ZOOMRY
Truck unloaders and radial telescopic stackers are two distinct equipment types in bulk material handling. A truck unloader receives material from dump trucks and transfers it to downstream equipment. A radial stacker receives material from an upstream conveyor and builds organized stockpiles. They often work together in the same material handling chain — the truck unloader at the receiving end, and the radial stacker at the storage end.
Core Functional Differences
Truck Unloader
The truck unloader serves as the receiving point of a bulk material handling system. It receives ore, coal, grain, or aggregates dumped from trucks into a low-level hopper, then transfers the material via an internal conveyor to downstream equipment such as stockyard conveyors, ship loaders, or processing circuits.
Radial Telescopic Stacker
The radial telescopic stacker serves as the storage and stockpile management point. It receives material from an upstream conveyor and uses radial rotation, boom telescoping, and luffing to build organized, high-capacity stockpiles in designated areas. The telescopic boom allows layered stacking that helps reduce material segregation.
Structural and Design Differences
Receiving Unit
- Truck Unloader: Features a low-level, wide-mouth hopper designed to receive material directly from dump trucks. ZOOMRY truck unloaders offer customizable hopper widths from 3.5m to 5.7m to accommodate different truck sizes. A grizzly screen can be included to filter oversized material.
- Radial Stacker: Uses a feed hopper or direct conveyor feed connection positioned at a higher level to receive material from upstream conveyor systems.
Mobility and Chassis
- Truck Unloader: Available in wheeled and tracked configurations. Wheeled units are towable and suited to paved surfaces. Tracked units are self-propelled for soft ground and unpaved sites. Both configurations support 2-ramp and 4-ramp receiving options.
- Radial Stacker: Available in wheeled, tracked, and fixed configurations. Radial slewing allows the boom to rotate around a central pivot point. Telescopic boom extension adjusts the discharge position without relocating the entire machine.
Core Working Mechanism
Truck Unloader: Material discharges from trucks into the hopper, then a belt conveyor transfers it to downstream equipment. The conveyor length and discharge height are relatively fixed, matched to the downstream interface.
Radial Stacker:
- Radial rotation: The boom rotates around a central pivot for circular or sector stockpile coverage.
- Boom telescoping: The conveyor extends and retracts within the boom, adjusting the discharge point.
- Boom luffing: The boom angle adjusts to control stockpile height and shape.
- Control options: PLC automation and HMI interface available for automated stacking operation.
Application Scenarios
Truck Unloader Applications
- Mines and quarries: Receiving ore and aggregate from haul trucks for crusher or conveyor feed
- Ports and terminals: Transferring truck-delivered material to stockyards or ship loaders
- Power and cement plants: Receiving coal or raw material deliveries
- Infrastructure projects: Aggregate receiving and transfer
Radial Stacker Applications
- Bulk storage yards: Building stockpiles of coal, iron ore, grain, and aggregates
- Port buffer storage: Creating stockpiles ahead of ship loading
- Mine processing plants: Intermediate storage of raw or processed material
- Mixing and batching facilities: Aggregate storage and material blending
Key Performance Comparison
| Feature | Truck Unloader (ZRLS-TU1800) | Radial Stacker (ZR120SF) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary function | Truck receiving and material transfer | Stockpile building and storage management |
| Capacity | 200–1,800 t/h | 1,500 m³/h |
| Mobility | Wheeled or tracked | Wheeled, tracked, or fixed |
| Core movement | Fixed or short-range conveyor | Radial rotation + boom telescoping + luffing |
| Control | Local or radio remote control | Optional PLC automation with HMI |
| Stockpile height | Not applicable | Up to 20m |
| Typical clients | Mine fleets, port logistics, material receivers | Stockyard operators, ports, large mines |
How to Choose Between Them
Truck unloaders and radial stackers are not competing alternatives — they serve different points in the material flow:
- Choose a truck unloader when the primary need is receiving material from dump trucks and transferring it to downstream equipment.
- Choose a radial stacker when the primary need is building and managing stockpiles from an upstream conveyor.
- Choose both when trucks deliver material that needs to be stockpiled — the truck unloader feeds the stacker, creating a complete receiving-to-storage chain.
For port and mine operations, the combination of a truck unloader feeding a radial stacker provides a flexible receiving and stockpiling system without fixed infrastructure. Compare truck unloader configurations and telescopic stacker options for your material handling layout.
Related Products
Drive-over receiving systems for bulk material
Radial telescopic stockpiling with layered stacking
Soft ground mobility with radial slewing
Industry Applications
Receiving and stockpiling for terminal operations
Mine receiving and stockyard management systems
Planning a Receiving-to-Stockpile System?
Contact ZOOMRY with your material type, truck fleet size, stockpile requirements, and site layout. We can recommend a truck unloader and stacker combination for your operation.
Contact Us →