Good Question: How Do Street Sweepers Work?

With street sweeping kicks off Tuesday in Minneapolis, Jeff Wagner got the dirt on this dirty job.

[@reamsel]

why did the dirt just fall out at the back?!? 😂😂

[@tkthomas1692]

Because it's clogged

[@afalk6970]

Exactly

[@ArsonistArborist]

It’s a small portion of the dirt, maybe 5% falls through the cracks. It isn’t a perfectly sealed system - you’re just using brushes to flick it onto a conveyor. It won’t all go 100% in the exact direction you want it to, some will fall through, especially at he edges. The second sweeper is supposed to get whatever’s missed. We use a lot of sand throughout the winter here, so for us, we usually have a minimum three sweepers on a crew during spring clean up. And at times, that isn’t even enough

[@dylanhannahoe3678]

Going wayyyy tooo fast

[@audibleadventures9004]

One thing they didnt mention is the fact they are right hand driven like a british car, for obvious reasons the driver can see the kerb better. And in the uk the opposit is obviously true. I only noticed the other day.

[@akirahryuzaki]

I wanna say that this seems like a strange use of the word "obvious" considering that you "only noticed it the other day". Your sentence does make sense because you are saying the reason it was designed that way is obvious; clearly the driver can see the curb better if on the right side. I just feel since you had to point it out, that would mean it isn't obvious. I just feel the sentence doesn't need that in there. I'm not sure lol. There's my one KZbin comment for the year haha have a good day! 🙂✌

[@SammmyDaSHORTER]

Well you use water and brooms to clean the edge of the road

[@Towelie4200]

Biggest scam ever, mine goes like 15-20mph flying to get the job done and go home..

[@angermangement]

What state you live if u don't mind me asking?

[@markstepanekii388]

I sweep for a municipality. We have those guys. I'm not one of them. Most of us go slow enough when needed to get the job done

[@JuniorG707]

Is it possible for these to hold tiny pebbles/rocks in the brushes after a job? I was behind one on the freeway and heard a bunch of tiny pebbles hitting my car…

[@tgipson20]

Yes they get stuck in the rear broom pretty frequently

[@johnshaughnessy3165]

Has anyone converted their lawn mower deck to a road sweeper.Saw a few pictures of someone changing the 2 mower blades for brushes and putting in a water tank with hoses pouring water into the 2 brushes.Was wondering how it would work.

[@FredWasilciw]

How do i find a schedule so i know when they are in my neighborhood.

[@JackF99]

Growing up in suburban Los Angeles in the 60s I remember street sweepers coming by the house. Haven't seen one in decades though.

[@antonio7334]

Think they do them more at night, have seen them at least more at night now, obviously different for every town and county

[@Braavoo__]

Don’t make piles of leaves and don’t throw branches or big twigs!

[@mike7733m]

Well it looks like a bunch of leaves limbs and multi-material but what about all the plastic bottles and cups styrofoam and so forth that it also should pick up they mix that in as well shoot I want some of that compost in my garden LOL

[@FarahAbdul]

Why are you calling this a dirty job. 😡😡😡😡😡😡

[@saggyboyy5287]

Try cleaning indian roads

[@normodb]

Nobody cares about that literal dump