Commercial driver's guide to operation, safety and licensing

Mixer truck operators
Mixer trucks in the Class 3 vehicle
category require the same basic
procedures about pre-trip inspections
noted in the previous section, except for
the specific characteristics of that vehicle.
Although loading and unloading the
product would be different, similar safety
precautions are needed, as well as the
assessment of the conditions at each job
site. The vehicle driver is responsible for
the truck at all times.
Concrete mixers are top heavy and
unstable when loaded. Due to the rotating
action of the mixer drum and the unique
characteristics of concrete, special care is
needed when carrying low slump concrete
on turns, corners and ramps.
• When parking uphill, without a curb,
single unit vehicles should always have
their front wheels turned to the right.
Note: Where there is a curb, allow the
vehicle to roll to the point where the front
wheels are making contact with the curb
before setting the park brake. This helps to
prevent the vehicle from jumping the curb
in the event the vehicle starts to move.
Parking on a hill
The law requires that the wheels of a
parked vehicle be no more than 50
centimetres from the curb. When parked,
a vehicle with a manual transmission
must be left in low gear or reverse. For an
automatic transmission put the vehicle in
park and have the park brake engaged.
The following information applies to
vehicles parked on the right-hand side of
the road. For vehicles parked on the lefthand
side of the road (one way), turn the
front wheels in the opposite direction.
• When parking downhill, with or without
a curb, the front wheels should always
be turned to the right.
• When parking uphill, with a curb, the
front wheels should always be turned
to the left.
64 A Commercial Driver’s Guide to Operation, Safety and Licensing