Unloading piles even safer with new method

Pile drivers, transporters and producers (united in NVAF, TLN and the Palenplatform of Betonhuis Constructief Prefab respectively) have joined forces to reach a declaration of intent and practical standard operating procedure for unloading piles. At the end of April, Ton Groeneweg, Chairman NVAF & Director Tubex, Jan Boeve, General Director TLN and Ron Peters, Director Betonhuis, signed this declaration of intent.

POD Transports

Concrete piles are prefabricated in the factory under ideal conditions. Of course, the piles must be transported from the factory to the construction site. Concrete precast piles can be transported by road up to 39 meters. From about 23 meters, yokes or swings are used for transport. The piles then protrude over the roof of the cab. These are then called piles-over-roof transports, or POD transports.

Until now, there were no clear uniform arrangements for unloading POD shipments.

Practical standard operating procedure

Therefore, the pile drivers, carriers and manufacturers (united in NVAF, TLN and Betonhuis Constructive Prefab's Pile Platform) joined forces. Together, they worked on a letter of intent and a practical standard operating procedure. This makes it clear to everyone what the rules are when unloading POD piles. Within the new working method, the division of tasks and responsibilities of both the producer and the transporter and the recipient are clearly defined. In doing so, all parties must determine in advance how the piles will be transported and unloaded. For POD piles up to 30 meters, unloading with a shovel or via a platform is preferred. If the piles are longer and the driver cannot pick them up via the platform, ladders or aerial platforms can be used. Provided that this complies with safe working at height.

Since April 2020, this mode of operation has been implemented step by step. Parties realize that the application has a cost-increasing effect due to additional investments and weight increase of the vehicle.