For most companies in the highway construction and maintenance industry, a majority of their yearly operations happen in the second and third quarters of the year (between April 1st and September 30th) due to the improved weather conditions. In the off-season, companies have the opportunity to assess the state of
Each year as a company, Royal attends the industry’s largest trade shows and expos in the country in order to provide valuable information and news to a national audience. At many of the upcoming shows within the next few months, we will be featuring an entirely new product on our
One of the most essential elements of a properly built TMA truck is the safeness of the attenuator it is equipped with. With how important an attenuator is to the build of your truck and safety of the workers in your work zones, as a company, you should know everything
Highway maintenance operations requiring cone placement and cone retrieval are often both inefficient and unsafe. While it is a seemingly simplistic operation, lane closure operations are often the most dangerous. As changing traffic conditions are paired with the slow relative speed of the work truck, it creates an increasingly hazardous
Up until recently, attenuators were tested using criteria listed in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 350 (NCHRP 350), “Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features”. In 2016, a plan to replace these testing criteria and guidelines was set in place when the Association of State
In today’s work environment, you want to get the most bang for your buck. In other words, for a company to survive and thrive, it must be able to get the most value out of its fleet without spending a fortune to do so. A frequent question surrounding this is
Customization is a crucial element to safety. By customizing the trucks in your fleet with the latest truck safety features, you fleet can be uniquely built to make your work zones as safe as possible Here are the top six truck safety features that you can add to your TMA
The stake body truck can be one of the most versatile trucks in your fleet, carrying all the equipment you would need for your company’s operations. Are you getting the most out of your stake truck, though? Read on to learn about several features you should consider looking for in
Purchasing a dump truck is not as easy as just going to the lot and picking the first one you see. When looking to purchase a dump truck there are several things you need to consider to ensure that the truck you choose will fit your company’s needs. Besides price,
Does your company prioritize communication in your operations? If your job sites are lacking effective communication, you are missing an essential part of a successful project. Here are the two major reasons why you need to begin prioritizing communication in your company’s operations: Job Failure Communications is an essential part
According to the Federal Highway Administration, an average of approximately 750 people died per year in work zones across the Unites States from 1982 through 2014. Needless to say, this shocking figure makes working in highway work zones one of the most dangerous jobs in the country. While a properly
Did you win a bid and need more TMA trucks or did one of your trucks break down and you need a replacement fast? At Royal Truck & Equipment, we recognize that there are times when renting a TMA truck is the right option for your company, and we are
In a 2016 post entitled “Top 4 Things Texas is Doing Right When it Comes to Work Zone Safety”, we wrote, “Texas held the highest number among work-zone fatalities in 2014. Since this alarming fact, the state has been doing its best to take action on creating a safer environment
According to the Federal Highway Administration, a crash occurred in a work zone every 5.4 minutes in 2015. With crashes happening this frequently, it is not an “if” but a “when” your TMA truck, also known as crash trucks, attenuator trucks, or scorpion trucks, gets hit. For many companies, the
Do you know the difference between a cone safety truck and a traffic control truck? While the two trucks may seem very similar upon first glance, there is one significant difference between the two. The main difference between a cone safety
As the new year is fully underway, we wanted to list out all of our available trucks for you, including: TMA trucks, dump trucks, forestry trucks, grapple trucks, bucket trucks, and hooklift trucks. If you don’t know what’s available, how can you possibly find the perfect truck to improve your
The goal of highway construction operations is to efficiently and effectively perform the tasked lane closure operation while still maintaining a safe work environment for the work crew. For operations that require lane closures, a cone safety truck or traffic control truck can ensure that this goal is consistently met.
The cost of a diverse fleet is significant, both on your workforce and on your company’s bottom line. Here are the four reasons why standardizing your fleet will significantly benefit your company: Improved Maintenance Operating on the same kind of truck consistently significantly improves maintenance. What exactly does this
Versatility in the construction industry has become much more important recently than it ever has been. Companies are often tasked with doing several different operations within a short period of time, all requiring different sets of equipment. At the same time, the budgets for fleet acquisition have become tighter. Fleet
From October 3rd through October 5th, members of Royal Truck & Equipment will be attending and exhibiting at the International Construction & Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) in Louisville, Kentucky. If you plan on attending this Expo, you can expect to see Royal’s latest innovative products and technological advancements. We want
According to the Federal Highway Administration, in 2015 there were 700 deaths in work zones in the United States. One preventative measure being taken is to have a message board on a truck in the work zone. For example, Royal’s new message boards being put on trucks are being used
When thinking about the build of a TMA truck, side lift gates are not something that is normally thought of as being a crucial element. So why would you want a side lift gate on your TMA truck? Here are the 3 main reasons why having a side lift gate
On Friday August 18th, we at Royal Truck & Equipment were proud to showcase our autonomous impact protection vehicle (AIPV) in a live highway work zone in Fort Collins, Colorado. If you did not get a chance to see the live stream of the event while it was happening, you
Tomorrow is the big day! We will be doing a live demonstration of the autonomous impact protection vehicle (AIPV) being deployed in a live highway work zone in Fort Collins, Colorado. If this is your first-time hearing about the AIPV, we have plenty of resources available to get you brought
Ever since we began creating the autonomous impact protection vehicle (AIPV) two years ago, we have been asked a significant amount of questions about the truck and its technology. Understandably though, as it is the world’s first autonomous TMA truck! With the live demonstration of the AIPV in Fort Collins,
With the live demonstration of our autonomous impact protection vehicle (AIPV) on Friday, it is a good time to tell you WHY we created the AIPV, the world’s first autonomous TMA truck. We have three major reasons why we created the AIPV. They are: To Remove the TMA Truck Driver
Royal Truck & Equipment Inc. is thrilled to announce a live demonstration of the autonomous impact protection vehicle (AIPV) being deployed in a live highway work zone in Fort Collins, Colorado. In preparation of this monumental event, we are providing you with autonomous-based content every day this week. To see
Are you a municipality looking to buy a TMA truck off of a COSTARS contract but are unsure of how the process works? Fortunately, you are in the right place to learn! For those who do not know, COSTARS is, “the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's cooperative purchasing program and serves as
Stress and overexertion are the number one cause of death for firefighters. With all the highly stressful and incredibly intense situations that their jobs entail, this makes sense. Do you know what the number two leading cause of death for firefighters is though? It is getting hit by a vehicle.
