What is a Concrete Mixer Truck?
A concrete mixer truck is a specialized vehicle designed to mix and transport fresh concrete during transit. Its core function is to ensure that concrete does not set or segregate on the way from the batching plant to the construction site, maintaining its uniformity and workability.
The concrete mixer truck is an indispensable "mobile mixing station" in modern urban construction. It cleverly combines transportation and mixing functions to ensure the quality of concrete, while its operation also involves safety risks that must be carefully managed.
Concrete mixer trucks use a rotating drum with internal spiral blades to mix the materials, keeping the concrete in a liquid state during transportation. When the drum rotates in the opposite direction, the same spiral blades discharge the mixed concrete.
The characteristic of concrete mixer trucks is their ability to maintain uniform concrete quality over large volumes and long distances, preventing bleeding, segregation, and early setting. They are suitable for roads, airports, hydraulic projects, and large-scale construction, making them essential equipment for the development of commercial concrete.
Haomei Concrete Mixer Truck for Sale
Cubic Meter Series Concrete Mixer Trucks
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3m³ Concrete Mixer Truck
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4m³ Concrete Mixer Truck
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6m³ Concrete Mixer Truck
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8m³ Concrete Mixer Truck
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9m³ Concrete Mixer Truck
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10m³ Concrete Mixer Truck
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12m³ Concrete Mixer Truck
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14m³ Concrete Mixer Truck
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16m³ Concrete Mixer Truck
Yard Series Concrete Mixer Trucks
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2 Yard Concrete Mixer Truck
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3 Yard Concrete Mixer Truck
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4 Yard Concrete Mixer Truck
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5 Yard Concrete Mixer Truck
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10 Yard Concrete Truck
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12 Yard Concrete Truck
Other Available Concrete Mixer Truck Models
- Mobile Concrete Mixer Truck: A mobile concrete mixer truck designed for flexible transportation and on-site concrete mixing.
- Portable Concrete Mixer Truck: A compact and transportable concrete mixer truck ideal for small construction sites.
- Mobile Volumetric Concrete Mixers: A truck capable of measuring, mixing, and delivering exact concrete volumes on-site.
- Mix Onsite Concrete Truck: Designed to mix concrete directly at the construction site, ensuring fresh concrete quality.
- Mini Concrete Mixer Truck: A small-sized mixer truck suitable for narrow roads and small-scale projects.
- Mini RMC Truck: A mini ready-mix concrete truck for efficient delivery of pre-mixed concrete to local sites.
- Small Ready Mix Concrete Trucks: Compact trucks that transport ready-mix concrete for small to medium construction jobs.
- Concrete Pump Mixer Truck: A combination of concrete mixer and pump truck, enabling simultaneous mixing and pumping.
- 6 Wheeler Concrete Truck: A six-wheeled concrete mixer truck designed for medium-capacity concrete transport and construction projects.
- 8 Wheeler Concrete Truck: An eight-wheeled heavy-duty concrete mixer truck for large-scale construction and high-volume concrete delivery.
Concrete Mixer Truck Capacity
Concrete mixer trucks are typically classified by the volume of concrete they can carry, measured in cubic meters (m³) or cubic yards (yard). Here’s a typical range:
| Capacity | Description |
| 3 m³ (≈4 yd³) | Small mixer, ideal for tight construction sites or small residential jobs. |
| 4 m³ (≈5.2 yd³) | Slightly larger, good for medium-sized jobs. |
| 6 m³ (≈7.8 yd³) | Standard capacity for city construction, suitable for multiple small pours. |
| 8 m³ (≈10.4 yd³) | Larger job sites; can reduce trips for bulk concrete delivery. |
| 9 m³ (≈11.8 yd³) | Used for commercial projects requiring higher volumes. |
| 10 m³ (≈13 yd³) | Heavy-duty, often used for large construction projects or infrastructure works. |
| 12 m³ (≈15.7 yd³) | Industrial-grade capacity, requires a robust chassis and engine. |
| 14 m³ (≈18.3 yd³) | Specialized heavy mixer trucks for high-volume concrete delivery. |
| 16 m³ (≈20.9 yd³) | Largest standard mixers; often used in massive construction projects like highways and dams. |
Concrete Mixer Truck Capacity Selection Guide
2-5 cubic meter mixers
Suitable for small construction projects, urban maintenance works, landscaping projects, and other space-limited scenarios.
- Compact size
- Flexible operation
- Short transport distances
8-12 cubic meter mixers
Mainstream choice in the market, suitable for medium construction projects, bridge building, and infrastructure construction.
