Cement Mixer Trucking Jobs
Cement mixer drivers operate front-discharge or rear-discharge concrete mixer trucks, delivering ready-mix concrete from batch plants to construction sites. The job is intensely time-sensitive — concrete begins setting within 60-90 minutes of mixing, so every delivery is a race against chemistry. Drivers need to understand slump tests, water-to-cement ratios, and how to pour concrete into forms, pump trucks, and wheelbarrows without compromising the mix. It's a skilled trade that pays well for CDL-B work.
Average Pay
$48,000 - $75,000
CDL Class
CDL-B
Demand Level
High
What Is Cement Mixer Trucking?
Cement mixer drivers operate front-discharge or rear-discharge concrete mixer trucks, delivering ready-mix concrete from batch plants to construction sites. The job is intensely time-sensitive — concrete begins setting within 60-90 minutes of mixing, so every delivery is a race against chemistry. Drivers need to understand slump tests, water-to-cement ratios, and how to pour concrete into forms, pump trucks, and wheelbarrows without compromising the mix. It's a skilled trade that pays well for CDL-B work.
Requirements
- CDL-B license with air brake endorsement
- DOT medical card
- Understanding of concrete delivery procedures — slump testing, chute operation, washout protocols
- Physical fitness — you'll be handling heavy chutes, adding water, and washing out the drum multiple times daily
- Ability to navigate tight construction sites and back into precise pour locations
A Day in the Life
3:45 AM. Your alarm goes off and you're moving. The first pour of the day is a foundation for a new Chick-fil-A in Chandler, Arizona, and the contractor wants mud on the ground by 5:30 AM — before the heat. You're at the batch plant by 4:15. The batch operator loads your 10-cubic-yard drum with a 4,000 PSI foundation mix — cement, sand, aggregate, water, and admixtures measured precisely by computer. The drum starts turning. You've got 90 minutes before this mix starts to set. You arrive at the job site at 5:10 AM. The concrete crew has the forms ready and a pump truck set up. You back up to the pump truck hopper and start pouring. The finisher on the ground yells up to add a gallon of water — the slump is too stiff. You add water carefully through the top of the drum and let it mix for 30 seconds. Too much water weakens the concrete; this is where experience matters. You pour all 10 yards into the pump in about 15 minutes. Back at the plant, you pull into the washout area. You spray down the drum interior, the chutes, and the hopper with a pressure washer. Hardened concrete left in the drum from a lazy washout will eventually ruin the drum fins and cost your company $15,000 in repairs. Washout takes 10-12 minutes if you do it right. Load two is a residential driveway in Mesa — 6 yards of 3,000 PSI. This one you pour directly from the chute into wheelbarrows the homeowner and his buddies are running. It's 8 AM and already 95 degrees. By the time you head back for load three, you're soaked in sweat and spattered with concrete. You'll make 5-6 loads today, each one a different site with different conditions. By 2 PM the plant stops batching — it's too hot for afternoon pours in Arizona summer. You do your final washout, park the truck, and clock out by 3 PM. Early start, early finish — that's the mixer life.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- Higher pay than most CDL-B jobs — experienced mixer drivers earn $65K-$75K with overtime
- Home every night — all runs are local, typically within 30 miles of the batch plant
- Skilled work that carries respect on the job site — you're a critical part of the construction process
- Overtime is common during busy season, with Saturday pours paying time-and-a-half
Challenges
- Extremely early mornings — first loads often leave the plant by 4:30-5:00 AM for pre-dawn pours
- High-pressure time sensitivity — if the concrete sets up in the drum, you've got a 40,000-pound rock inside your truck
- Seasonal layoffs in northern states during winter when concrete work stops
- Concrete dust and splatter are corrosive — trucks require daily washout and drivers get covered in cement residue
Top States for Cement Mixer Jobs
These states have the highest demand for cement mixer drivers based on freight volume, industry presence, and carrier activity.
Top Companies Hiring Cement Mixer Drivers
CEMEX
#1U.S. Concrete
#2Argos USA
#3Buzzi Unicem
#4CalPortland
#5Ready to Start Driving?
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cement Mixer Trucking
How much do cement mixer drivers make?
Cement mixer drivers earn $48,000-$75,000 annually depending on market, experience, and overtime. Major ready-mix companies like CEMEX and U.S. Concrete pay hourly rates of $22-$32/hour with time-and-a-half for overtime. During peak construction season (spring through fall), 50-60 hour weeks are common, and overtime can add $10,000-$15,000 to annual earnings. Union mixer drivers in markets like New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco earn $35-$45/hour with full benefits, pushing total compensation above $90,000.
What is a slump test?
A slump test measures the consistency (workability) of concrete. The driver or quality control tech fills a cone-shaped mold with fresh concrete, removes the mold, and measures how much the concrete 'slumps' or settles. A 4-inch slump means the concrete settled 4 inches from the top of the cone. Higher slump numbers indicate wetter, more workable concrete. Typical slumps are 4-6 inches for most structural work. Specifications are set by the structural engineer — delivering concrete outside the specified slump range can result in a rejected load. Mixer drivers learn to judge slump visually as it pours off the chute.
What happens if concrete hardens in the truck?
Hardened concrete in a mixer drum is a nightmare scenario called a 'hard load' or 'spinning a rock.' If the concrete sets up inside the drum — due to a breakdown, traffic delay, or driver error — it can cost $10,000-$20,000+ to remove. Workers must jackhammer the concrete out of the drum by hand, a process that can take days and damages the drum fins. In extreme cases, the drum must be replaced entirely at a cost of $15,000-$25,000. This is why mixer drivers are obsessive about delivery times and why admixtures (chemical retarders) are added to delay setting in hot weather.
Do mixer drivers pour the concrete themselves?
Mixer drivers are responsible for positioning the truck, operating the chute, controlling the pour rate, and managing the mix consistency (adding water if needed). The actual placing and finishing of the concrete is done by the concrete crew on the ground. On pump truck pours, the driver feeds concrete into the pump hopper while the pump operator directs it through the boom. On direct-pour jobs, the driver swings the chute to direct concrete into forms or wheelbarrows. Drivers need to communicate constantly with the crew about pour speed, chute position, and mix consistency.
Is cement mixer driving year-round?
In Sun Belt states (Texas, Florida, Arizona, California), cement mixer work runs nearly year-round. In northern states, concrete work is highly seasonal — it's difficult or impossible to pour concrete when temperatures drop below 40°F because the concrete won't cure properly. Batch plants in the Midwest and Northeast typically shut down or drastically reduce output from December through March. Some drivers transition to other CDL-B work (snow plowing, salt spreading) during the off-season. If year-round employment matters to you, target markets in the southern half of the country.