How Concrete Mixer Trucks Work

What Is a Concrete Mixer Truck?

The concrete mixer (also called the mixer truck) is a truck used for transporting and pouring ready-to-use concrete on a site.

It has a rotating tank used to stir the concrete and maintain its homogeneity until pouring, as well as a 3-meter-long chute.

Well positioned, it allows the concrete to flow into the formwork, directly from the end of the truck.

A mixer truck refers to a truck specializing in transporting fresh concrete. The truck’s main part is a spinning top-shaped tank that is tilted on an almost horizontal axis.

How Do Concrete Mixer Trucks Work?

The mixer truck spins slowly, allowing for continuous mixing of the concrete to prevent “tangling” during transport to the job site.

Contrary to popular belief, the movement does not prevent concrete from setting. Thus, to keep all its qualities, the concrete must not stay for too long in the truck (one hour maximum).

The continuous mixing is also intended to complement the careful mixing of the concrete plant.

The tank's interior is provided with an endless screw that drives the concrete to the bottom of the tank when it turns in one direction (stirring operation) and towards the open top of the tank when the spindle molder is rotated in the opposite direction (emptying procedure).

Thus the router can be entirely emptied without having to be tilted.

What Are the Components of the Mixer Truck?

The concrete mixer truck is equipped with the following:

Funnel located above the opening. It facilitates the truck's filling under the concrete batching plant.

Removable pipes (also called “chutes”). They allow the concrete to flow directly to the desired location.

Carrier. The forwarder is the truck carrying all the material necessary to ensure the safe delivery of concrete. Its configuration varies from 3 to 4 axles depending on the volume of the tank transport.

Tank. The tank is the element for transporting concrete from the concrete batching plant to the site. Its volume can vary from 4 to 8 m³.

Tank rotation and cleaning system. The tank’s rotation is essential because it allows the concrete to remain homogeneous during transport and be discharged on the job site. This rotation is provided by a system powered by the truck engine. 

Water tank. Above the rotation system is a water tank that can hold approximately 400L. The water in this tank is intended to clean the concrete tank when it has been poured.

Helical blade. The tank consists of a system (helical blades) allowing the concrete to remain in motion during transport and to raise it up to pour it onto the site.

Filling and emptying system. At the rear of the vehicle are the filling hopper (upper part) and the emptying system (lower part). The chute’s position for pouring the concrete can be adjusted to facilitate the pouring of concrete.

Extension. The extension is usually located at the rear of the truck, above the fenders. The extensions’ material can vary (plastic or steel), which allows increasing the distance of the concrete pouring (about 3m).

How Much Concrete Can Mixer Trucks Transport?

Depending on their size, trucks can transport from 4 m³ to 10 m³ of concrete. The rotors come in one of three forms of carriers and a semi-trailer:

The 4×2 or 4×4 (19 tonnes maximum) can carry 4 m³ of concrete (9.2 tonnes)

The 6×4 (26 tonnes maximum) can carry 6 m³ of concrete (13.8 tonnes)

The 8×4 (32 tonnes maximum) can carry 8 m³ of concrete (18.4 tonnes)

The 2-axle semi-trailer (38 tonnes maximum) can carry 10 m³ of concrete (23 tonnes)