Ready Mix Drivers, how labor intensive.

ready mix is a pretty demanding job

there is a lot of lifting and climbing involved with the job

you have to climb up the ladder and wash the inside of the drum after you get loaded each time

you have to hang the chutes on the back when you get to your job, 2-3 chutes depending what your truck carries and they are not light 50lbs or so

when your finished at the job you have to climb back up and wash the drum down again and wash the chutes clean of concrete then rehang the chutes on the chute holders

then there is additional climbing up the ladder to add calcium chloride , color or fibers it the job calls for it

it is a very demanding physical job

 

The biggest issue with ready mix in the long run is they will destroy your back, High vibration. The shuts weigh about 35 to 40 bs each. washing is more dangerous than difficult. Powder is the better end of ready mix.

 

I did the job for 11 years before I got laid off
I really enjoyed the job but it came with some cost, had a couple of herniated disk in my back and had to have shoulder surgery also
I would like to get back in to a mixer but the pay is a lot different here than when I did it in the Chicago suburbs

 

I tried a front load ready mix truck once, it didn't look too bad when I followed another driver around on the first day, but I didn't even make it to lunch the next day in my own truck. It was raining on day two and when I arrived at 6:30 AM my heart sank as I turned the corner and saw a row of trucks with drivers pounding, scraping, chipping, and washing the outside (of course) and as far down into the drum as you could reach. No matter how careful, the trucks get covered in concrete crud. I knew this was going to be too much for me in my early 40's and I was right. I asked how often we would have to do this, and was told "You'll get real good at it."

Before I left, I asked my trainer if there was any way I could just drive and skip the physical work that my back couldn't handle. LOL. He said they were all in terrible shape, but they need the hours, and it's by seniority so if anyone is skipping the hard work it's not the new guy. Of course. As it should be, I suppose, unless they were so desperate for drivers they would hire anyone, but in that case you'll be the first out the door when it slows down.

Bottom line: It's not very likely that you'll get a job in a physically demanding industry that allows you to avoid the physically demanding aspects of the job, everyone wants those jobs, especially the guys who paid their dues. But who knows? Everyone deserves to get lucky once in a while. Give it a shot.

The worst that can happen? You'll have a whole new respect for the industry and the people doing the work. I certainly do.

 

I've heard of cement truck drivers having to have to climb down in the drum, and chip away the concrete that didn't washout. Cement trucks, being front or rear discharge, are extremely top heavy, and I've seen several go over. It's a good job, mostly paid by the hour, but if you have back issues, you best keep looking.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W3-cWWJ4A0

 

Funny, you can also do this with cement trucks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSXGJOsTnwQ

 

Hi 77, LMAO. and in Wisconsin, no less. "GIT 'ER DONE"!!!!!

 

Hi Ziggy, guess we kind of freaked you out, hey? Powder is the hauling the concrete powder (lime?) in a tanker, and you blow it into a silo with a pneumatic tanker. It's a much better job, but good luck finding a job like that. Most redi-mix drivers go into that when they can't schlep the chutes around, or go into the drum to chip out the dried concrete anymore.