Are they worth adding to your fleet?

By Shawn Hutchings

A truck-mounted asphalt spray patcher is a specialized piece of equipment used for repairing and maintaining road surfaces, particularly in asphalt paving. It combines a truck chassis with a spray patching system that allows for efficient application of asphalt material to fill potholes, cracks and other surface defects.
Key features of a truck-mounted asphalt spray patcher include:

1. Spray system: The unit is equipped with a spray nozzle that applies a mixture of asphalt and aggregate to the damaged area, ensuring even distribution. The spray system should be user friendly and allow the operator to function the spray nozzle on the fly.

2. Emulsion storage tank: The emulsion storage tank is equipped with level indicators to keep the operator privy to how much emulsion is left in the tank. The tank will also have an accurate temperature gauge to ensure the emulsion is applied at the specific temperature to ensure proper setup time.

3. Heating system: Many models have an integrated heating system to keep the asphalt material at the right temperature for optimal application. Its important to have a heating system that maintains storage and spray temperatures for liquid emulsion.

4. Control panel: Operators can control the flow rate, spray width and other parameters from a centralized control panel, enhancing precision during repairs.

5. Rock hopper: A place that stores the aggregate to be mixed with the emulsion when spraying into the pothole. The storage of the aggregate on the truck must not only be easy to load, but must have features to dry the rock to help with the speed of emulsion set up time and a feature to wet down the rock to help with dust control.

6. Mobility: Being mounted on a truck chassis, it can easily travel to different job sites, making it convenient for municipal maintenance crews. Unlike trailer mounted units, the truck chassis allows the operator to work safely within the cab rather than on the roadway and requires less personnel to operate.

7. Efficiency: This equipment allows for quick repairs with minimal disruption to traffic, making it ideal for maintaining road safety and extending the lifespan of asphalt surfaces.
These machines are designed for efficient operation, allowing one or two operators to perform repairs quickly. This reduces the need for a large crew, lowering labor expenses. Spray patchers apply asphalt precisely where it’s needed, reducing excess material usage. This efficiency leads to cost savings on asphalt and aggregate along with helping you be very competitive by precisely bidding material yields.

Regular maintenance with spray patchers helps prevent larger issues, such as extensive potholes or cracking. By addressing minor repairs promptly, the overall lifespan of the road is extended, delaying the need for costly full resurfacing. The precision of spray patching leads to higher quality repairs that are less likely to fail, reducing the frequency of needed repairs and associated costs. These quick and efficient repairs minimize road closures and traffic delays, which can lead to indirect savings by maintaining productivity and reducing accidents.

Efficient application means less asphalt and aggregate is wasted, which is not only cost-effective but also environmentally responsible. Some spray patching systems allow for the use of recycled materials, further reducing costs and environmental impact.

Truck-mounted asphalt patchers also improve road safety and keep the public safer. Keeping roads in good condition reduces the risk of accidents caused by potholes and surface defects, which can result in lower liability costs and fewer claims. Smooth and well-maintained roads facilitate better traffic flow, reducing congestion and improving overall road safety.

Many asphalt spray patchers can operate in various weather conditions, allowing for year-round maintenance, which is particularly valuable in regions with harsh winters.
Spray patchers can be used for various repair tasks, which means fewer specialized machines are needed in a fleet. This versatility can reduce overall equipment costs and maintenance. By leveraging these benefits, asphalt spray patchers can significantly contribute to cost savings in road maintenance and repair operations.

By integrating asphalt spray patchers into their maintenance strategies, municipalities and road maintenance agencies can achieve significant cost savings while ensuring the safety and longevity of their roadways. This equipment represents a smart investment in infrastructure maintenance. Overall, truck-mounted asphalt spray patchers are valuable tools for road maintenance, helping to ensure safer and more durable roadways.

The bottom line — truck-mounted asphalt spray patchers can save money.

If you have any questions regarding whether a pothole patcher is right for you, please don’t hesitate to contact me at shawn.hutchings@leeboy.com

Shawn Hutchings is a Territory Sales Manager with LeeBoy. He can be reached at shawn.hutchings@leeboy.com