One of the questions we hear most frequently at our Jefferson County ready-mix plants is, “how far can a concrete truck reach?” Whether you’ve ordered concrete many times or are new to working with a concrete delivery company, this is a valid question.
Here is what you need to know to plan your project correctly and make the best use of your ready-mix concrete order.
How Far A Concrete Truck Reaches Depends On Your Property
Weighing in at over 27,000 pounds and over 20 feet long, it is no surprise that a concrete truck can only reach as far as the path you have for ingress and egress on your property. If you have a large enough, and clear, pathway to enter and exit the project site, the concrete truck can drive right up to the location of the pour.
But that is not the only consideration, you also need to account for the compaction of your soils and/or the thickness of any concrete slab the truck will be traversing. By taking these additional factors into consideration, you can avoid property damage.
But don’t despair if you don’t have the space or right conditions to bring the concrete truck directly to the site of the pour, you still have other options. A concrete truck can reach much further by using different types of pumps.
Using Pumps to Get to Hard-to-Reach Places for Concrete Delivery
A concrete pump is a machine that moves wet concrete to places where the concrete mixer trucks cannot reach. There are two primary kinds of concrete pumps - line pumps and boom pumps. Both can reach under, over, and longer distances from a ready-mix concrete delivery truck to deliver your concrete accurately and quickly.
How Concrete Pumps Work
A skilled concrete pump operator controls the position and output of the pump by directing one of two different types of systems:
- Boom pumps - This type of pump uses a robotic arm attached to the truck that moves a large volume of concrete mix to its destination while the truck remains stationary.
- Line pumps - Also known as a ground pump, this can be a truck or trailer-mounted pump that uses rubber or steel hoses that funnel the concrete onto the job site from the concrete hopper.
Need more information on which type of concrete pump is correct for your project in the Jefferson County region? Let the experts at Arnold Ready-Mix help you decide.
Related Reading: Best 7 Tips for Preparing for a Home Concrete Delivery
Benefits of Concrete Pumps
Using a concrete pump to reach your project has many advantages. Here are our top 3 benefits:
1. Easy and Quick Placement of Concrete
Concrete pumps can easily discharge large volumes of high-quality concrete, giving you better results for your project. Even setup time is minimal, so you won’t have a large truck on your property for more time than necessary.
2. Wider Reach
One of the primary benefits of using concrete pumps is the ability to reach longer distances. So, how far can a concrete truck reach using a pump? The vertical reach is roughly 137 feet for a typical boom pump, and the horizontal reach is about 124 feet. But equipment may vary, so it’s best to check with the ready-mix concrete delivery company about your particular needs.
3. Lower Labor Costs
It is true that ready-mix concrete can also be delivered to your project site via manual labor - that is, using wheelbarrows to transfer the concrete from the hopper to the final location. Whether you plan to pay for a crew of workers to haul, empty and spread the wet concrete or you are relying on the goodwill of your friends and family members, remember that it is costly, back-breaking work. However, when you use a concrete pump, the concrete operator directs the materials using the hose or boom directly to the site, instead of relying on workers. This equates to less time and lower expenses (and possibly saved friendships!).
Ready-mix Concrete Delivery Company in Missouri
Now that you know how far a concrete truck can reach, it’s time to start planning your next project. Arnold Ready Mix has been delivering ready mix concrete to customers throughout Jefferson County for over 50 years. With a fleet of over 80 concrete delivery trucks, can deliver from one to 11 yards in a single trip, and we serve both small home designs projects and large commercial construction projects. . Contact us today to schedule or for a free quote.
From Our Ready-Mix Concrete Delivery Blog:
The Many Benefits Of Hiring a Concrete Pumping Truck
Concrete Landscaping Projects for Summer
Benefits of Using Ready-Mix Concrete for Your Swimming Pool Deck