Concrete

I guess they do it different up north LOL
Mexican Concrete pump

 

Have someone explain slump to you (there will be a meter on the truck .. the lower the slump the thicker (less water) the concrete ... on the meter low slump, low reading, high slump, high reading) When you are new ... establish hand signals with the contractor. TELL THE CONTRACTOR YOU ARE NEW. Tell him that you would like to pour slow till you get the hang of it. Ask him to be patient with you, and make sure he understands the easier he makes your life .. the easier you will make his.

Get the lay of the land when you come up to a jobsite. Running stuff over tends to aggravate people ... make sure to keep a good distance from forms for a while.

In my area ... most concrete guys are drug addicts and / or alcoholics. You have to be aware at all times ... they will get pissed at you and thow the chute ... which will either hit someone or something and damage will ensue ... be prepared to flip the lock. You have to be aware of all people / all things around you at all times. Driving the truck down the road is the easiest part of the job (just remember to take corners slow ... and if its a rear discharge mixer, starting on steep hills presents its share of problems)

Keep your stuff clean ... leaving a lil concrete on your chutes ... will lead to a build up in time ... same thing with hosing down the fins in the drum.

Have fun!

 

Make sure when you leave the jobsite you wash off your chutes and angle them towards the shoulder of the road so if there are stones coming out they won't hit a car behind you....
It is always better to arrive to jobsite a little dry then little wet....you can always add water but if youre too wet they will either send it back or you will have to sit there and dry it a bit....when you think you might be too wet, put the drum on slow spin...the slower you spin the faster it dries...
when the slump is high (like 5 or 6) pour slow if youre on a wheelbarrow job...it will come out very fast and it will surprise you, most likely tipping the contractors whellbarrow in the middle of a residential street....they wont be too happy....
When going over a bad terrain, either slow down the drom or stop in completelly...the drum movement just might be enough to tip your truck over
If you have a load and need extra traction move the load to the back of the drum and then stop the drum (do this when youre outside truck so you can get it right to the back without spilling any)

 

all of this is great advice..I have hauled concrete up mountains, and poure 300 yard job sites..Just, stay focused, and also, you will be sitting in your truck ALOT pouring out..Make sure your mirrors are set so you can see..DO NOT start your pour untill someone is standing in your line of site in your mirrors, telling you to start stop pull up, and so forth..Now, residetial, you have to pay attention to cable lines going to the house, also, be aware of the driveway slabs, the drain pipe they sit on, and other things going into and coming out of a home for a residence..Hopefully your company knows you have never done this type of work before, and will put you on large sites at first..Then when you get familier with your truck and how to manuver it, then will let you do small jobs at homes..Just STAY FOCUSED!

 

My best advise to a new driver is to get the feel of the drum when pouring and watch close to what they are doing. Even if the guy in back seems to be in control, make sure you dont pour too fast.

 

Slump test expained

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete_slump_test

With time you will gauge how much slump your concrete is just looking at it.

Others gave excellent advices,
I done that for 10 years at Lafarge in Montreal.
and I started that a few weeks ago, I left OTR and I dont think I'll look back. lol

 

concrete delivery is great, but stay away from conveyor trucks! They suck, and do not pay enough for all the stress and hassles that is involved.

Just a regular concrete truck is the way to go.