- Moderate capacity
- Wide application
- Cost-effective
12-18 cubic meter mixers
Suitable for large construction projects, major infrastructure, industrial projects, and other scenarios with high concrete demand.
- Large capacity
- High efficiency
- Long transport distances
Factors to Consider When Choosing Concrete Mixer Truck Capacity
| Consideration | Description | Selection Advice |
| Project scale and demand | Determine capacity based on total concrete volume, single pour volume, and pouring frequency. | Large projects: 12m³ or above; small projects: 3–8m³ |
| Transport distance and road conditions | Consider the length and conditions of the transport route, including width, slope, and turning radius. | Long-distance transport: choose large-capacity truck; short-distance: small-capacity for flexibility |
| Site limitations | Constraints of construction site space, access roads, and unloading locations. | Narrow sites: even for high demand, choose small or medium mixers |
| Cost-effectiveness | Consider purchase cost, operating cost, and maintenance cost. | Large-capacity trucks: lower per-trip cost but higher purchase price; small-capacity: lower purchase price but lower efficiency |
Types of Concrete Mixer Trucks
Volumetric Concrete Mixer
Volumetric concrete mixers, also known as mobile concrete batching trucks, carry raw materials (cement, sand, aggregates, water) separately and mix them on-site according to required proportions. This ensures fresh concrete at the exact moment it’s needed, reducing waste and allowing flexible mix designs. Ideal for projects with variable concrete demand or remote locations.
Features:
- On-demand on-site mixing, reducing waste
- Supports multiple concrete mix designs
- Maintains concrete freshness even over long transport distances
- Highly flexible, suitable for temporary construction sites
Ready Mix / RMC Ready Mixed Truck
Ready mix trucks transport pre-mixed concrete from batching plants to construction sites. The rotating drum keeps the concrete agitated, preventing it from setting before arrival. This type is widely used in urban construction where large quantities of uniform-quality concrete are needed.
Features:
- Directly transports concrete from batching plant
- Drum continuously rotates to prevent setting
- High output, suitable for large-scale construction projects
- Ensures consistency and quality of concrete
Self Loading / Self Mixer Truck
Self-loading concrete mixers combine loading, mixing, transporting, and discharging in one vehicle. Operators can scoop raw materials, mix them in the onboard drum, and deliver concrete directly to the site, making it highly efficient for small-to-medium projects or remote areas.
Features:
- Multi-functional: loading, mixing, transporting, discharging
- Suitable for scattered or flexible site operations
- Can produce concrete on-site without a batching plant
- Simple operation, improving construction efficiency
Front Discharge Concrete Truck
Front discharge trucks feature a chute at the front of the mixer drum, allowing the concrete to be discharged directly ahead of the truck. This design improves unloading speed and is suitable for projects needing precise placement or working in narrow areas.
Features:
- Front discharge, easy operation
- Fast and precise concrete placement
- Suitable for paving or narrow sites
- Saves construction time
Rear Discharge Concrete Truck
Rear discharge trucks have the discharge chute at the rear of the drum. This is the most common type of mixer truck, suitable for general construction projects. The rear discharge design allows for longer chutes, enabling concrete to be placed at a distance from the truck.
Features:
- Rear discharge, traditional design
- Suitable for most construction projects
- Can reach distant points with extended chute
- Stable, reliable, and easy to maintain
Advantages of Concrete Mixer Trucks
Efficient Transportation of Concrete
- Continuous mixing: The rotating drum keeps concrete in a liquid state, preventing it from hardening during transport.
- Large capacity: Mixer trucks can carry several cubic meters of concrete at once, reducing the number of trips needed.
Time-Saving
- Reduces the need for on-site mixing, allowing construction projects to start immediately.
- Ready-mix concrete delivered directly to the site saves labor and setup time.
Improved Concrete Quality
- Uniform mixing during transport ensures consistent concrete quality.
- Reduces the chances of segregation or uneven composition, which can affect the strength of the concrete.
Flexibility
- Can deliver concrete to locations that are difficult for stationary plants to reach.
- Suitable for both small-scale projects (like residential driveways) and large-scale construction (like bridges and high-rise buildings).
Cost-Effective
- Minimizes waste as the exact amount of concrete required can be delivered.
- Reduces the need for on-site mixers, storage, and additional manpower.
Versatility in Application
- Some mixer trucks come with front or rear discharge options, enabling easier pouring in tight spaces.
- Self-loading mixers allow on-site mixing and loading, enhancing operational flexibility.
Durability and Safety
- Built to handle heavy loads and rough construction site conditions.
- Reduces manual handling of concrete, which improves safety on site.
