Cement mixer

Hey all, new driver here. Been driving a flat bed for 3 months. I have an interview for both tractor trailer (freight) and cement mixer driver. Was wondering what you all thought of both and which is the better option. Thank you for any advice.

 

I started in a cement mixer years ago. Depends on the job you get but typically you can make more money driving a semi and you generally work when it rains or snows. Generally don’t work very many mixer drivers on rainy days or with snow on the ground.

 

Former cement hauler here who roomed with a concrete pump operator.

You will work some really early mornings driving a mixer. Also, you must drive very carefully because you have a top heavy load that is constantly moving around, and of course you're driving off-road on surfaces that are not always level and compacted. But you get to be home everyday, and you don't have to fold tarps or throw straps and chains in the blowing cold.

 

In Tejas you start early and in the dark because of the heat. On this past April 4th we had a slab poured at the house. The mixer trucks were already lined up at the gate to get in at 4:45 a.m. after the first and second one got unloaded we were talking to the drivers as they were washing out. They said they usually start up at the plant around 2 a.m.
My wife joked with them dang you guys are starting your day when the drunks are trying to go home. Lol!

 

Thanks all for the info. I live in Hawaii, so the weather is always in the 80’s, don’t get hotter then that. I believe the hours were 6 am to 4 pm most of the time. Since I’m on an island, there’s no long haul truck driving jobs. So I’m home every night. I’m not to crazy about doing flat bed, so I’m looking into anything else I can find.

 

I can’t think of a better place to haul cement. If it pays what you need it should be a great job.

 

Cement mixer never has the same start time. You call the afternoon before, and get your start time.

When you become a mixer pilot, you are no longer a professional truck driver. You are now a professional truck washer.

What is it like driving a mixer? Imagine driving a big truck with square wheels.

 

Just curious. What kind of mixer rigs do they run in Hawaii? Rear discharge, front discharge, or a mix of both. Here in Texas it is 99% rear. There are some smaller niche outfits that have some front discharge in their fleets but not many.

 

I’ve seen mostly rear ones so far.

 

At least they're not site-mix rigs.