A truck conveyor is a device mounted to a large truck that allows transport of materials or objects from the bed of the truck to a specific location. The truck itself usually features a large chassis and a diesel engine, as well as a dump bed or other type of containment bed in which materials can be stored. The truck conveyor will be mounted to the truck, usually somewhere on the frame, and the conveyor itself can usually swivel or otherwise move to accommodate dumping needs.
The specific design of the truck conveyor can vary by model, but generally, all models will feature a conveyor system that features a belt that moves around a series of cylinders or rollers. Others may feature an auger conveyor, which features an enclosed auger or long screw; fine particulate matter can be transported effectively using an auger conveyor, though larger materials will generally require a belt conveyor. The conveyor unit that is mounted to the truck can usually swivel side to side as well as up and down so the user can adjust the truck conveyor easily. The unit will usually swivel to either side of the rear of the truck, and the height of the conveyor can be adjusted so materials can be transported up or down.
When not in use, the truck conveyor unit must be secured in place. The conveyor is usually positioned so it is facing inward toward the front of the truck to prevent the equipment from striking other vehicles on the road. Once the vehicle is parked or otherwise in position to unload, the conveyor can be moved again as necessary.
The truck itself is usually a fairly heavy-duty machine. The number of axles and wheels the truck conveyor will feature generally depends on the capacity of the dump bed. Larger containment beds will necessitate more axles and wheels for stability. Some of these machines may even feature outriggers, which are hydraulic arms that will extend outward away from the body of the truck in order to add further stabilization during loading and unloading of materials.
The dump bed itself may also be hydraulically operated so it can be tilted upward or downward as necessary; this is useful when unloading materials from the bed and onto the conveyor belt system. A hydraulic cover may also be included on the dump bed to help secure or otherwise protect materials during transport.