What We’re Seeing in the Field
At Grizzly Inspections, we’ve been coming across a concerning trend during our routine structural inspections of vacuum trucks: fatigue cracking in the boom pedestal area.
These cracks aren’t always visible to the naked eye—and that’s exactly what makes them dangerous. The boom pedestal takes the brunt of the stress during lifting and rotation, especially in high-cycle operations. Over time, even minor manufacturing inconsistencies or repeated stress cycles can cause cracking that compromises the structural integrity of the boom assembly.
In the field, we’ve found these cracks typically begin at weld toes, heat-affected zones, or areas with poor surface transition (what we call “stress risers”). Most often, we catch them with magnetic particle testing (MT) depending on the material and access. What starts as a hairline indication can grow rapidly if left unchecked, especially when operators are loading heavily or rotating at full extension. We have even had clients tell us that they have had booms fall off during normal operations.
What This Means for Owners and Operators
Cracking in this area is not something you can afford to ignore. A compromised boom pedestal increases the risk of catastrophic failure during operations, putting both operators and equipment at serious risk.
The good news? With proper inspection intervals and early detection, these issues can be managed and repaired before they become costly or dangerous. If your unit hasn’t had its pedestal area inspected recently—or if it’s showing signs of abnormal movement—it might be time to schedule an inspection.
Our Approach
At Grizzly, we specialize in identifying these kinds of structural issues before they become a problem. Our certified inspectors use a combination of visual inspection, NDT methods, and structural assessment to catch what others might miss. We also help you document the condition of your equipment, which goes a long way when you’re managing a fleet or trying to stay ahead of safety compliance.
If you’re running vacuum trucks, especially older units or high-use equipment, we recommend having the boom pedestal included as a priority checkpoint on your next inspection.
Stay safe. Stay sharp. And when in doubt—give Grizzly a call.