Why do concrete trucks spin? A Blue Striped Truck Deep Dive
Answers to all your concrete truck questions
You may have seen our iconic blue-striped trucks zipping around Butte, Sutter, and Yuba counties. You might even be familiar with our motto, “Home of the Blue Striped Truck.” But have you ever wondered what makes these busy blue bees tick?
For anyone who’s had questions about our mighty fleet, we’ve got concrete answers! Check out some of our most frequently asked ones below.
Q: Why do concrete trucks spin?
A: Concrete trucks rotate to continuously mix the concrete inside. With the help of internal blades and a motor, these big truck bellies keep spinning, even while on the road.
Q: What does the spinning do?
A: While constant rotation does help keep concrete from hardening, the spinning “drum” serves another very important purpose. Imagine your usual kitchen stand mixer, full of delicious lemon cake mix, but set on its side. Just like your cake batter, getting the lumps out of a cement mix is important. Bumps in lemon desserts and concrete structures are a big no, making the drum’s constant vertical hula-hooping motion a big yes.
Q: What goes into a concrete mixture?
A: Like cake mix, a concrete mixture has different ingredients, and there are many kinds of concrete mixtures. Each recipe is customized for the job’s specific needs, whether it’s super-strength, flexibility, durability, or something else.
Q: How long does concrete last while in the truck?
A: Ideally, concrete should not be in the truck for more than an hour. So if you spot one of our blue-striped trucks toting ready mixed concrete, don’t stop to chat with us for too long!
Q: How is the concrete pumped out?
A: While you may have seen some trucks equipped with a concrete chute to help offload concrete, other trucks rely on a concrete pump. The two main types are line pumps and boom pumps. Line pumps use hoses to pump concrete at ground level. Boom pumps, on the other hand, are just as exciting as the name sounds: they extend in the air via a giant remote-controlled arm!
Q: How do you clean the trucks when they’re done with the job?
A: Breaking up is hard to do, especially when it involves concrete! Even when the job is done and the truck is emptied, some concrete bits remain inside, so we break them up and flush them out with water. And don’t worry—Mathews Readymix has sustainable practices for concrete debris, like using recycled water to clean the blue-striped trucks.
At Mathews Readymix, we’re constantly evolving to fit the needs of our clients and the planet. It’s why we keep up with the latest technology and innovations in our industry. We strive to be not just experts, but also educational leaders in the world of ready-mixed concrete. Contact us today to see how we can help you with your concrete projects!