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To maximize the effectiveness of any machine, the operator must remain alert and seated at the controls. Automation of functions, ergonomic placement of controls and a clean and quiet environment help the operator maintain peak efficiency.

"Enhanced operator comfort translates directly into increased productivity," says Tom Meyer, JCB Vibromax. "Operating a roller for an extended period of time can become fatiguing in the extreme. The 14-ton and larger rollers often used in large site preparation projects may operate continuously for periods of up to 18 hours each day. Many of these machines are now equipped with fully enclosed cabs complete with A/C, heat and a CD player."

Ray Gallant, marketing manager for compaction, Ingersoll Rand, says the two most commonly expressed concerns among roller operators are noise and vibration. "We are constantly working on getting the vibration and noise transmission to the operator down as low as possible," he states. "Most of the platforms across the industry are fully isolated. We are steadily advancing the whole isolation issue to get the drum isolated as much as possible from the frame, as well as working on noise cancellation technologies that you will see coming out in the future."

Cabs gain popularity

More rollers are being shipped with cabs, says Gallant. "We have seen a big upswing in the last couple of years. I think you'll see the same trend that you saw in backhoe-loaders a few years ago. Eventually, it will be that non-cab machines will be the minority," he asserts. "Jobs are year-round today. Putting the cabs on is a reaction to that reality in the field."

Soil compactors have been leading the charge. "On dirt rollers, we are now providing about 30 percent of our machines with cabs," says Gallant. "Operators in these applications are exposed to blowing dirt and the elements more than operators on asphalt jobs."