Local ReadyMix Concrete Mixer Driver

Has a typical ready mix day today.

Got loaded 10 yards to msp airport. Contractor didn’t need it so I drove 30 minutes to another plant and dumped it on the ground and got another load.

Contractor uses 7 of 10 yards and my rear end blows up as I’m turning around in an intersection and end up blocking west and east bound traffic.

Pull truck off road with one of their pickups and wait an hour for a wrecker.

Go to weir and dump leftovers while being towed by wrecker.

Hop in 25 year old mixer and dump a load of sand in a backhoe.

Go home.

Lol and that’s an average day. Lots of sitting around and waiting and failing trucks. They have a HARD life.

 

Yeah, I’m not even going to wait to see how the cameras are. I’m gone.

I told my boss that’s why too. “It’s out of my control. I don’t want them either” ok cool bye.

 

Breakdowns are the kiss of death for a mixer. Don't want the load setting up, they'll junk the whole drum. I've seen guys climbing in the drum, chipping out a ton of left over material,,no thanks.

 

Yeah but usually you can figure out a way to keep it going.

I dumped a gallon of air in right away to turn to to piss, I didn’t know how long I’d be sitting there.

Worse comes to worse they’ll toss the drum and throw another one one.

We have 100 plants so help is never far away.

 

Thank goodness for Drive Cam, It protects the drivers from false allegations. It exposes all the care less drivers. My company has had it for 1 year now. It even helps, if we are at fault. We know how to prepare, safety first. My driver are learning to appreciate drive cam.

 

You show up. Clock in. Endure a safety meeting which essentially adds up the deaths and injury in the local area. Go to mixer. Drive to plant if in field otherwise sit and wait until called to be loaded.

Wait some more. When loaded, add water etc. Then go. You stop for nothing.

Dump concrete, wash down mixer, put chutes back up. Drive back.

Sit and wait some more.

Morning half of the workday is BUSY. 10 yards, 50 yards 100 yards whatever.

Its the afternoons waiting on 1 yard, 2 yard call backs so they can fill in a corner. You sit and fight to stay awake.

If you are in the right plant you will be given other work. Example Four wheel drive bucket loader CAT 936 feed the plant with rock and sand. Clean up after the stone trucks. Tidy the pile.

If you are in say Little Rock, you want the big jobs like the Federal Court House, weeks of filling deep holes 5 feet wide down to bedrock 15 feet apart. Don't fall in.

Routine. If you have a good Mack or similar you will be going off road more than you are on sometimes. You learn. Or quit.

The hours? In my time it was 8.00 now it's not less than 16.00 (Finally...) for a 60 hour week, time and half after 40.

When it gets hot in the summer? No day work. You sleep at the plant in the sand pile waiting until dark. Then get busy after it cools off.

 

There is never a normal day. Unless there is a big pour, you will clock in, our time was 7:30, grab your keys and check out your truck. Add fluids you need, then go in for a cup of coffee. When the batch man tells you to pull under, your day starts. The best part about this job is that it is never boring. You could be doing a foundation, a wall, a driveway, curbs, you get the picture. On slow days you service trucks or wash your truck. Sometimes you have to take an air hammer to your chutes. If you let buildup in your truck you may have to go inside and air hammer. Don't forget to red tag your truck. There are days when you get to goof off and days when it is work, work, work..

 

You don't know what you are talking about. Yes cement adds strength but so does stone .I could call a slump within 1/2 inch.

 

I like your post but wanted to add that knowing your slump is great but you also need depth perception when you do flatwork. Driving a mixer is an awesome job.

 

I am a woman and have never had a problem taking off my chutes, even if they were full of concrete.