Best Practices

Dozer Operator Best Practices

Correctly operating a dozer is crucial for many construction, grading, and road building projects. How effectively and efficiently your machine works largely comes down to the particular dozer operator. To help ensure the best performance and safest worksite possible, we’ve put together some key tips and best practices for bulldozer operation.

The first step of dozer jobs: Conduct daily walkaround inspections

Similar to with other equipment, your dozer operator should visually check the machine before beginning work each shift. A careful inspection will help you catch small problems before they become bigger, more expensive, and more dangerous. If any issues are noticed, operators should report them immediately and not use the equipment until they are resolved. Watch out for any fluids on the ground around the machine, fluid and battery levels, check for cracks, bends, and breaks on undercarriage components, and ensure safety features like backup alarms and seatbelts are working properly.

Limit high speed and non-productive travel

Operating a dozer with quick, fast movements will increase stress on their undercarriage parts and accelerate wear and tear. Move slowly when possible and always take the shortest route available, because the more you travel the more wear on your tracks and other components.

Drive in reverse as little as possible

When operating a dozer in reverse, it puts the pins and bushings are under greater stress, increasing wear and tear on components. Traveling in the forward direction creates significantly less stress and associated wear, so you should try to spend the majority of time in this direction.

Avoid track slippage

Track slips on dozer jobs waste fuel and lead to increased stress on components. Your dozer operator should avoid overloading the blade or pushing material up steep inclines, as both can cause your tracks to slip and spin.

Your dozer operator should check track tension regularly

The majority of accelerated or abnormal undercarriage wear can be minimized by ensuring proper track tension. An effective dozer operator should adjust tension on-site rather than in the shop, so it matches actual conditions in the work area. They should also make frequent adjustments on the job, as changes in weather can alter the packing conditions of the ground throughout the day and prevent proper bulldozer operation.

Clean the undercarriage

When dirt, mud, and other debris builds up in your tracks, it can hinder performance on dozer jobs by hurting undercarriage operation and causing more wear and tear. We recommend knocking away debris after every shift and using a power washer to thoroughly clean the tracks with water.

Choose the right blade angle

Depending on your specific piece of equipment, a dozer operator may have several different blade angle options available. The most common angles are 30, 45, and 60 degrees. We recommend using a 30 degree angle for lighter grading projects, because it enables a shallow approach and a fine finish with minimal soil removal. A 45 degree angle works the best for general purpose jobs, such as rough grading, cutting undulations, and filling in lower spots. Setting the blade at 60 degrees delivers optimal results when scarifying and cutting into harder or heavier soils.

Don’t ignore blade pitch

The pitch or angle of your blade can have a large impact on grading performance and how efficiently your dozer operator completes the job. It’s best to pitch your blade forward slightly for penetrating material during initial loading, and then pitch it backwards while pushing to ensure maximum material retention.

Use grade control technology

A key part of improving dozer jobs with modern machines is implementing grade control systems. This technology allows the operator to maintain a pre-programmed grade, avoiding time consuming rework and helping them finish the work in as few passes as possible.

If you have any questions about our dozer operator tips or operating a dozer in general, contact our team today!