MAN ProfiDrive^® has added a further module to its newly designed training courses aimed at drivers of all-terrain MAN Construction Trucks.

The first ever “Offroad & Traction” training course showed participants how to correctly operate and use the various MAN drive functions through practical driving exercises and theoretical modules. In addition participants also brushed up on their knowledge of “dangers when tipping”.

“With these events, we want to demonstrate to our customers what MAN vehicles can do and how they can be best deployed for their highly specific sector requirements,” describes ProfiDrive trainer Markus Ulbricht.

Driving manoeuvres

He led a group of participants in their vehicles up and down different gradients on the various levels of the quarry, pointed out problem areas, and gave both positive and negative examples of driving manoeuvres, which the participants were then able to carry out and compare the difference between “Do” and “Don’t”.

“Driving downhill, it’s all about the technical possibilities for economical and wear-free braking and, of course, getting down safely on surfaces like these,” said the trainer, “whereas uphill, we deal with the correct use of lock management and other optional driving aids.”

Steering and driving behaviour

At the same time, another group “discovered” how the steering and driving behaviour of a truck changes if the use of the above-mentioned driving aids doesn’t match the driving situation. The participants in the four-wheel drive and the HydroDrive four-axle turned in circles on level terrain and experienced how the curve radius under lock use is so big that the practice area almost ran out.

With the help of eight axle scales using a 4-axle MAN TGS 35.500 and a MAN TGX 18.500 semitrailer truck with a large tipping trough, Meiller’s tipping experts showed the third group how drastically wheel loads change during the tipping process. A laser gauge showed just how much the superstructures twist. They also explained to participants how a tipper’s uneven position and uneven loading could lead to unintentional “tipping”.