Road sweepers populate British streets, especially in the early hours of most mornings. They work their way up and down the roads and clear paving of both dust and debris, keeping public roads, runways, site roads, and other accesses clean. Intended to clean up surfaces mostly used by vehicles, these sweepers use water to capture dirt and dust. Today, property owners employ these sweepers to maintain the cleanliness of their roadways and access roads. If you own a commercial establishment and looking to hire a road sweeper, you first need to know how they work. Also, who can operate these sweepers? We’ll discuss all that and more, including the licences required to drive and operate road sweepers.
What are the requirements to operate a road sweeper? If you’re considering hiring a road sweeper but not sure if you need a licence to operate it, then be informed that you need at least a class C driver’s license. This is generally the accepted documentation to operate a street sweeper on UK roads. You will need to obtain light or medium rigid license if the street sweeper has a gross vehicle mass of over 4.5 tonnes. This doesn’t only apply to companies but also to individual drivers that operate heavy vehicles on public roads. There are no specific street sweeper licenses you need to hold, but you are required to undertake formal training. This is to ensure that you’re competent to operate one. Why undergo training first? So, if you haven’t tried operating a road sweeper in the past but are set on operating one, then you have to obtain training first. You have to know how it functions before you hop in and get to work, just like with any vehicle or machine. By undertaking formal training, you get to learn about safety considerations, warning devices, and equipment design. You will also need training in left-hand driving if the road sweeper is a left-hand drive. Most street sweeper operators gain experience on the job, but there are formal courses you can take. This should prepare you to operate the vehicle safely on the road. Other Qualifications to Operate Road Sweepers Do you need to employ road sweepers for the maintenance of your property’s roadways and access roads? It’s important to find a reputable company that understands the scope of your project. They should have the experience to handle the job with efficiency. Below are the important qualifications you should consider when looking for road sweeper operators: Knowledge and experience with paving surfaces As you can tell, there are different types of porous and load-bearing surfaces. All of them require cleaning. The most common surfaces that would benefit from road sweepers include asphalt surfaces, concrete surfaces, and rubber surfaces made with bits of rubber from tires. Asphalt is not just asphalt. There are more than one type and grade of asphalt pavement. Today, these porous surfaces are becoming increasingly popular as they help mitigate stormwater runoff. Street sweeping companies have a thorough knowledge of the different types of pavements. They also have an in-depth understanding of what type of equipment will be needed for each unique job. They can determine the unique needs for each type and develop the best cleaning solution. Right cleaning equipment Road sweepers come in varying sizes and designs. A pure vacuum sweeper is the best choice for cleaning porous pavement. For asphalt and concrete surfaces, a mechanical sweeper is a top choice. Reliable road sweeper companies have the right cleaning equipment to thoroughly clean all kinds of surfaces. It’s important to have the right kind of cleaning equipment to meet the demands of a particular cleaning job and achieve excellent results. Ability to address unique cleaning requirements Qualified road sweeper operators will know the right questions to ask their clients. They will understand how to create a cleaning plan that meets client requirements. They will usually inquire about several factors, including the type of job and any specific conditions such as streets and highways, parking lots, warehouses, construction, or communities. They will also ask how often the streets and surfaces are being cleaned and how often you’d want them professionally cleaned. You can expect them to inquire about the type of debris as well, and how much there is to clean. In addition to that, you’ll also want to find a company with a solid track record of providing great customer service. Are they well-rated online? What do their past clients have to say about their road sweeper hire services? Do they have any safety and maintenance standards in place? Consider all of these things when looking for road sweeper operators. Work with a Road Sweeping Company Today Supasweep has the licence and necessary documents to operate road sweepers on UK roads. Our team can efficiently clean both urban and rural roads, runways, motorways, car parks, and even construction sites. Call us to book our road sweeper hire services.