Ready Mix Concrete or RMC is produced at batching plants as per specifications of concrete. Then the prepared concrete is delivered to the project site via trucks. RMC has become the most popular way of fulfilling the needs of concrete. Gone are the days when contractors ordered cement and aggregates separately to produce site mixed concrete. Each batch of Ready-Mix Concrete is tailor-made according to the specifics of the contractor and is delivered to the location in the plastic condition in cylindrical trucks, often known as mixer trucks or cement mixers.

Sometimes we only consider the quality of concrete produced in a batching plant. However, the method of transportation is equally important as it will determine the condition in which the concrete mix will be delivered to our doorsteps. Furthermore, we have to consider the truck capacity. In Bangladesh, it is of great importance as some roads are not well structured to sustain the heavy load of concrete trucks. In those scenarios, you might have to order Ready-Mix Concrete in two or more trucks to compensate for the issue.

Concrete Mixer Truck Delivery Specifications

As the name suggests, concrete mixer truck capacity indicates how much concrete a mixing drum of a truck can hold, mix, and provide. As a matter of fact, the capacity of the specification of the concrete mixer truck is the same as the mixing drum on it. These trucks quickly increase working efficiency, help to complete high-standard engineering quantities, and save costs for your project. Moreover, you get the highest standard of quality concrete that ensures your structure’s durability, as there are several benefits of hiring a Ready-Mix Concrete truck.

A Ready-Mix Concrete truck or transit mixer’s total load depends on various factors. The transportation department regulates it as they have a weight limit for two or three-axle trucks on the road based on the size and model of RMC trucks. Furthermore, these trucks cannot be loaded full of concrete as it increases the risk of spillage. Being full of concrete can also make the car unstable. The drum rotates slowly to agitate the concrete inside. As a result, the concrete does not set inside the drum and remains in plastic condition.

Since the inception of delivering concrete through transit mixers, these trucks have discharged concrete at the rear of the vehicle. Front discharge units are becoming more popular with contractors. It is because The driver in the front can control the discharge of the concrete and can drive directly onto the job site without needing any assistance from the contractor. The driver himself can manage the discharge setup.

There are various kinds of transit mixer capacity. Different suppliers have a diverse range of transit mixers. These concrete mixer truck capacities can be 3 m3, 4 m3, 5m3, 6 m3, 7 m3, 8 m3,9 m3, 10 m3,12 m3, 14 m3, and 16 m3. However, due to weight laws, the typical truck mixer is a 7 to 8 m3. The drums are constructed with a measured highest capacity of 63% of the total drum size as a mixer and 80% of the drum space as an agitator. Generally, manufacturers load their trucks with a quantity near their rated mixer capacity to avoid any risks. Fresh concrete is considered a perishable product that may undergo slump loss. It may depend on the varying temperature, time to the work site’s delivery point, and other factors.

Water should not be mixed with the concrete mix unless the slump is less than that which is specified. If water needs to be added to the drum, then all of the water should be added at once, and the revolution of the drum should be at least 30 per minute.

In order to deliver the concrete in the best state, it should be given to the job site within 90 minutes and before 300 revolutions after the water has been added to the mix. However, if conditions permit, the contractor may waive this requirement.

In many cases, admixtures are added to the mix to compensate for variable conditions like air loss, high temperature, or extended delivery time. Generally, the concrete supplier and your contractor will discuss how the concrete must be delivered to maintain such conditions. It is essential in Bangladesh as major cities like Dhaka and Chittagong suffer from terrible traffic. Delivery schedules might get disrupted due to traffic, and admixtures can help maintain the concrete’s quality.

The Main Features of a Concrete Mixer Truck

A concrete mixer truck mainly has three distinct features. These are:

Hydraulic Transmission System

This section includes a hydraulic pump, hydraulic motor, and reducer. These are unitary types and split types of the system. For the first type, three accessories are combined in one unit. It exhibits a compact structure and high-bearing concrete mixer truck capacity. Furthermore, these truck types have a low rate of failure and long working life. For the split type, it has reliable heat dissipation, and it is easy to check and maintain.

The capacity of the Concrete Mixer Truck

The mixer drum determines the capacity of the truck. The drum has sharp blades that help mix and distribute the concrete blend evenly. When feeding concrete, the blades move forward to receive the concrete properly. When discharging, the drum rotates in the opposite direction, and it helps to spit out the concrete adequately.

Water Supply Cleaning System

Most concrete mixer trucks are equipped with a water supply and cleaning system. These water repositories can help to clean the inside of the car anytime. The cleaning system can be of a pneumatic type and hydraulic pressure type. The capacity of the water tank usually is between 400 – 500 liters. It provides enough water for cleaning the drum.

How to Choose the Right Capacity for Concrete Truck

Before ordering Ready-Mix Concrete for your project, consider the following matters to order the suitable capacity of the concrete truck.

Distance

It would help if you first considered the distance from your supplier to the job site. During transportation on the road, the mixer truck must keep its drum constantly rotating to prevent the concrete from setting. Generally, the setting time of Ready-Mix Concrete depends on factors like temperature, uses of admixtures, cement to water ratio, etc. However, it is a good practice to deliver the concrete within 210 minutes after being discharged from batching plants. If you order a heavy truck of Ready-Mix Concrete, it may take longer to travel long distances due to its heavy weight and bigger size. In Bangladesh, the narrow roads and big trucks cannot be maneuvered easily. Hence, you should consider the distance and order two smaller trucks instead of a large one to solve such issues. In addition, the water tank capacity of the car is also limited. It is mandatory to add water after traveling some distance to maintain concrete quality. If the truck runs out of water, it is not possible to mix the concrete properly and wash the concrete drum. It can ruin the concrete mixture and damage the drum’s internal parts. Hence, carefully consider the distance before placing your order.

Capacity

Check with your local authorities about any restrictions on weight limits on the route your truck will travel to deliver the product. Also, check if there are any height restrictions. It is better to order two smaller trucks instead of a large one to reduce any complicacies. Remember to order at least 5% – 10% extra than you require to account for accidental spillage or wastage due to unavoidable reasons.

Work Efficiency

If your project requires a large amount of Ready-Mix Concrete, you can order several concrete trucks at once. Make sure you have ample space on your job site to facilitate several trucks. If you lack space, ask your supplier to deliver concrete trucks one after another. It can hugely improve your work efficiency and help you to finish the job at a faster pace. Discuss with your contractor to estimate and order Ready-Mix Concrete.

Summary

Concrete mixer trucks have eased the construction process by a considerable margin. It has reduced the need for concrete mixing on-site and can deliver high-standard concrete directly to the job site. To maintain the concrete mixtures’ quality, the trucks must be equipped with enough facilities.

If you order from a reputed brand, the quality of the Ready-Mix Concrete will be of a high standard without any doubt. Make sure you order the right amount of Ready-Mix Concrete to be delivered with an appropriate transit mixer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much does a fully loaded concrete truck weigh?

Ans: A fully loaded concrete truck can weigh up to 30,000kg.

What is the most common concrete truck capacity?

Ans: The most common truck capacity is ten cubic yards or 7.6 cubic meters.

What is the weight of a cubic meter of concrete?

Ans: One cubic meter of concrete weighs around 2.5 tons.

What is the measurement of a standard concrete truck?

Ans: A typical concrete truck’s width is around 2.9m and length is around 7.1m

How fast can a concrete truck go while mixing concrete?

Ans: A concrete truck’s maximum speed is not more than 50km/h while mixing.