How does concrete get out of the truck?
The truth is stranger than fiction!
“How many people does it take to get concrete out of a truck?”
There’s no set answer!
It might sound like a bad concrete joke, but it’s the truth! Often it does take a few pros to help concrete make the journey from the concrete truck to the outside world. So if you’ve got a concrete job on the horizon, it’s important to know facts from fiction before you start. Test your knowledge below!
Concrete Truck Trivia Test: True or False?
A concrete truck’s drum must rotate while driving from the concrete plant to the job site.
True. This helps keep the concrete from hardening while in transit. If it stops moving for too long, the concrete will set inside the truck, rendering it useless.
The concrete is mixed at the plant before being transported.
True and False. Some can be mixed while in transit, while other types of concrete are made at the concrete plant beforehand. Others will be mixed right there at the job site!
Concrete exits the concrete truck when the driver tips the barrel and pours it out.
False! A chute must be installed to help the concrete pour out of the truck exactly where you need it.
Once the chute is in place, the driver can start the pour solo.
True and False. This depends on the type of truck. A rear discharge truck (like our blue-striped trucks at Mathews Readymix!) needs someone to help pour from the rear, so you’ll need to hire a separate team to pump it out of the truck. A front discharge truck allows the driver to pour from the cab.
Once the truck arrives at the job site, the concrete should be discharged within two hours.
True. Time is of the essence, otherwise the concrete can set in the truck. Once you order concrete and it’s loaded inside the truck, the clock starts ticking. It has around 30-60 minutes to reach the job site before the quality and consistency are affected.
Concrete trucks weigh 5,000 lbs.
False! On average, empty concrete trucks can weigh around 25,000 lbs, up to a maximum of 48,000 lbs. Adding the concrete mixture will increase the number even more, so it’s critical to make sure the job site can support its weight.
It’s important to prepare the job site in advance.
True. Don’t wait until the truck arrives! Ensure it has a clear path free of obstacles. Remove any furniture, tools, or debris from the area before your ready-mixed concrete arrives.
Finding a company to do the concrete pumping from the truck can be difficult.
False! If you don’t know who to call, Mathews Readymix can help. While you’ll need to have a separate company funnel the concrete out of the truck for our jobs, we offer recommendations to all our concrete clients.
Mathews Readymix has a fleet of concrete trucks able to handle small, medium, and large jobs in Butte County. If you’re ready to begin your project, contact us today to see how we can help!