Components of a Concrete Mixer Truck
A concrete mixer truck consists of a truck chassis, mixer drum, transmission system, hydraulic system, and water supply system. Its core component is the cylindrical mixer drum, with spiral blades welded on the inner wall, driven hydraulically to rotate forward and backward: during loading and transport, forward rotation moves concrete into the drum, while backward rotation discharges the concrete. The transmission system converts the engine power into hydraulic energy through a power take-off, driving the drum at a low speed of 1–3 rotations per minute to prevent concrete from hardening.
Chassis: The truck's power unit, providing mobility and basic support.
Mixer Drum:
- Core component: a large, rotatable, pear-shaped drum.
- Equipped with continuous spiral blades; when rotating forward, the blades push concrete to the bottom and mix continuously; when rotating backward, the concrete is pushed out.
- Drum is usually made of high-strength wear-resistant steel plates.
Hydraulic Drive System:
- Composed of power take-off, hydraulic pump, hydraulic motor, etc.
- Transfers the truck engine's power to the drum, controlling rotation speed and direction.
Water Supply System:
- Includes water tank, pump, and pipes.
- Used to adjust concrete slump during transport and clean the drum after discharge.
Control Mechanism:
The driver can precisely control drum speed and direction through controllers inside the cabin or beside the truck.
How it works
- Mixing: The drum contains spiral blades. When rotating in one direction (loading), the blades push concrete towards the drum's interior, thoroughly mixing cement, sand, aggregates, and water.
- Transporting: During transport, the drum keeps rotating to maintain the concrete in a mixed state and prevent hardening.
- Discharging: At the construction site, the drum rotates backward. The spiral blades act like an Archimedes screw, pushing the concrete out through the discharge chute.
- Cleaning: The driver usually cleans the drum at the site to remove residual concrete; otherwise, the hardened concrete can damage the mixer.
Concrete Mixer Truck Workflow
Loading: At the concrete batching plant, fresh concrete is loaded into the slowly rotating drum via a chute.
Transporting: During the trip to the site, the drum rotates steadily forward (usually 2–6 rpm), gently mixing the concrete to prevent setting and segregation.
Discharging:
- Upon arrival, the drum rotates backward.
- Spiral blades push the concrete out, through the discharge chute, into a pump truck or directly into designated areas.
- Sometimes rotation speed is briefly increased to accelerate discharge.
Cleaning: After discharge, immediately use the onboard water system to clean the drum and chute to prevent residual concrete from hardening and affecting the next use and drum capacity.
Comparison Between Cement Truck and Concrete Mixer Truck
| Comparison Item | Concrete Mixer Truck | Cement Truck |
| Main Function | Transport pre-mixed concrete and continuously mix during transport | Transport dry cement or bulk construction materials, no mixing |
| Technical Principle | Mix multiple materials during transport to maintain uniform concrete | Keep cement flowable or in a wet state, simpler operation |
| Application Scenario | Large construction sites, bridges, hydraulic projects, requiring large quantities of high-quality concrete | Small residential projects, road repairs, farmland irrigation, partial floor pouring, etc. |
| Material Transported | Ready-mix concrete | Dry cement or other bulk building materials |
| Mixing Function | Required | Not required |
Concrete Mixer Truck Buying Guide
When purchasing a concrete mixer truck, consider capacity, mixing system, power, chassis, durability, environmental factors, and long-term costs.
- Capacity Selection: Choose an appropriate capacity (3–12m³) based on project scale, pouring volume, and transport distance, while considering site conditions and flexibility.
- Mixing System: Forced mixers are suitable for high-strength concrete; gravity mixers are suitable for ordinary concrete. Pay attention to drum shape, blade design, and mixing uniformity. Modern systems trend towards intelligent control and remote monitoring.
- Power System: Choose an engine with sufficient power and a reliable transmission and hydraulic system to ensure stable operation under high load; power should match capacity.
- Chassis and Operability: Focus on load capacity, wheelbase, suspension, and braking systems, as well as cabin comfort, safety, and maintenance convenience.
- Durability and Quality: Check drum, blades, and hydraulic system materials and welding quality to ensure wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and long-term stability.
- Long-Term Operating Cost: Consider maintenance, fuel, repair, insurance, and depreciation costs, selecting the model with the best overall cost efficiency.
Choosing a concrete mixer truck requires a comprehensive consideration of construction needs, vehicle performance, economy, and environmental factors to ensure long-term efficient, stable, and low-cost operation.
Concrete Mixer Truck Cases
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Provided Concrete Mixer Truck Solutions in South Africa
Operated Concrete Mixer Trucks in New Zealand
