of the equipment.

Ledwell Water Truck winterization

There are only a few pieces of Ledwell equipment that utilize a system that includes water. Here’s how to maintain those units through the winter:

Water Trucks:

Close the water intake valve located on the inlet side of the pump on the driver’s side.
Remove the 3” cam lock.
Open the water intake valve.
Locat the primer tank valve above the cam lock and open.
Open all drain cocks.

Note: Leave these valves open to ensure that the system is drained of all possible liquid. Do this after each use if continued throughout the winter or once after its final use of the season before storing.

Vacuum Trucks:

Locate all valves and drain cocks connected to any water system on your specific vacuum unit.
Remove any caps or loosen any drain cocks and allow the remaining water to flow from the system.
Clean any leftover residue from the system.

Note: All vacuum maintenance procedures for water systems are the same and should be performed daily to avoid residue build-up. During colder weather, this will also reduce the risk of freezing.

Make sure your equipment is suitable for the weather conditions present. As a side note, always make sure the type of hydraulic fluid used is appropriate for the climate. Colder weather might call for a lighter, synthetic, or an all-weather fluid. Allow for a warm-up period when turning equipment on.

Remember to read your operation and safety manual to ensure that you are well educated on your equipment’s needs. You can also find operation videos on our YouTube page. Be sure to subscribe to receive updates when new videos premiere.

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