Hauling Calcium Carbonate and other Abrassive Materials

Feb 14, 2025 at 09:18 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. We have just started hauling some Calcium Cabonate and Limestone and had an elbow on the supply line blow out. With these materials being much more abrassive than the concrete poweder we typically haul, is there something we need to do to upfit the trailers and plumbing or is it just these materials are harder on the trailer/plumbing and need to be replaced more often? Just wanting to make sure I know what to expect on what maintenance will be for the trailers and how often. Any certain pneumatic trailers better suited than others? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Replied on Sat, Feb 15, 2025 at 10:53 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I haul alot of carbon to the steel mills. I had to replace all the aluminum unloading pipe, valve tee's, and hose ends to steel. That slowed down the wear and tear a great deal.

Replied on Sat, Feb 15, 2025 at 10:54 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Hi Tyler, Are you hauling powdered or pebbled? I don't believe the powder forms are all that more abrasive than cement. It is likely a coincidence you had an issue shortly after beginning to haul the new materials? Could you describe what you mean by an elbow on the supply line? I can't think of any elbows on a pneumatic trailer that product travels through. Its straight out the back and into the hose, unless you are attaching a separate elbow fitting before the hose. Do you mean the drop tees under the product valves? If so, yes, you can absolutely retorfit them to tougher material. Check out the BTI (Bulk Tank Inc) Sand Hog Hopper Tee designed for highly abrasive materials. Below is a link to their product page. They make great stuff (with tons of options for each component to best match the product you are hauling) with excellent customer service. https://bulktankinc.com/product-category/pneumatic-tank/ Congrats on finding new materials to haul. Cement is tough right now. May I ask how you prospected and secured the work?

Replied on Sat, Feb 15, 2025 at 10:54 AM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Hi Tyler,

Are you hauling powdered or pebbled? I don't believe the powder forms are all that more abrasive than cement. It is likely a coincidence you had an issue shortly after beginning to haul the new materials? Could you describe what you mean by an elbow on the supply line? I can't think of any elbows on a pneumatic trailer that product travels through. Its straight out the back and into the hose, unless you are attaching a separate elbow fitting before the hose. Do you mean the drop tees under the product valves? If so, yes, you can absolutely retorfit them to tougher material. Check out the BTI (Bulk Tank Inc) Sand Hog Hopper Tee designed for highly abrasive materials. Below is a link to their product page. They make great stuff (with tons of options for each component to best match the product you are hauling) with excellent customer service.

https://bulktankinc.com/product-category/pneumatic-tank/

Congrats on finding new materials to haul. Cement is tough right now. May I ask how you prospected and secured the work?

Replied on Sat, Feb 15, 2025 at 10:54 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I used to haul frac sand. Always carried extra fittings and JB Weld putty. The putty will get you out of a pinch and last for weeks.