Ready mix

If you can float a full ready mix truck a semi is easy

 

1) You never stop improving. Every mixer ( even if they are the same build ) are slightly different in how the drum spins, how the gauges will read.
Your ability to empty the truck smoothly will also vary with who is holding the chute on the ground.

I'll say six months you should have a feel for flatwork.

2) I was teamster in Arizona. $20 / hr. OT after 10 in a day, 40 in the week.

3) Yes you will work any, every type of F up hours imaginable or just go do something else.

4) You are not a Redi Mix driver. You are now a professional truck washer.

5) This is the very best advice you will ever get regarding your slumps, so pay attention, it will make sense when the time comes.
5a) The more sand in the mix, the more water you need.
5b) The more cement in the mix, the less water you need.
Higher strength concrete or grout has more cement in it, you use less water to slump it down.

**** That's from one of the only drivers never to be rejected, nuke plants, bridge work, all kind of city and state work, a dam. *****

6) Driving a mixer is like driving a big truck with square wheels. Have fun.

 

Both of the last comments are about as accurate as it gets. Driving a mixer will beat you up and will perfect your tight quarters maneuvering. It is so much more than driving, driving is probably only a quarter of the job.

 

Good posts so far. I like that line about being a professional truck washer. You'll spend a lot of time being wet.

Nobody mentioned packing and setting chutes. That's always a pain until you catch on how to handle them.

 

Those are for behind the back / head tri extensions. 3 reps per chute.

 

If I can get my old phone to come back to life, I have some most excellent photo's. LOL

I had fuel pump go out on the old Pete once during a pour of 2 sack pea slurry. Took (2) full size wreckers to pull me into the lot so one could drag back to plant. They were in awe where I was. I said " Man that one's not even a squeeze." LMFAO

 

[QUOTE="

5b) The more cement in the mix, the less water you need.
Higher strength concrete or grout has more cement in it, you use less water to slump it down.

.[/QUOTE]

Interesting....
Think you might be a little rusty on W/C ratio and the slump cone test.

 

Interesting....
Think you might be a little rusty on W/C ratio and the slump cone test.[/QUOTE]

Master slumper, fear no cone.

We did this high rise in Tempe that called for a 5. 5000 psi mix. After the test add about 10 gallons and it would go to a 7 which is what they poured it at, even an 8.

The guy doing the tests, does mine, it's good. Then he jumps on the base plate and and makes it go to like an 8. And he's measuring it...........
Then he looks at me and says " You should see the look on your face."