Vacuum Excavators & Trucks

Hydro excavator truck

Hydro excavators are the most common types of vacuum trucks. If you’ve heard of vacuum excavation or non-destructive digging, chances are it’s done with a hydro excavator. They combine the use of high-pressure water and the suction of a vacuum to break apart and suck up debris. The usage for hydro excavators is wide, as they’re versatile pieces of equipment. 

Hydro excavators are perfect for locating the services as the pressure of the water and vacuum aren’t powerful enough to damage any services. The best choice is to use a hydro excavator on job sites with numerous underground utilities that need service location and excavation work done. 

Dry vacuum trucks are essentially the same as a hydro excavator but are designed to fit a more specific job type. Despite the name though, a dry vacuum truck can still suck up wet materials and liquids. The difference here is that they don’t have a pressure hose and water tank.

But why can’t they excavate like a hydro truck? Well, that’s because there isn’t a water pressure hose. The hose works to break apart materials and dirt to allow the suction hose to vacuum up the loose material.

Vacuum trucks, as the name suggests, are quite large. Some sites can’t cater for large industrial trucks. Sites with tight spaces like a narrow street or an underground car park can be hard to access. For these jobs, a vacuum trailer is a more sensible option. This can be used for hydro excavation work or as a dry vacuum, depending on the needs. 

A vacuum trailer is going to be beneficial to a job site with limited space, but workers need to keep in mind that the debris tank is smaller compared to those of trucks. This means they are going to have to organise a way or find an appropriate disposal site to dump the waste with higher regularity.

Designed to handle a variety of job conditions, Vermeer vacuum excavators offer power, safety, and convenience for your operation. Their innovative design utilises high-pressure water or compressed air to safely expose underground utilities and excavate soil through non-destructive digging. This minimises the risk of damage and enhances job site safety. Vermeer vacuum excavators also incorporate advanced noise reduction technology, improving the working environment for operators and reducing disruption in populated areas.