How Many Yards of Concrete Are in a Cement Truck?

Concrete is critical in many landscaping and construction projects, but it’s incredibly heavy. As a homeowner, transporting concrete yourself might not be practical, particularly if you don’t want to take dry concrete and mix it on-site. Fortunately, hiring a cement truck is a solid alternative. However, as you explore that option, you may wonder, “How many yards of concrete are in a cement truck?”

How many yards of concrete a truck can carry depends on its size. A standard-sized cement truck typically transports between 8 and 10 yards of concrete. Large versions can hold up to 14 yards of concrete, while mini cement trucks may have a capacity of just 4 yards.

The carrying limits above are typically the maximum carrying capacities for each size. But other factors can also affect how much concrete a cement truck can handle safely. If you need a truck to bring in large amounts of concrete for your project, here’s what you need to know.

How Many Yards of Concrete Are in a Cement Truck?

The maximum number of yards of concrete a cement truck can carry primarily depends on its size.

Standard-sized cement trucks typically have carrying capacities in the 8-to-10-yard range. If you opt for a large cement truck, carrying capacities up to – and potentially over – 14 yards are possible. With a mini cement truck, the limit is generally closer to 4 yards.

Precisely how much one cement truck can carry depends on several factors. While truck size is the most significant point, total weight limits, rated capacities, and buildup may all reduce the approved maximum capacity of a cement truck.

Types of Cement Trucks

All cement trucks can transport concrete for your project, but different versions operate differently. Here’s an overview of the most widely-used cement trucks.

Rear Discharge Mixer

When people picture a cement truck, a rear discharge mixer usually comes to mind. These feature a large spinning drum attached to a truck frame and cab and have a drum that tilts slightly upward with the opening pointed skyward.

Once at a job site, rear discharge mixers can adjust the drum into the pouring position. Usually, concrete is dispensed while spotters help guide the driver, as the driver’s visibility of the drum is typically limited.

Front Discharge Mixer

Front discharge mixers aren’t as widely used as rear discharge mixers, but they are used by some companies. With these, you have a similar drum design, but the opening allows concrete to unload over the front of the truck. As a result, the driver can see as the concrete is pouring, reducing the need for spotters.

Front discharge mixers are usually larger, at least on average. Additionally, they’re a bit more challenging to clean.

Volumetric Mixer

Volumetric mixers are trucks with several compartments, and each container holds a different concrete component, namely cement, sand, stone, and water. That allows the ingredients to remain separate while in transit.

Once on-site, a volumetric mixer can combine the components to create workable concrete. It also creates opportunities for greater precision, as you can mix the concrete as needed without worrying about any excess.

Factors That Impact How Many Yards of Concrete Cement Trucks Carry?

Truck Size

The truck’s size is the most obvious factor that influences how many yards of concrete a cement truck can carry. Generally, the larger the truck, the higher its capacity.

Now, even if you need a significant amount of concrete, that doesn’t always mean going with a large truck – allowing you to receive it in a single load – is best. Bigger cement trucks may struggle to navigate some roadways due to their size. As a result, it’s critical to factor in the path when selecting a cement truck size.

Total Weight

Weight plays a significant role in how much a cement truck can carry. A mixer may only handle a certain number of pounds or tons. Similarly, the frame and tires can have their weight limits. Finally, roadways may restrict the weight of vehicles traveling down them.

If weight limits are an issue, filling a cement truck to its highest safe capacity isn’t always an option. As a result, even a large cement truck may only carry an amount of concrete similar to a standard-sized truck if weight limits are an issue.

Maximum Capacity vs. Rated Capacity

When looking at cement trucks, there are two capacity metrics to consider. The maximum capacity measures how many yards a cement truck can carry when it’s functionally filled to the brim. The rated capacity outlines the total number of yards the cement truck can hold without overfilling.

Generally, the rated capacity determines how much concrete you can safely put in a cement truck. Anything beyond that could make the total weight unmanageable or may prevent the mixer from spinning correctly, compromising the contents.

Buildup

Some degree of buildup is inevitable in cement trucks. After dispensing concrete for a project, some concrete doesn’t make it out of the mixer. That can include excess material and any concrete that sticks to the drum itself.

Even though most companies wash the mixers after each load, a small amount of concrete typically doesn’t come free. In time, it can harden, taking up space in the cement truck until someone goes in and chips it out.

