Winter and your water Valve

In the winter it's a must that you leave your water hose trickle with water this will keep the line from freezing on you while you drive. Let it drip real slowly so you don't lose to much water on the ride to the load. Makesure you don't slip on the decks of your truck, an also be safe leave extra room while driving on ice roads.


Happy Holidays

Clean up cab after pump dump

After you dump at the pump the cab will have cement splats all over. The first thing to do here would be to get out grab the hose and wet the cab then go to top hopper and start the cleaning process the way you always do top to buttom. When you reach the cab. Start to wipe all the front of the cab with your waterproof gloves. this will release the cement so you can rinse it. If you fail to do this it will dry and the truck will start to look neglected and abused. If you do you will keep a clean truck and when a new truck comes in you will be given first thoughts for driving it by the boss.

Get out and look before backing up

Alway look before backing up. Get out of truck view your line before you drive it there could be anything behind you or rebar sticking out from crub that can rip your tires open these tires cost 600.00 each it takes two seconds to get out and look. Also walk the jobsite before you pull the truck on to it make sure the ground is hard not soft. Ask if there are cesspools that can cave in as you drive. Beaware of condistions like mud and sand that can get the truck stuck if not in 6 wheel drive.

How to dump into a pump

First things first you will need to communicate with the owner of the construction company. See how he wants it the answer sold be no less then a five slump this will just make it through must pumps. Talk with pump operator see what he need to do and let them both come to a reasonable slump and then you mix based on that. Prime Chute with water pull up to pump with someone guiding in don't hit the pump this with spark big problems in your life.

If you are the first truck start to dump slow so the cement can go through that pump with ease. after you get it going you can speed up. always watch the hopper don't over fill it by spilling on to the street.

Always sound horn as you run out but make sure you leave the hopper full at the pump stop there it' a little math not very hard.

Find out where you will wash out and leave no mess if you can.

Never pull truck under tree branches

One thing that will not be tolerated is pulling under a low tree to dump load. I have done this when I was working for a ready mix company in the begging of my driving career. Scratches will happen from driving under tree during summer when the trees are lowest. These scratches will be straight lines and will be tolerated to some point.

What wont be Tolerated is circle scratches that are caused when you dump under a tree from the barrel spinning and the branches scratching the barrel some companies don't care and wont back you if you argue with costumers. Others that keep nice trucks will take a stand call the office when a contractor tells you to pull under a tree see what they say don't take it upon Yourself to pull under or not let the office make that call.

keep the music low as You roll to listen to sounds off the road

It is important that you keep the music low there are things that You need to listen for as a driver. Some people think that they did the pre trip inspection and that's all there is to it. Listen to what Your truck is trying to say before it says it louder. So if the music is to loud in the truck You cant hear if the truck is getting loud or not.

PS be careful lives are at risk around you be safe be in control.

Alawys do Your pre trip insection

There is no excuse for not doing Pre Trip Inspection but that You are lazy and this just wont cut it. These truck are just to much responsibility not to do the Pre trip. Not only does Your life depend on this but so do countless others lives as well. so don't let a bad tire ruin Your life or there life. Listen for leaks,look for leaks most of all get to know Your truck inside and out. The Pre trip if done good should only take more then and no less then ten minutes.



More to come on pre trips coming in next posts.

Bringing You the Best Schools and Job in the industry

My name is John A Ciampa owner and operator of this commercial driving blog as well as fourteen other blogs and a radio show with more shows on the way. This site will become a radio show once a week we will update You on schools,best deals,and have the CEO of each company come on the show to tell You why there Job or School could be right for You.


Also we are putting together links from each state in the united states and the world wide web. I will continue to put out free learning to driving content to my viewers.
I also will have ever link in this program if they want to provide us with a video
driver wanted video Or driver training video with there URLs in the videos.these will be added on You tube to gain the company traffic then put on this site once I can grab embed code from You tube.


So if you have ever wanted to drive there has never been a better time to learn.
I know that You may know qualified drivers for the job list sections of our site. Spread the word to all the drivers You know That www.commercialdrivertraing.blogspot.com is a true friend to driver and drivers who are learning we all started somewhere.

Washing truck with acid water mix

This need to be done about once a week to the whole truck and once a day to windows and mirrors. to avoid cement film build up. So if the place You work does not premixed acid with water. Then it Your job to mix it 50%/50% this will keep you from getting a burning feeling when it makes human contact. It6 will also keep the truck from being eaten from the acid as well as the brushes use to clean the truck.

Always start from the highest point and work your way down spin the barrel slow to keep from having to power brush just do it slow and get all you can see. Then rinse truck down starting at the top.

Slump gage may not work on hill

It seems to me that the slump gage may not work well on a hill it will either make you mix to tight when the gage reads loose or even worst to wet when the gage reads tight.
This is an easy fix just mix on flat surfaces and this problem will not exist.


More on slumps and gages latter in video format. aka water level in cement

How to work diffrent locations without heavy cleanup

When You work for a contractor that has a lot of small work spread through the area. Try to always keep chutes as few as possible. If You have a flip down That gives You plenty of chute for most sidewalks and apron's. You may have to add one or two here and there.

After each stop scrape chute so make sure you don't let out to much so your chute is full of cement. Scrape chute and when you get to the next open hole rinse the cement build up on the highest points of each chute into the open side walk don't go crazy this is to keep from a hard cleanup later on the edges will do just fine.

