Concrete Truck Accidents: Stats and Suggestions

Concrete truck accidents are fairly common in construction and concrete work. And, although it makes sense, considering the fact that crews are constantly traveling between pour sites and cement plants, the issue remains concerning. After all, it isn’t merely the vehicles that risk damage during concrete truck accidents. Nearby structures, businesses — and, most importantly, people — could find themselves facing serious injury or worse. (Especially when you factor in the sheer amount of weight associated with loaded trucks.)

At General Chipping, we believe the best way to sidestep serious issues such as this is to bring the topic to light through open, honest discussion — and to educate crew members of the potential dangers, as well. Read on for some illuminating stats related to concrete truck accidents, as well as tips to keep your crew operating safely on the road.

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) Dug into the Issue
In 2017, the NRMCA surveyed concrete producers about their recent history of rollovers and the conditions surrounding them, all in an effort to reduce such instances down the line. In total, respondents reported 61 recent rollovers. You can find full tabulated results in this online Concrete InFocus write-up, but we’ve pulled together a few highlights here:

• 87% of reported rollovers were single-vehicle accidents, indicating that driver actions were a major contributing factor. In fact, the driver was deemed to have caused the rollover 75% of the time.
• In more than 80% of reported rollovers, the redi mix truck drums were loaded with concrete. Unloaded mixer trucks made up about 10% of reported rollovers, while about 8% were partially loaded.
• The age of the ready mix truck was deemed to have little to no influence on the likelihood of rollovers.
• Drivers with one to five years of experience were more likely to be involved in a rollover. The study actually found that those drivers had a higher accident rate than those with less than a year’s experience.
• 56% of rollovers occurred in trucks that were traveling straight ahead. This is interesting, as rollovers are often associated with right-hand turns. Surprisingly, 5% of rollovers happened when the truck wasn’t moving at all.
• In 59% of rollovers, speed was not a factor. The report goes on to note that rollovers have been known to happen with trucks traveling as slowly as 12 mph.

Current Headlines Show the Problem Continues Today
Four years after the NRMCA’s study, concrete truck accidents still make regular appearances on new sites. (Don’t believe us? Do a news search for “concrete truck” on your favorite search engine.) From word of highway closures due to crashes, to injuries and fatalities, such news stories are reported all over. This indicates that such accidents are no one company — or geographic region’s — problem. Rather, the issue is something we should work on as an industry.

Simple Reminders Can Save Lives
Although the issue of concrete truck safety might be overwhelming, the solution doesn’t have to be. Simply bringing the issue up to team members and keeping it top of mind can go a long way toward ensuring they work safely behind the wheel. Regular toolbox talks and training sessions offer a great opportunity to really hit your point home. (Just be sure to keep such meetings short and on topic.) Of course, when such incidents make the news, you can — and should — share the stories with your team. Such real-world examples are proof that safe practices matter.

The concrete mixing trucks your company relies on can turn into a liability when the people behind the wheel don’t act safely. A bit of added vigilance and focused training on your company’s part, however, can make a tremendous difference. If you have questions on any of the above — or are interested in learning more about concrete chipping, central mixer cleaning or cement silo cleaning services — feel free to contact General Chipping. Our team is always happy to help.