Automated Side Loaders refuse trucks, often abbreviated as ASLs, is primarily designed for efficiency, safety, and single-operator convenience. These refuse truck bodies feature hydraulic arm at the side of the refuse truck. The arm is equipped with grippers which pick up the waste container and empty its contents into the truck’s hopper.
Automated Side Loaders have a single driver/operator who, The truck driver, from within the safety of the cab, controls the arm using a joystick and often high-definition video cameras for precise maneuvering.
The arm lifts the container from the curb, swings it over the truck, and empties its contents into the truck’s hopper. After emptying, the arm returns the container to its original position at the curb.
Automated Side Loaders are designed to work with standardized waste containers, which are typically wheeled bins with a specific lip or handle that the arm’s grippers can engage with.
Similar to other refuse trucks, the waste within the hopper is then compacted into the main body of the truck by a hydraulic compactor, allowing for a larger payload.
This method of waste collection is fast and cost-effective, as it reduces the number of operators required per route and allows a longer route to be covered in the same time as compared to a rear or manual side loader. ASLs require an upfront investment in specialized, standardized waste containers.
