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Post by concretejoe on Jan 24, 2007 20:26:23 GMT -5
Anybody else tired of this perception? I'm tired of being talked down to by contractors, test people and employers. I've forgotten more about concrete than my boss and a lot of our customers will ever know. I'm ACI Level 1 and KRMCA Level 2 certified. I've experienced and learned a lot in 10 years. Just because I enjoy driving the truck and slinging the mud doesn't make me stupid. I think we need a trade association devoted to the ready mix driver. All the ready mix associations out there are oriented more toward producers. It's time for us to have a voice in regulations and standards as well. Who's fighting for us? Our employers? Hah!
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Post by concretelew on Jan 27, 2007 7:56:33 GMT -5
Yes we do!!! I have been thinking of doing something like that. I had the idea of doing a newsletter and membership group to get all mixer drivers together. "The Brotherhood of Mixer Drivers" If we become one we could have some strength. The trick is to have the ability to get it out to all drivers in all of the companies in the country. My guess is that most drivers don't even know that this board exists or they would be here. Let's get together...for the cause
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Post by Matt on Jan 28, 2007 14:09:34 GMT -5
This site is a start, and frankly the best option in my opinion. There is no better, faster, or cheaper way to get out to all the drivers in the world, let alone this country. Please help spread the word of the site to anyone you know who would be interested. I do my best to promote the site, and end up in search results. The fact remains that to be at the top of search results costs a lot of money!
A "Brotherhood Of Mixer Drivers" essentially already exists in the union. Businesses and unions will always end up ahead of us as employees, as money rules the world. Do not be mistaken, the union is a business. This will never change. If you feel your employer treats you like "a dumb driver", than its best to change employers.
What can change is the way we are perceived by the customer and tester. This comes on an individual basis. Take pride in what you do, and don't allow someone to talk down to you. Odds are that the tester or contractor that speaks to you this way simply lacks respect, and talks to most everyone in the same manner. You'll gain a repor with the customer or tester when you make yourself stand out from the rest with good additude, personality, and ability.
ASTM/ACI level 1 Certified +
Web Designer +
Webmaster =
Dumb Truck Driver ~ Matt ;D
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Post by concretejoe on Feb 14, 2007 20:55:00 GMT -5
I'll do my best to help promote the site Matt. Bringing people together is always good. I just believe that the unions and our employers really don't give a rat's behind about us. We are a paycheck to the unions and "a dime a dozen" to our employers. I would love to be able to have a trade association that represented the interest of the mixer driver in legislation, industry and public perception. One that had it's own standards and certifications. I think it would go a long way in raising the level of professionalism and respect for the ready mix driver. It's winter time so I'm going to have some time on my hands to research this.  |
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Post by batchmaster on May 3, 2007 21:47:27 GMT -5
it was always nice to be at the plant and to have drivers who knew that the testing was being done wrong, or cylinders were being made wrong, made it a lot easier to figure out what some of the air/strength/slump issues were when a knowledgeable driver was on the job.
i don't want to sound like a smartass here, what part of the standards and regulations of ready mixed concrete could you add to besides the placement? you definitely wouldn't want to mess with mix designs or anything like that, i guess that's it, i just don't see drivers being able to make an impact on anything but the driving of the truck and the placement of the concrete. like i said earlier, i know a lot of driver's have attained certain certifications and that from astm and aci, would you really want to take responsibility for some of the other things associated with the mix?
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Post by batchmaster on May 3, 2007 21:56:01 GMT -5
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Post by cleave70 on May 11, 2007 18:47:01 GMT -5
I was a driver for 7 years. Im a plant manager/batchman for the last 5 years. I loved driving! I only have 13 drivers at my plant but they are some damn good drivers. Attitude is the #1 way to get management and customers on yer butt. It took me 2 years to get a group of good drivers. Bad attitudes got weeded out or changed. I know long hours and tough on the job situations can get on your nerves. It only take one mouthy driver with a bad attitude to get everybody pissed off. I always back my drivers against customers and my bosses. Ive come close to getting fired more than once defending them. Im happy to have found this site. I will get my guys to start getting on here. The drivers do need a "Brotherhood" and I will do what I can at my company and talk to people I know at others around this area. Im here as a Plant Manager/Batchman and im here for the drivers. Thank You
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Post by engineer on May 16, 2007 14:41:50 GMT -5
I agree with "cleave70", attitude is key. I was a driver for 4 years then I went into dispatch for 3 years before going into the engineering department at my company. In my experience, it's the drivers with the best attitude that are heard the most. I know it's hard to look or act professional in this business being a hard and dirty job, but if you can bring together that professional and friendly attitude then you will be heard the most when it comes down to making changes.
ACI Certified Concrete Field Testing Technician - Grade I
ACI Certified Laboratory Technician - Grade II
ACI Certified Field Aggregate Testing Technician
ACI Certified Strength Technician
ACI Certified Concrete Construction Special Inspector
ACI Certified Concrete Finisher Technician
NRMCA Certified Level 3 Concrete Technologist
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Post by concretejoe on Jun 2, 2007 20:45:39 GMT -5
what part of the standards and regulations of ready mixed concrete could you add to besides the placement? |
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Post by batchmaster on Jul 1, 2007 12:31:21 GMT -5
Sounds like you want to start a new union. That is what the union is "supposed" to do right?
