Motor graders are complex machines that are difficult to learn. But Volvo's new two-seat training cab allows instructors to safely accompany trainees in their early hours on the machine.
Motor graders are not easy to master. They are among the most sophisticated pieces of construction equipment – and consequently take a longer time for operators to become proficient at.
A new operator is faced with an array of controls for eight functions that directly impact how the grader’s moldboard or blade is positioned. Add in the operation of the differential lock, all wheel drive, inching clutch, 11 gears, the right engine speed for efficient operation – and the operator has a lot to think about. Even a slight adjustment to any control means that the grade produced by the grader could ruin the job. This, of course, means added cost and delays through rework.
Because of this complexity, becoming a skilled grader operator is time consuming and difficult, and consequently the worldwide pool of experienced grader operators is in decline. So, when designing its new G900 series, Volvo’s engineers decided to continue with its established modular concept – which allows the grader’s cab to be removed in under half a day, without opening or contaminating the hydraulics systems in the process.
This ability to quickly remove the cab prompted Volvo to develop a two person training cab that allows the trainee operator and instructor to sit side by side.
“As an instructor, I can talk comfortably with a new operator and explain exactly what is happening,” says Russell Sharpe, Volvo’s grader training instructor, and a man with over 30 years of experience with these demanding machines. “I can easily relate what the operator did right and illustrate some of the tricks of the trade – all while we are moving material. You can’t get more
‘real time’ than that!”
Ensuring the trainee operator gets a ‘true’ grading experience, the two person cabs are fitted with the instructor seat sited off to the left, maintaining the original operator position. The cabs are subjected to the normal standards testing for ROPS and FOPS compliance for a machine weighing 27 tonnes. They are also fitted with climate control – providing a comfortable, quiet, environment that allows easy conversation while both the student and instructor ride in a standard suspension grader seat, complete with seat belts.