Abstract: An asphalt distributor has a multispeed hydraulic motor mechanically driving an asphalt pump. The asphalt distributor has a controller for controlling the flow rate of asphalt being sprayed. The controller has a gain for controlling the flow rate. During a transition when the speed of the multispeed hydraulic motor changes, the gain has a value for the transition. Beneficially, the asphalt distributor has a wider than conventional asphalt spraying flowrate over which it provides a consistent spray. A method for controlling the flowrate involves adjusting, preferably dynamically, the value of the gain during the transition.

Abstract: A vehicle for distributing a fluid or a solid material on or into the ground has one or more axles for supporting the vehicle on the ground, a vessel for holding the material to be spread on or into the ground, and a plurality of valves for controlling the lateral extent of distribution of the material on or into the ground. The vehicle may have a plurality of control switches for controlling the lateral extent of distribution of material and operative to control the opening and closing of different valves or different groups of valves of the plurality of valves. The vehicle may have an indicator for each valve or group of valves, the indicator operative to provide different indications for a plurality of different statuses for the corresponding valve or valves.