Concrete trucks are essential to any construction project, as they transport and deliver concrete to job sites. Here’s a guide to concrete trucks’ various sizes, capacities, and capabilities.
Contents
Size and Capacity of Concrete Trucks
The average concrete truck can transport around 8,000 pounds of concrete, equivalent to about 10 cubic yards. The maximum amount a concrete truck can transport is 14 cubic yards, about 18,000 pounds or 9 tons of concrete. However, the weight of the concrete will vary depending on the mix of ingredients used. Sand and gravel are much heavier than cement and water.
To prevent the truck from exceeding its maximum payload, the driver must be cautious when loading the truck and ensure that the concrete is evenly distributed. Overloading the truck can damage its structure and pose a safety hazard for other motorists on the road.
Dimensions of Concrete Trucks
The length of a concrete truck can vary depending on the type of truck and its capacity. A standard concrete truck can be up to 40 feet long, while a trailer-mounted mixer can be up to 60 feet long. The width and height of a concrete truck also vary depending on the type of truck and its capacity. A typical concrete truck has a width of 8.5 feet and a height of 13.5 feet.
How Far Can a Conveyor Concrete Truck Reach?
A concrete conveyor truck has a conveyor belt to pour concrete continuously, reaching up to 18 meters. The truck usually has a rear-mounted pump that helps push the concrete through the conveyor belt. The pump is also used to clean the conveyor belt after each use.
Using a concrete conveyor truck can save time and money on a project by eliminating the need for manual labor. It can also help achieve a more even and consistent pour, resulting in a better final product.
Capacity of Concrete Trucks
A dump truck is the most common truck used for transporting concrete. A typical dump truck can hold between 9 and 10 cubic yards of concrete. For comparison, a standard wheelbarrow can hold approximately three cubic feet of concrete. This means that a single dump truck can hold the equivalent of roughly 300 wheelbarrows worth of concrete. When pouring large quantities of concrete, it is essential to factor in the trucks’ capacity to transport the material.
Weight of Concrete Trucks
A typical concrete truck can carry about 9,000 liters of concrete, weighing approximately 9 tonnes. The truck itself usually weighs about 18 tonnes when empty, so the total weight of a fully-loaded concrete truck is about 27 tonnes.
Concrete trucks are classified as “heavy vehicles” and are subject to strict weight limits set by law. To prevent overloaded trucks from damaging roads, most jurisdictions require concrete trucks to be equipped with weighbridge systems that automatically weigh the load and calculate the truck’s weight limit. Authorities can fine overloaded trucks.
How Long Does It Take To Empty a Cement Truck?
A standard concrete truck can hold between 9 and 11 cubic yards of concrete, weighing nearly 20,000 pounds. Emptying the truck takes approximately one hour when working at a steady pace. Water is continuously sprayed on the load to prevent the concrete from hardening inside the truck throughout delivery. The truck also has a chute that can be adjusted to regulate the concrete flow during pouring. Once the truck is emptied, it usually takes an additional hour to clean the chute and wash down the truck to prepare for the next delivery.
Preventing Concrete Hardening in the Truck
When concrete is poured, it undergoes a chemical process called hydration, which starts as soon as the water is added to the cement and continues until the concrete hardens. During hydration, the water molecules react with the cement particles, generating heat that speeds up the hydration process, leading to stronger concrete.
However, suppose the concrete hardens inside the truck. In that case, it becomes too hard and brittle for use, making it crucial to prevent it from hardening. If this happens, the concrete must be properly disposed of, which involves breaking it up and removing it from the truck. This task can be time-consuming and challenging, especially if the concrete has hardened into large chunks.
Conclusion
Concrete trucks typically have a vertical reach of 137 feet and a horizontal reach of about 124 feet. However, this can vary depending on the model. This makes them helpful in delivering concrete to inaccessible areas where other delivery methods would not work. Concrete trucks are essential for any construction project involving concrete since they can transport more significant volumes of concrete. Without them, smaller vehicles would have to be used, limiting the amount of concrete that can be transported. Therefore, concrete trucks play a critical role in the construction industry.