One crucial element of a truck’s build is its man buckets. A man bucket’s job is to assist personnel and equipment to get on and off the truck safely. Here are the top five things you need to know about man buckets: 1.) When adding man buckets to your truck,
In many work zones, a TMA truck’s sole job is to idle behind the zone to protect the workers from oncoming traffic. While this is an effective way at preventing injuries to those in the zone, the idle time causes harmful wear-and-tear to the engine as well costing a significant
One major component of regulations surrounding TMA trucks involves specifications on the build and placement of arrow boards. If your TMA truck has an arrow board, you need to be aware of the many regulations placed upon it. A major facet of arrow board regulation deals with the number of
In terms of best practices for ensuring that your TMA truck is as safe as it possibly can be, one of the most important safety features for your truck is that it is equipped with air brakes. While it is an often-overlooked element of a TMA truck’s build, air brakes
In highway work zones, truck mounted attenuators (TMA) are used as a barrier between oncoming traffic and the workers in the area. On roads where traffic is exceeding 45 miles per hour, the presence of a TMA truck represents the difference between a fatal accident and one in which everyone
Work zone safety has become an issue we can no longer overlook. In 2015, 700 people were killed in car accidents in work zones. Unfortunately, that represents an approximate 5% increase from the year prior. In the first few months in 2017 though, there have been a wealth of campaigns
Traditional training methods may soon become obsolete due to the emergence of virtual reality based training. Here are three reasons why virtual reality will replace traditional methods of training and become the future of workplace training. Higher Safety As recent as 2014, 4,821 workers died on the job in the
This past Breast Cancer Awareness Month was a special one for Royal Truck & Equipment. For the first time ever, and definitely not the last, Royal teamed up with a non-profit foundation to help make a difference! Check out all the awesome things that happened this October: Pink TMA Trucks
With the increasing push for funding to ignite construction projects all over the nation in 2017, state regulations are also firing up. The need for Truck Mounted Attenuators (TMA) in your work zone is becoming more widespread to ensure both workers and motorists get home safely every night. Along with
On August 25, 2016, “The Texas Transportation Commission today approved the 2017 Unified Transportation Program (UTP) with $70 billion worth of projects to help TxDOT meet the state’s growing transportation demands. The plan is the largest of its kind in the agency’s history that addresses capacity, maintenance and safety needs
A truck mounted attenuator (TMA) truck is designed to absorb the impact of an errant vehicle so construction workers stay protected in highway work zones. These type of accidents happen more often than you think. Having a TMA truck in your work zone is the definition of being prepared! There’s
Knowing the 411 on attenuator trucks can make all the difference when you’re ready to buy your next truck or your first! Details matter and these three topics can help walk you in the right direction to getting the right attenuator truck for the job! 1. Regulations Knowing your state
Work trucks of all kinds require electrical power to run lighting and computerized equipment. Truck mounted attenuator (TMA) trucks are especially the case! They have many safety lights, advanced warning arrow boards, radar boards, and of course the attenuator, that all operate on electricity. Traditionally, you’d have to leave the
Without a doubt, a Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA) saves lives. A shadow vehicle equipped with a TMA not only protects construction crew in the work zone, it also protects the motorist of an errant vehicle. The grave importance of this piece of equipments purpose means you don’t want to use
Thanksgiving isn’t all about the homemade mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffed turkeys. It’s a time to surround ourselves with family, friends, and loved ones and reflect on the many things we are thankful for. It’s also a chance to give thanks to the Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA) Trucks that we
We have decided to re-post a very important post by our co-worker, Emily Anthony, from last year with a few updates. 'Tis the Forestry season! If you’re in the forestry business, it's time to purchase a new truck! You've got jobs lined up into the spring and you’re wondering if your
Every year that passes, safety is jumping higher up the priority list in work zones. Additionally, the number of states that recognize the need for Truck Mounted Attenuators (TMA) regulations during roadway construction job is steadily increasing. With this eventful year coming to an end, it’s time to start allocating
Technology is changing the way we work, no matter what industry you’re in. It’s made our jobs easier, more time efficient, and most importantly safer for everyone. The world of construction has certainly evolved as well. Thanks to new technology products, you can know exactly what’s going on in your
Like Superman, Truck Mounted Attenuators are heroes that will never go out of style. Whether your state has regulations requiring the use of TMAs or not, investing in a TMA can only benefit you! Keeping you and your crew safe in the work zone is the #1 goal so it’s
Projects along heavy highways or roads most often require a Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA) Truck. If it’s your first time looking to purchase a TMA truck, there are a few crucial things to keep in mind. This truck is a life saving device stationed specifically in the work zone to
As the construction industry across the United States kicks into high gear with projects, so are the states when it comes to protecting the work zones. Innovative leaders all over are coming together now more than ever to increase the safety as well as awareness to ensure every worker gets