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Post by concretejoe on Jul 14, 2007 23:01:54 GMT -5
Well, yes and no. I actually say that the workers themselves are the union. They just hire people like the Teamsters to represent them in employee-company relations. You can have a collective bargaining agreement without a union per se. I don't think that union dues should be paid to finance political campaigns. I think that should be more the role of a trade association. So, no I don't want to start a new union. I want the union to do what I pay them for, nothing more or less. I want a trade association for mixer drivers. Similar to something like the KRMCA or the individual state equivalents.
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vaupell
Junior Member
Driver / Security Advisor.
Posts: 23
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Post by vaupell on Sept 28, 2007 9:57:32 GMT -5
Completely agree, but then again i can only speak locally.
Aparently its not restricted to your area, is the general feel
around the globe.
Im not saying we dont have those excakt people are talking about, haha.
Due to lack of workforce, with unemployment lover than ewer
before, unfortunally also means we just have to hire what we can get.
But they just tent to say all drivers are like that, sad but true.
and yes we are also tired of it. I used to be a drainage engineer
and i simply got fed up with it. So now i really enjoy driveing a old
awfull truck around, meeting those friendly people also out there.
btw, im actually better payed now. now thats strange.
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Post by LEAD DOG on Mar 30, 2008 0:16:40 GMT -5
WE AIN'T STUPID!!!!  HELL, I KNOW HOW TO MAKE MICROWAVE POPCORN WITHOUT CATCHIN' THE BAG ON FIRE ! I KNOW THE WORLD IS ROUND! I KNOW SODA GOES FLAT ! I KNOW BEER IS BEST ICE COLD ! I KNOW WHAT, HOW & WHEN TO USE COMMON SENSE (i'm sure you do too ). I KNOW HOW TO KEEP 70,000lbs. OF STEEL, RUBBER, WATER & ROCKS BETWEEN THE DITCHES SAFELY (i'm sure you can too ). I KNOW I'M DAMN GOOD AT WHAT I DO & ON TOP OF THAT I LOVE WHAT I DO (i'm positive you're the same way too ). I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS, WHY LET OTHER PEOPLE MESS WITH WITH YOUR HEAD  ? TAKE THE LEAD DOG'S ADVICE!!! DO YOUR THING ALL DAY TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY THEN PARK THAT TRUCK AND GO HOME ! OH, AND DON'T FORGET PAYDAY IS ON FRIDAYS ;D! |
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gant
Junior Member
Posts: 12
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Post by gant on Mar 30, 2008 8:04:24 GMT -5
I agree.. everyone says us drivers are stupid.. but we know a thing or two...and bout the union.. ours isnt worth a damn.. were in the middle of contract negotiations and they put the meeting off twice because they were busy.. and have lied to us numerous times..
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Post by mixedupdiesel on Mar 30, 2008 13:35:26 GMT -5
A good way to promote the site? Bumper stickers.
Not the ones that you see that are just a rectangle thing, but more like what I'm going to post here in a few minutes. This sticker costs $3.33 each on ebay, blow it up about three times bigger and put the web address on the sticker. I've already been getting complements on it because it is so detailed, and for the cost it cannot be beaten.
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Post by mixedupdiesel on Mar 30, 2008 14:45:33 GMT -5
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Post by LEAD DOG on Mar 30, 2008 19:22:46 GMT -5
HOW ABOUT THIS FOR A STICKER....PLACED ON THE BACK DISCHARGE HOPPER OF YOUR MIXER...."I CAN MAKE or RUIN YOUR DAY  . DON'T PISS OFF THE DRIVER ! IT'S YOUR CALL MISTER ! |
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Post by LEAD DOG on Mar 30, 2008 19:26:40 GMT -5
A good way to promote the site? Bumper stickers. Not the ones that you see that are just a rectangle thing, but more like what I'm going to post here in a few minutes. This sticker costs $3.33 each on ebay, blow it up about three times bigger and put the web address on the sticker. I've already been getting complements on it because it is so detailed, and for the cost it cannot be beaten. THE PICS DIDN'T COME THRU MATE  ! |
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gant
Junior Member
Posts: 12
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Post by gant on Mar 31, 2008 6:00:07 GMT -5
i want the one that says "Instant ass hole just add concrete"
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Post by mixedupdiesel on Mar 31, 2008 8:01:14 GMT -5
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Post by mixedupdiesel on Mar 31, 2008 8:16:33 GMT -5
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Post by Mixer Driver 69 on Jul 8, 2008 20:27:57 GMT -5
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Post by Mort on Jul 10, 2008 11:52:38 GMT -5
They also have one where you can add your own text. That might be pretty cool.
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Post by kcee135 on Jul 13, 2008 11:23:23 GMT -5
I WORK WITH A LOT CONTRACTORS WHO ARE COOL ,HOWEVER WHEN I GET AN AZZHOLE I SIMPLY POSITION THE CHUTE IN MY MIRROR GET IN MY CAB AND PRESS BUTTONS, AND SOON THEY GET THE IDEA. THEY CAN'T DO IT WITH OUT MY "DUMBAZZ"
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HELL, I KNOW HOW TO MAKE MICROWAVE POPCORN WITHOUT CATCHIN' THE BAG ON FIRE 
?
. DON'T PISS OFF THE DRIVER 
!
