Moving Dirt: Excavator, Dozer, and Truck Work on a Cold Morning

Morning Operations and Cold Weather Challenges

• ☀️ The team starts early, around 6:45 AM the day after Thanksgiving, with temperatures in the 20s and below freezing.
• 🔑 Initial challenges include a frozen parking brake on the truck and difficulty finding the key for the off-road truck.
• 🚚 The truck's parking brake froze up, but after warming up, it was functional for loading dirt.

Dirt Loading and Spreading Process

• 🚜 The excavator operator focuses on digging full scoops of dirt, aiming for a consistent cut depth.
• 🚚 The truck driver hauls the dirt, with the operator preferring the truck to be slightly lower for easier loading.
• 💨 Robert operates the dozer to spread the dirt into the next lift and keep the work area tidy.

Progress and Grade Management

• 📈 Load counts are tracked to monitor the amount of dirt moved, with load number 15 being noted.
• ⛰️ The team works on digging into a hillside, aiming to pull back the slope and create a building pad.
• 📏 Grade is checked using a laser, with adjustments made to ensure the cut is within a few inches of the target.
• 🚧 The team identifies the need to cut down more material, estimating another four feet is needed in one area.

Material Quality and Packing

• 💪 The dirt being moved is described as excellent material for a building pad, loaded with gravel and sand, packing hard like concrete.
• 💨 The dozer and truck traffic alone are effectively packing the material, with the compactor barely leaving a dent.

Daily Progress and Future Plans

• 📊 By the end of the day, 88 loads of dirt have been moved, exceeding expectations.
• 🛠️ Plans for the next day include bringing in a motor grader for final grading, using a skid steer roller, and finishing cuts to get the pad on grade.
• 🚧 Further digging is planned in a corner to lower it below the building pad level, with ample space to waste excess dirt.
• 🤝 The team acknowledges the help of Kyle driving the truck and rolling, Robert on the dozer, and the excavator operator for scooping dirt.