Dont wet the load empty barrel at start of day

Before You load each day goo to the wash out pit empty water out if any. It may have rain or You left the water valve open. This is also a good time to make sure the valve is in the closed position. pull under plant put truck in nutral with parking brake on. Make sure the barrel is charging to recive the load and not still in discharge direction. The barrel should be turning clockwise when loading and counter clock when dumping.

Always watch the truck On wire above

Most wire are set at fourteen feet and may sit at 10-13 ft if its old or had a bad winter with lots of heavy ice on the wires to pull them low. To avoid this try to stay on the side of the pole not the house it's higher at the pole lower at the house.There

are two roads one on the ground and One above the truck think before you move. always slow down if it looks low and don't forget You can also stop the truck put the parking brake on a look first don't be lazy You have a lot of responsibility to the people around You.

Always look at the map given and match with ticket

Always look at the ticket address and match it with the map sometimes dispatch will mark a job from a contractor that you have been before. If this happens and You don't look at the map You will wind up on the wrong job. Even though it had an address where

You have been if the office messes up so do You. So always look at the ticket and the map given to You for each load. If You do this all the time You will never have to drive in the wrong direction.

Watch Where You Point Your Chute

It's so importent to keep an eye on the chute it always has to be turned as you pull in and out of driveways and all around becareful you can do so real damage with It. There would be no excusee if you damage a car it would be neglagents on Your part.

Never pass property line without permission

Never pass property line without signed permission. Don't take it upon Yourself to decide if You should jam your tuck where it don't belong. No matter how good You drive there is alway something to destroy so why not let it be on the contractor.

P.S if a contractor wants You to put you truck in danger tell him you cant call office and have the contractor and the office work it out.

keep drop down axle tires clean off debries

One problem that can come from the drop down tires is dirt or mud may dry. when this happens the cars behind your truck will be dusted in dry dirt as the tires make contact with the road. So always wash them off before leaving the job if possible the last thing you need is to crack a windshield or cause a accident.

podcast for commercial driver training coming soon

I will be starting commercial driver training podcast so stay tuned talk to You soon. This will happen asap I have 14 blogs to do this so maybe twice a month three tops for each blog.

Washing out at the end of the day

If you have cement left over see where the boss want to put it this may change day to day. After dumping out all leftovers then it time to pull under the plant for water added to your hopper to help You rinse the in side. Also while under the plant fill water tank with water. Proceed to wash out pit or area and charge and discharge the

barrel they put water in about ten time before letting the first shot water into the pit.this will get most of the nasty stuff. Then charge barrel open water valve and do this about three times or until water is clear. Keep the barrel clean and it will always mix well.

PS sometimes after being on the last job to long in the heat the plant might add blue stone in the shot of water. This will help you scrap the inside of barrel during washout. You will wash it back into the pile of blue stone in the yard.

mixing the load part three

1)OK before you mix any load you will need to work the levers and valves. When you get to the job ask the contractor how he likes his mix or slump. Make sure the truck is in neutral and the parking or service brake is pulled to the up position this will keep the truck from rolling away or worst.

2)Now you want to move the the charge discharge lever or foot pedal depending on the truck You will be controlling to the charge position.

3)Then open water valve to the let the water into the mix.
Watch Your slump gage to when to close the water valve remember it's like a hair cut you can always cut more off but You can put it back on. Same with water add it slowly until You get the desired slump. Then discharge to dump always start dump slow to let the cement flow before flooding the chute with to much heavy cement.

4)PS Always close water valve I keep my hand on it so I don't forget its open so you don't wet the load to much.

mixing the load part 2

Mixing cement in a front loader continued. One thing You need to know is what type of mix is it 2500 psi 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000psi the higher the number the more water you will need in the load. another thing is the outside temp if it's cold and damp or just

rained then You will need less water.with this said from lesson one can somebody tell me what the word slump means in the cement industry.and what slump is normal to leave the plant,

learning to mix a truck load of cement lesson one

Lesson one OK how mix the load all depends on these factors that follow.

1)Out side temp at the plant when loading the reason for this you can have the plant give you extra water before you leave. So you can make sure you don't blow through Your water tank from mixing. Keep in mind that You will need to clean the truck inside and out with the water so use it wisely.

2) Once on the job you will get out of the truck see where and when You will be able to dump. Then talk with The G C about the slump. Slump is the amount of wetness the cement will be poured at. usually you leave the plant with a 4.5 slump 10 being the wettest

& three being the tightest. every contractor is different so know your slumps. we will add to this latter on how to listen to the load mix and watch the slump gage so if the gage is ever broke you ears can take over.

Learn To Drive A Front Loader Cement Mixer

I will start taping at work to show you how to mix,drive,load,dump,clean, and pre inspect all your gear on the front loader cement mixer. come back soon to hear audio and see video.

welcome to commercial driver training

If you ever wanted to drive for a living now is the time. Big companies are looking for people to become part of there work force. You don't have the skills well look no further then here. We will bring you audio,video,pics,tip and tricks to help you on you way.

Some Jobs Like front loading ready mix for cement you need experience. because the cab only fits one person and most companies wont send some one with you I decided to bring it to you in the above forms.

P.S lots a video to come on the use of these front loaders so you can get some experience behind you before you make that call for Your New career.

John a ciampa