Concrete is an essential building material used throughout Alberta and beyond. In fact, few construction projects don’t require concrete delivered to the worksite.
Drivers in this sector operate equipment meant to both mix and transport concrete at the same time. Driving these trucks, called concrete mixers or ready-mix trucks, offers an interesting career choice that may not be top-of-mind when thinking about commercial trucking.
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Seasonality
Work is often seasonal for new drivers and nonseasonal for those with seniority. The busiest periods run from May to November.
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Method of Pay
A concrete driver is typically paid by the hour.
Equipment and Tasks
In this sector, work revolves around concrete. Drivers learn to operate different types of equipment to haul this product, and they gain detailed knowledge about the varying concrete mix types used in different projects.
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Equipment
A concrete driver drives and operates a concrete mixer truck. These may be straight trucks with three to five axles, or tractor-trailer units where the mixer is on the trailer and pulled by a day cab highway tractor.
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Tasks
Drivers can expect to perform common driving-specific tasks: city and highway driving, pre-and post-trip vehicle inspections, cargo securement of vehicle accessories, and customer service-related responsibilities. They may also perform work around the concrete plant and have concrete-specific duties, like knowing how to load, unload, and clean their mixer.
Lifestyle in the Industry
Concrete truck drivers have similar lifestyles as those with other construction-related careers. Drivers generally enjoy steady work that’s close to home, but they will see longer days and weeks during busy times.
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Work Shifts
Shifts are generally during the day and may be between 8 to 14 hours in length—often with early morning starts.
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Physical Demands
Concrete truck driving is physically demanding. Drivers will need to frequently climb in and out of the truck’s cab and onto ladders on the mixer. They’ll also have to handle heavy objects like chute extensions. Since the work is generally local, more time is often spent working around the truck than driving in it.
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Work/Life Balance
Drivers are typically home every night. It’s unlikely to be away unless drivers are sent on a distant project. The work is busy, and work weeks can be 5 to 7 days a week during peaks in business.
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Predictability
The work is often unpredictable. Some employers require drivers to call the evening prior to see what work is needed the following day. This is partially due to the weather-dependent nature of concrete work, as there’s little demand for concrete deliveries when it’s raining.
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On-Call
While not formally on-call, drivers often must call in the day before a shift to see if they’re working.
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Unionization
Unionization for concrete drivers is common.
Getting Started
It’s fairly straightforward to apply for a concrete truck driver position, and many companies have online systems in place. Drivers may also start as concrete plant labourers, learn about the industry, and then transition into driving a concrete truck. Some employers may even assist with the costs related to obtaining a commercial driver’s licence if they have confidence in the individual.
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Mandatory
RequirementsA Class 1 licence is needed for tractor-trailer mixers, whereas a Class 3 licence with airbrakes is needed for straight truck mixers. Drug and alcohol testing is common, and drivers may have to be clean-shaven to wear a respirator when working around concrete powder.
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Preferred Skills &
Previous ExperiencePrevious driving experience and offroad driving experience in heavy vehicles are assets. It’s also valuable to have both customer service experience and general experience in the construction industry.
Red Flags
There are many hazards present in the concrete and ready-mix industry; concrete is a hazardous chemical. While loading and unloading, drivers climb on trucks and trailers, and they visit and work in busy construction sites. People interested in starting a career as a professional concrete driver should be on the lookout for these potential red flags (aka signs that an employer may not be operating safely):
- Equipment and vehicles that are in poor condition.
- Being pressured to become an owner-operator early into one’s career or any other signs of employee misclassification.
- A lack of safety training and supervision, especially when new.
- No training in commercial driving rules, like hours of service and vehicle inspections.
- A lack of training on the hazardous nature of concrete, including the inhalation and skin hazards that the chemicals in concrete present to workers.
Quick Facts:
- Concrete truck driving is part of a complicated process of delivering a time-sensitive concrete load to a construction site—right when it’s needed for use.
- The lifestyle of concrete truck drivers is more similar to the lifestyles of construction workers than typical truckers.
- Drivers in this sector enjoy more home time than other types of commercial drivers.
- It can take some time before a driver has steady, year-round work. This is because of the effect of weather on construction projects and working with drivers with more seniority.
More Help
Are you interested in learning more about working safely in transportation? Check out our Resources page for insights from industry experts and organizations. We’ve taken great care to present information relevant to those interested in truck and bus driving careers, those already employed in trucking or busing, and employers navigating labour challenges.
Contact Information
If you have questions or want to learn more about the content of this website, please contact the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA). AMTA employs experts in trucking and busing across Alberta. We would be happy to help you further.