Safety and efficiency are paramount in road construction. At The Gerken Companies, we’ve adopted innovative methods to streamline our operations, one of the most effective of which is the use of pusher trucks.

A pusher truck is a specialized vehicle designed to aid in the placement and retrieval of traffic cones, barrels, and other traffic control devices. Essential during lane closures and maintenance operations, the trucks ensure that safety is always the top priority for both workers and motorists.

Safety First

“By utilizing pusher trucks, we can eliminate the need to put team members in close proximity to live traffic, dramatically reducing the risk of accidents and injuries,” says Rob Myers, Traffic Supervisor for Roadway Services, Inc.

With pusher trucks, workers can deploy and retrieve cones and barrels from a safe distance, letting them focus on the task without the constant threat of oncoming traffic.

Efficiency is another key benefit of incorporating pusher trucks into our workflow. Deploying a two-mile zone traditionally takes about an hour if workers manually walk out the cones. However, with a pusher truck, Roadway Services can accomplish the same task in roughly 20 minutes. That lightning-fast speed not only conserves labor costs but also minimizes traffic disruptions, providing a smoother experience for drivers on the road.

Today’s pusher trucks come equipped with advanced cone placement and retrieval systems. Crews can automatically deploy cones at regular intervals as the truck moves through a work zone and retrieve them with ease later. Features such as flashing lights and arrow boards alert motorists of upcoming work zones, further enhancing safety.

“We now have three trucks with varying capabilities,” reports Rob. “They make setting up work zones much safer for our teams. The efficiency is just an added benefit.”

The integration of pusher trucks into our road construction practices demonstrates Gerken’s commitment to safety and efficiency. By embracing innovative technologies to reduce risks and streamline operations, we can conduct highway maintenance with the utmost care for both our workers and the driving public.