Cement Trucks: How They Work
Have you ever been driving on the highway and seen one of those trucks with a giant rotating barrel on the back and wondered “how do those trucks work”? Those heavy duty machines are called cement trucks and they are commonly used in the construction industry. They can also be referred to as concrete mixers or concrete trucks. Concrete is the final product of a mixture of aggregates such as sand, gravel and crushed stone while cement is the mixture of aggregates before it is binded together.
How Do Cement Trucks Work?
One of the challenges of working with concrete is that in order for it to be brought from the batch plant to the job site it must remain liquid so it can be easily poured on site. Dried concrete is extremely difficult to manage and will be almost impossible to pour and remove from the truck. Cement trucks deal directly with this issue. The barrel, also known as the drum, prevents the concrete from drying as blades and the turning of the drum continuously mix the concrete throughout transportation. This process is called charging.
The process of pouring the concrete involves using specifically designed chutes that discharge the concrete from the truck. The blades that are used to mix the concrete are put in reverse which helps to push the concrete out. Cement trucks have two different variations when it comes to the pouring process:
- Rear-discharge variation - This type of cement truck requires a worker to operate at the rear of the truck and control the chutes to pour the concrete in the appropriate area.
- Front-discharge variation - This version of cement truck allows the operator to drive into the job site and control the concrete pour from within the cab. On job sites where it is not possible to drive in, the concrete is poured from a pump that extends out of the truck.
When Are Cement Trucks Used?
Cement trucks have been around for a long time but didn’t come into their own until after World War 2. The building boom that followed the war called for an increased demand for concrete which allowed the cement truck to gain popularity. Since then, the powerful mixers are used commonly for various purposes. Laying concrete for sidewalks and structures as well as asphalt for roads are the most common jobs for cement trucks.
Getting A Concrete Truck For A Job
Concrete trucks can be expensive and storing them requires a large area. Unless you are operating a concrete business, hiring or renting is the more efficient option. What is the better choice between renting and hiring? Someone with no experience pouring concrete or operating the machinery should look to hire and be charged by the cubic yard amount. For someone taking on a large project with some experience in concrete pouring, renting is the optimal choice. Where can you rent a cement truck? There are many choices when it comes to renting cement trucks but for expert service, you can browse DOZR.
