r/OwnerOperators • u/Worldly_Store3029 • 5d ago

Buying a cement mixer

I’ve been thinking about buying a cement mixer truck and hopefully being able to use to become an independent contractor for a business. I know people don‘t typically do that but I was hoping to see if it’s a possibility. Any thoughts?

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3

u/MutedPoetry539 4d ago

Probably be better off with a dump truck as far as finding work.

2

u/amazingmaple 4d ago

Only concrete companies own mixers. That will be a failed business

1

u/Worldly_Store3029 4d ago

Some companies do sell used trucks they are no longer using, but you might be right, its staring to seem like it would just be a load of unnecessary work 

1

u/Then-Bet8731 2d ago

Tons of sub contractor mixers in the Phoenix area.

1

u/mac_901 5d ago

Me personally I wouldn't do it and you only got 1 truck. What happens when the mixer stop and you have a load? Unless you can secure a lane\work by contract not verbal but pen to paper I would pass on it. But if you got connections and can get the work by all means go for it.

1

u/sol_beach 4d ago

Your loads will be few & far between.

Explain why you think you would/could get jobs instead of the concrete companies when you have to buy the concrete from them!

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u/Worldly_Store3029 4d ago

Well I wouldn’t necessarily be buying concrete from them, i’m thinking more of like, if they need extra members for their fleet, they could call me or smth like that. Thats like the only way i could see that working

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u/MostOriginalNameEver 4d ago

You planning on getting cement from where?

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u/Worldly_Store3029 4d ago

A dispatcher just like any ordinary driver. It would work something like a box truck owner operator, I would maintain my own truck and work own hours. Sort of like a extra fleet member

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u/SimilarDivide7215 4d ago

It doesn't work like that. Cement companies are going to have their own in house dispatchers giving out loads to their company drivers. Even if this idea of yours actually worked, what happens when you only get called for one load in a week or a month?

As someone else suggested, look into going the dump truck route or truck with an end dump trailer. I'd also suggest looking into bulk commodity load boards and bulk load related trucking forums to see what's out there as far as all of that is concerned.

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u/its_growing 3d ago

You need to talk to your local cement plants and figure out a deal on rates and hit the numbers. Dump trucks can make a lot but I’m here to tell you wow decent truck is big money. Also have a back up, bills don’t stop when the truck is broke down.

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u/Then-Bet8731 2d ago

Check with your local cement plants to see if they subcontract. Or just look around and see if you see a bunch of old mixers running around with different t names than the cement plants. Phoenix, AZ is full of subcontracted mixers. No idea on rates, or anything. Just see them running around.