Automated Truck & Train Sampling System

The Automated Truck & Train Sampling System (ATTSS) collects one or several representative, unbiased samples from each incoming or outgoing truck or train load, ensuring that every shipment is accurately characterized before it moves further along the supply chain. Sampling is performed in strict accordance with relevant international standards, including ISO, ASTM/ASME, and GOST, giving facilities confidence that collected samples meet the statistical and procedural rigor required for accurate quality assessment, custody transfer, and regulatory compliance.

Designed for versatility, the ATTSS can be applied to virtually any type of bulk material, from ores and minerals to agricultural commodities, chemicals, and industrial feedstocks. This broad compatibility makes it a reliable solution for facilities handling diverse commodities, varying load sizes, and different vehicle types across their transport and logistics operations, whether receiving raw materials from suppliers or dispatching finished product to customers.

By automating a process that has traditionally relied on manual intervention, the ATTSS helps eliminate sampling bias introduced by operator inconsistency, reduces the time trucks and trains spend on-site, and supports a defensible, auditable record of sample collection for every load that passes through the facility. This makes it a valuable tool for operations seeking to standardize their sampling practices while improving overall throughput and data integrity.

The Automated Truck & Train Sampling System (ATTSS):

• Fully representative and unbiased samples taken in the X, Y and Z axis of load at a completely random point.
• Fully automated: No plant staff needed.
• Proven technology for 20 years.
• Camera monitoring and detection system removes the risk of damaging the truck or sampling unit during sampling
• Can be used for all kinds of bulk materials:

  – Biomass

  – Metals and non-metals concentrates, crushed ores, iron fines

  – Coal and coke

  – Granular materials (fertilizer, potash, plastics, feedstuff, and grain)

  – Powders (limestone, mineral powder, pelletized sulphur)

• High availability and requires very little maintenance (robust).

The Automated Truck & Train Sampling System is a fully representative and unbiased system that collects samples of bulk materials across the X, Y, and Z axes of the load, at completely randomized sample points. This three-dimensional sampling approach ensures that variation throughout the entire volume of material is accounted for, rather than relying on samples taken from a single depth or location within the load. This sampler is suitable for use across all types of plants and industries where bulk materials are sent or received via truck or train, offering a consistent, standardized approach to sampling regardless of facility type or material handled.

Fully automated from start to finish, the system ensures precise and reliable sampling in all weather conditions, operating continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without compromising accuracy or consistency. This round-the-clock reliability makes it well suited to high-throughput facilities where trucks and trains arrive at all hours and sampling cannot be delayed or interrupted by weather or shift changes.

M&W JAWO Sampling’s Automated Truck & Train Sampling System has been installed at more than seven different plants to date, reflecting its proven performance and growing adoption across the bulk material handling industry.

The ATTSS control software manages the full sampling sequence, coordinating sample point randomization, sampler positioning, and extraction timing to ensure each truck or train load is sampled in accordance with the relevant standard being applied. The software calculates randomized sample points across the X, Y, and Z axes of the load, removing any potential for operator bias and ensuring every sample collected is statistically representative of the full load.

Operators can monitor sampling status, load progress, and system alerts through the control interface, providing clear visibility into each sampling event as it occurs. The software can be configured to apply different sampling protocols depending on the material type, load size, or the specific standard required, such as ISO, ASTM/ASME, or GOST, allowing the system to adapt to a wide range of facility and regulatory requirements.

The system is also designed to operate reliably around the clock, with built-in monitoring to ensure consistent performance across varying weather conditions and continuous 24/7 operation. Fault detection and alerting notify operators of issues such as positioning errors or incomplete sampling cycles, helping maintain sample integrity and minimizing delays in truck and train turnaround times.

The ATTSS can also be integrated with plant-level systems, such as weighbridge or LIMS software, to automatically associate each sample with its corresponding load, streamlining record-keeping and supporting a fully traceable, auditable sampling process.