Shaker Deck

A shaker deck, also called a shale shaker or dewatering screen, uses vibrating screens to separate the slurry entering the debris tank into its solid and liquid components. The slurry is spread across one or more vibrating screens with mesh openings sized to retain soil particles while allowing water to pass through. The separated water is collected in a catch basin below the screens and pumped back into the water tank.

The primary benefit of a shaker deck is dramatically increased water efficiency. By recycling water that would otherwise be trapped in the slurry and disposed of, the truck can operate much longer between water refills. This is particularly valuable on remote job sites where water sources are far away and on projects with high excavation volumes.

Shaker decks add complexity, weight, and cost to a hydrovac truck. The screens require regular cleaning and replacement as they wear from the abrasive soil. The recycled water contains fine soil particles that can increase wear on the water pump and nozzle. Despite these considerations, shaker decks are increasingly popular on production hydrovac units where maximizing operational uptime is critical to profitability.