New To This

[itsownleeme]

Hey There,

You fellas seem real knowledgeable about the cement business and I need some honest opinions on becoming a mixer driver.
I haven't had my CDL very long, but one of the companies in town is advertising for mixer drivers and saying they are willing to train. The pay is good, guaranteed at least 40 hours a week and the equipment is fairly new.
I know you have to use common sense and practice safety no matter what kind of a rig you drive, but I know these mixers are very top heavy and I have heard some real horror stories about rollovers and the stats on injuries and fatalities.
I know everyone whose ever done this job wasn't born knowing how to do it and you all learned along the way, but would anyone recommend this job to a new driver or is it better to get some driving experience behind me before I take on becoming a mixer driver?
Thanks for any help you guys can give me in this area.

M.M.

[concretejoe]

Have at it! The best advice I can give you is the same advice I give to all new drivers. Take your time. It will get there when it get's there. Roll up your window for the first month and choose one person to listen to on the job site. If this is something you want to do, you can do it. Just realize it takes time to get proficient and don't be so hard on yourself. Also, I'd be very leery of the "guaranteed 40 hours". You should put 10% of your income away to make it through the first winter. After that you should be good to go.

[BillyCement]

I've been driving a mixer for over 30 years. One thing I've learned, and I tell it to all the new drivers, any mistake you make has been made many, many times before. Wet loads, overfilled wheelbarrows or pump hoppers, you name it.....it's been screwed up already by someone else before you. Don't let it throw you.

[concretejoe]

Amen Billy. I still say if I don't screw something up every day, I'm not really trying.

[BillyCement]

That's a good way to put it, Joe. ;D. I worked for a family owned business for thirty years until they sold it two years ago. No matter what we (the drivers) did....it was wrong. Even if you were doing what they told you to do the day before...it was wrong today. So, it didn't really matter if I screwed up or not.

[concretebiatch]

Wow its been a real long time since Ive been on this site, and Im sure "some" of you have your own opinions of me but thats ok... I just wanted to drop by and say long time no talk to some of the guys I got to meet from a while ago but all and all just dropping by to say hello and I hope you all are keeping busy Jen

[cfconcrete]

So I wonder how this kid made out?
Anyone ever hear from him?
Drive Safe Men

[BillyCement]

cfconcrete said:

So I wonder how this kid made out?
Anyone ever hear from him?
Drive Safe Men

Nope.....for all I know he rolled it over on his first day and quit.

[cfconcrete]

billycement said:

cfconcrete said:

So I wonder how this kid made out?
Anyone ever hear from him?
Drive Safe Men

Nope.....for all I know he rolled it over on his first day and quit.

Funny as hell!