Since buildup isn’t usable concrete, it functionally reduces the amount of concrete the cement truck holds. Usually, this isn’t problematic for anyone who hires a truck to deliver concrete, as the company will provide the ordered amount. However, it does alter the potential carrying capacity.

Can You Overfill a Cement Truck?

Overfilling a cement truck is possible. First, it’s possible to fill the mixer to the point where it can’t rotate properly, which can cause the concrete to change consistencies before it arrives at a job site. Essentially, the concrete begins hardening, which can damage the truck and prevent all of the yards from dispensing correctly.

Second, the yards of concrete in a cement truck can exceed a maximum weight limit for roadways or specific components, like tires. With the former, the truck may damage a road during transit. With the latter, a component failure could occur due to the excess weight.

How Much Does a Cement Truck Weigh When Full?

How much a cement truck weighs when full depends on the truck’s size, structure, and maximum rated capacity.

The average cement truck weighs approximately 25,000 pounds before any concrete is added. If it’s a standard-sized truck rated for up to 10 yards of concrete, then the concrete adds another 36,000 to 40,500 pounds. That brings the total to anywhere from 61,000 to 65,500 pounds.

However, larger cement trucks may weigh 30,000 pounds. If a truck of that size carries 14 yards of concrete – which weighs between 50,400 and 56,700 – that brings the total up, hitting the 80,400-to-86,700-pound range.

How Much Area Can a Full Cement Truck Cover?

The area a full cement truck can cover with concrete depends on your pouring depth and the total yards carried. A yard is technically a cubic yard, which is a volume measurement represented by a cube that’s one yard high, one yard wide, and one yard deep. When converted to feet, its volume is 27 cubic feet.

If your cement truck can carry 10 yards and you’re pouring a slab 4 inches deep, the total area it can handle is 810 square feet. If the slab is 6 inches deep, the total area it can cover is 540 square feet.

Generally, figuring out the coverage for any cement truckload is relatively simple. First, divide 12 (which is the number of inches in one foot) by your desired pouring depth in inches. Multiply that number by 27, giving you the square footage one yard can cover. Finally, multiply that by the number of yards of concrete in the cement truck, which is the total area the load can handle.

How Long Does It Take to Empty a Concrete Truck?

Generally, cement trucks can dispense concrete relatively quickly, and it takes 6 to 10 minutes per yard to unload a truck.

That means if the cement truck is carrying 10 yards, it will take between 60 and 100 minutes to fully unload. For 14 yards, the total time would range between 84 and 140 minutes. With just 4 yards to unload, the cement truck can finish emptying in about 24 to 40 minutes.

What’s the Difference Between a Cement Truck and a Concrete Truck?

Generally, what people call a cement truck is technically a concrete truck. While calling the vehicle a cement truck is a misnomer, the mistake is so common that people treat the terms functionally the same. Cement trucks are also called transit mixers and agitator trucks, so you can use those names interchangeably without much issue.

How Much Is a Truck of Concrete?

The price for a cement truck full of concrete can vary based on several factors. The amount of concrete you order, the distance the company travels to your job site, and the prevailing rates in your local area all play a role.

However, the average cost for 10 yards of concrete typically falls in the $120 to $150 per yard range, bringing the total to $1,200 to $1,500. However, you can also see pouring fees of $5 to $10 per square foot or higher rates for short loads, so keep that in mind.

How to Choose a Cement Truck Company

As with any service provider, the first step you need to take when choosing a cement truck company for your project is to do your research. Look online for companies that service your area. Next, check their insurance and licenses to eliminate any that aren’t appropriately credentialed or covered.

After that, check for reviews online. You can also request referrals from family members or friends who have previously hired a cement truck company.

Then, contact the cement truck companies on your shortlist and ask specific questions. Find out if they have experience with projects like yours and request access to a portfolio of past work. Also, find out if they’re available when you want to tackle your project and see if they offer written guarantees for their work.

Finally, it’s time to examine the pricing. As you speak with companies, gather comprehensive, written quotes outlining every cost and included service. Compare the estimates to find a competitively-priced company that isn’t cheap to the point of being concerning.

Average Concrete Truck Capacity

Generally, the average concrete truck capacity is typically between 8 and 10 yards. Standard-sized cement trucks are the most widely used and usually have maximum capacities in that range. However, large cement trucks may hold upward of 14 years, while mini versions are generally limited to about 4 yards.

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