I'm curious what you guys would say is the easiest on the back as far as working for Ready Mix company's. I have no experience so I really don't know the difference between the many different materials an trucks used for Ready Mix. Bottom dumps, driving powder, transfers an mixers are something's I've seen posted when talking about Ready Mix but I don't know anything about them. When I say easy on the back I mostly mean where lifting might be involved. I can handle driving in the truck I'm more concerned with positions that might require a lot of getting out of the truck lifting an bending. If you have any experience please let me know what kind of direction I should head in when applying for a Ready Mix company, thanks for any help. I already have a class B license with just a little experience driving a bobtail in Inland Empire area.
Ready Mix Drivers, how labor intensive.
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Ziggyncali, Dec 24, 2014.
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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.
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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 suburbsBluedew Thanks this. -
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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.OliverCallenderIII, FoodStamp and 201 Thank this. -
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=vSXGJOsTnwQOliverCallenderIII and 201 Thank this. -
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