One of the earliest British dumpers was the Muir-Hill, which was based on the Fordson tractor with 2 cubic yard bucket, driving on the front axle and steered by the back wheels. Devised in 1927, and on sale by 1931, it gained a lot of versatility when in 1933 Dunlop introduced 'tractor-style' pneumatic low pressure tyres.2 This allowed it to travel on tarmac roads or off-road, which was of particular advantage on construction sites. Originally advertised as the "dumping tractor", it soon became known as the Muir-Hill dumper.3
Modern dumpers have payloads of up to 10 tonnes (11 short tons; 9.8 long tons) and usually steer by articulating at the middle of the chassis (pivot steering). They have multi-cylinder diesel engines, some turbocharged, electric start and hydraulics for tipping and steering and are usually four-wheel drive. An A-frame known as a ROPS (Roll-Over Protection) frame, may be fitted over the seat to protect the driver if the dumper rolls over. Some dumpers have FOPS (Falling Object Protection) as well. Lifting skips are available for discharging above ground level. In the 1990s, dumpers with swivel skips, which could be rotated to tip sideways, became popular, especially for working in narrow sites such as road works. Dumpers are the most common cause of serious accidents involving construction plant.4
Nowadays these vehicles are also called "dumper" in some mainland European languages.
Construction Trucks and Dumpers of Today https://www.handymoves.co.uk/blog/removals/201610/654/construction-trucks-and-dumpers-of-today.html ↩
"Increasing the Scope of the Dumping Tractor". Commercial Motor. 4 August 1933. p. 880. https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/4th-august-1933/32/increasing-the-scope ↩
Sackey, Lyndon N. A.; Quartey, Jeremiah; Nortey, Augustus N. N.; Obeng, Afia Tiwaa; Okyere, Abigail Amoakoatta; Kayoung, Phebe Y. (2023-07-06). "Road construction and its socio-economic and health impact: a case study of Atonsu lake road". Discover Environment. 1 (1): 6. Bibcode:2023DiEnv...1....6S. doi:10.1007/s44274-023-00009-x. ISSN 2731-9431. https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs44274-023-00009-x ↩
Bohm, Jonathan; Harris, Don (2012). "Hazard Awareness of Construction Site Dumper Drivers". International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics. 18 (3): 363–373. doi:10.1080/10803548.2012.11076939. ISSN 1080-3548. PMID 22995134. S2CID 22536725. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10803548.2012.11076939 ↩