Anybody drive a dump or mixer?

[Super 8]

Does anyone here drive a dumptruck or a mixer?

What is a typical day like? Is it seasonal? What are the requirements for the job.

What kind of hours?

Anything else I should know?

There's a place not far from my house that has cement trucks and I've thought about going over there but I'd like to be armed with knowledge when I approach them.

Thanks so much.

[marylandkw]

I drive a dump, never done mixer work but do have a few friends who do.

Mixer work can be weather dependent. If the jobs are too sloppy wet/icy etc you can't get on the job, you don't work. Alot of larger companies have year round work. A place out here near me hauls non-stop into a company that makes catacombs or whatever those things they put coffins in the ground in.

Concrete companies tend to always offer benefits. Days can be long, but you are typically always paid by the hour. You get paid for detention time n the job as well. Seems to be a good gig.

The only thing that stopped me from doing it back before I had my own truck was cleaning out the drum after concrete has set up in it and always driving the slowest thing on the road.

Don't know what your weight laws are up there, but down here you carry alot more per axle than a loaded semi and that means scary longer stopping distance. Not to mention your load is in motion constantly changing your center of gravity as you go down the road. Lots of fun I am sure.

Like I said this information is from friends and not me, it is not gospel.

[Cluggy619]

Does anyone here drive a dumptruck or a mixer?

What is a typical day like? Is it seasonal? What are the requirements for the job.

What kind of hours?

Anything else I should know?

There's a place not far from my house that has cement trucks and I've thought about going over there but I'd like to be armed with knowledge when I approach them.

Thanks so much.

I drove a mixer for four years before I got my class A. That rig is a dangerous vehicle. You got 35,000-40,000 lbs of concrete going up the driver side wall of the drum, in constance motion. Most mixer should have been put to scrap long before I drove them. Turn right too fast, and you will tip. Don't drive on any shoulder.

I've seen alot of drivers come off the road, get in a mixer, and roll it over. I have friends today who will never drive again. And lost friends because of carelessness.

I'm happy to be in my tanker. I'll never drive for another mixer company again.

Good luck.

[Sealord]

"catacombs or whatever those things they put coffins in the ground in" You're thinking vault. I think the Romans were the last ones to have catacombs. BOL

[marylandkw]

Thanks Sealord, Six years of college obviously paid off for me

[emerlin]

I drove a dump truck for a paving company for a month. Hauled lots of rock, gravel, sand, and, of course, mix. I got laid off for the winter the first of Dec. Can't say I didn't know it was coming. I know in SD, you can collect unemployment if you are laid off and have a callback date. Not sure about the other states.

[dumptrucker]

Ive been driving a dumptruck in Lou. Ky. for 2 yr.s I can only tell you what its been like for me. I really love it, or did until recently. The pay isn't bad, around 6-8 hundred bring-home a week, but thats driving 6 days, 12 hr.s a day. I usually hauled rock and got paid tonnage, so I could figure exactly what I made each trip. I also hauled asphalt alot. Coincidently, any truckers out there who travel I-65 thru Lou. and like the new pave job, especially in hospital curve, your welcome. On asphalt jobs I made $16.00/hr. I drove an International Paystar 5000, not a bad truck, but when it went down I had to drive some real dozies! Doors held shut with bungee cords and the like. It just depends on who you drive for as to the conditions of the equipment, but most dumptrucks go places you wouldn't ride a goat, and for this reason the DOT like to pick on you. My company, however, paid all equipment violations. I was pulled over 8 or 10 times this summer alone. If you can get into a Mac, jump on it. They are the Cadillacs of dumptrucks. One thing you notice driving a dumper, though, is that everyone hates you! Hey, loose rock bouncing from the bed rails is gonna happen, but you are always given a wide berth for lane changes! Overall, not bad driving, but I would kill to drive something with air-ride!l

[Mackman]

If you can get into a Mac, jump on it.

Thats what i like to hear. I drove dumps for 2 years also got paid 18.oo an hr not a bad job at all. OT over 40 gotta love that.

[feederfred]

I drove a ready mix truck part time for San Diego Ready Mix. That is, until one of the non -English speaking concrete finishers backed me right over and into the foundation of a house in Vista. Boy, it's quite interesting what happens when that drum stops turning ! Thus my ready mix days were done....

[crankyazz]

I drove a mixer for a while...most is with senority... if you have it you get the hours... if you don't.. u get the leftovers... wasn't really my cup of tea.

[joettanne]

I drove dump trucks on and off. I liked the fact that the jobs changed, so you could work all over the city or countryside.
The jobs I didn't like were the ones you went from A to B then back to A then back to B then back to A then back to B then A then B zzzzzz........

[nrvsreck]

I hauled end-dump for a while. Didn't care much for it myself. I guess it works for some folks. I don't like running back roads. I don't like the DOT on my a** all the time. I don't like a company that won't do proper maintenance on it's equipment. I don't like running the same 100-mile stretch of road every day. I'm not saying it's bad... it depends on what you want. Some guys love it. They love the freedom. No Qualcomm. No dispatcher. Tying up at the same stable every night. Good pay and home every day. But, you have to look at the good and the bad and decide what's right for you.