Booster Truck

When it comes to large-scale construction projects, redi-mix concrete is the go-to solution for quick, consistent, and high-quality concrete. Concrete mixer trucks are key to this process. These heavy-duty vehicles are essential for transporting and delivering redi-mix concrete to job sites, ensuring the material remains workable and fresh.

What Is a Concrete Mixer Truck?

A concrete mixer truck, also known as a transit mixer, is a specialized vehicle used to transport redi-mix concrete from a batching plant to a construction site. The main feature of the truck is its rotating drum, which keeps the concrete in constant motion to prevent it from setting before it’s delivered.

Standard Components of a Concrete Mixer Truck

Drum: It generally holds between 8 to 12 cubic yards of wet concrete.
Hydraulic System: Powered by the truck’s engine (or an auxiliary motor), it rotates the drum continuously at a slow 2 to 6 RPM while driving.
Discharge Chute: Attached to the rear, it directs the flow of concrete exactly where it is needed once the drum’s rotation is reversed.

Advantages of Using a Concrete Mixer Truck

Consistency: Redi-mix concrete delivered in a mixer truck offers uniform quality and mix proportions.
Efficiency: These trucks save time by eliminating the need for on-site mixing.
Reduced Labor: Fewer workers are needed to handle the mixing process.

How Does a Concrete Mixer Truck Work?

Concrete mixer trucks have a simple but effective mechanism. Once the concrete is mixed at the batching plant, it’s loaded into the truck’s drum. The drum rotates continuously during transit, typically at about 2 to 6 RPM, to keep the concrete from hardening. This rotation is also essential for evenly mixing the concrete and maintaining its quality.

When the truck reaches the job site, the drum’s rotation direction is reversed. This pushes the concrete toward the discharge chute, allowing workers to pour the concrete exactly where it’s needed.

Certain States Have Bridge Weight Limits Requiring a Tag Axle

In certain states, the heavy payload of a concrete mixer truck can exceed the strict weight limits placed on highway bridges. A tag axle may be required by law to cross these bridges while carrying the heaviest payloads. To make your job EASI-er, EASI REDI-Mix Trucks manufactures a specialized EASI REDI-Mix Booster Truck with a retractable, hydraulic tag axle at the rear known as a booster axle. This booster axle is lowered to the ground to distribute the heavy payload across more wheels, ensuring the truck complies with legal requirements while putting less pressure on the bridge.

Advantages of a Booster Axle

Bridge Law Compliance: By lengthening the total wheelbase of the vehicle, it helps meet the federal “bridge formula” that mandates minimum distances between axles to prevent overstressing bridges.
Weight Distribution: Concrete is extremely heavy (weighing roughly 4,000 lbs per cubic yard). A booster axle spreads this immense weight across a larger footprint, making the vehicle legal on weight-restricted roads.
Frame and Tire Relief: Lowering the axle takes stress off the main frame and minimizes tire scrubbing and wear during travel.

Maintenance and Safety

EASI REDI-Mix Trucks require regular maintenance to ensure safe and reliable operation. Routine inspections should focus on drum rotation, mixing blade life, hydraulics, tires, brakes, and water systems. Drivers must also be trained in safe driving and operation procedures. While in reverse or taking tight turns, booster axles must be lifted off the ground to prevent the tires from dragging sideways. Since these trucks are top-heavy, special care must be taken on turns and slopes to prevent tipping.

What Makes a Better Booster Truck?

An INTEGRALdx concrete redi-mix truck with a booster from the left rear side.

Water Tanks

Choose to have single or dual water tanks ranging from 100-125 gallons a tank to wash out your drum.

Protective Flaps

Booster axles increase load capacities to help your concrete redi-mix truck meet local and federal bridge laws.

Increased Carrying Capacity

All boosters are provided with poly mud flaps as a lightweight alternative to steel to protect those following.

Durable Axle

Our booster axle frame is built with Strenx Steel. It’s I Beam design has critical stress points reinforced for strength and durability.

Serviceless Pivots

All concrete redi-mix trucks with booster axles come standard with extended life non-service bushings.

Wheel Options

Have your choice of polished Alcoa aluminum or painted steel 11R22.5 tires for your booster.