twin-stick redi-mix trucks?

looking around at possible local construction work, and I see some redi-mix companies hiring. I have a job, if i want it, at a company that uses OLD Macks, with 2 stick transmissions. pay isn't bad, for starting out and learning the ropes, and there is ot after 40. The trucks are old, but clean and well maintained.

what do I need to know about cement mixers? They told me that there are a lot of jerk contractors, and i need to hose off the truck frequently, and be smooth when starting and stopping so material doesn't burp out the chute, but what else is there?

how about driving a twin stick truck, how long will that take to get used to? i take it one stick is the actual trans, and the other is for what range you are in? so you just start out in the lower ranges, rowing gears, then shifting into the next range when the time is right, continuing through the ranges up and down?

 

so its a hard job, i take it? is that why driving a cement truck pays just as much, if not more, than the other local jobs around town?

 

i'm not sure exactly how old, i know it looks like some dm's, and whatever those old goofy ones are with the square diamondplate fenders, still has a dm looking cab though. I dunno, i'm not really old enough to be an expert on the old macks, although they do look pretty nice from what i have seen.

i remember the owner saying something like one stick had a regular h pattern, and he was rambling off about how different trucks like different shifting sequences, and it wouldn't matter much anyway, because everyone gets their own truck....

 

so thats it, dont hit the hopper, dont let it run dry, and take corners slow? thats all it is with this job? cool, i'm taking it then!

 

yeah, i was wondering what type of suspension they would have, probably best case would be springs, and worst case would be rubber block, correct?