Your Trucks, in Top Shape.

Concrete drum cleaning (also known as concrete chipping) involves trained crews entering your redi mix truck drums to removed dried material accumulated along the walls. And this seemingly simple measure carries big benefits. Here are a few things you should know.

• Each and every time you pour concrete, trace amounts remain inside your drum. With time, that caked-on material adds excess weight to your drum, potentially throwing off its balance and leading to expensive repairs. (In fact, we have a whole video on the subject.)
• Accumulated buildup lowers your concrete truck’s carrying capacity, not only lessening the amount of concrete you can blend and transport to your job sites, but increasing the likelihood of dangerous spills while en route.
• Built-up concrete has a tendency of break off or flake away from your drum’s walls, finding their way into concrete blends. This can impact the look of your finished product — and can lessen its structural integrity, too.
• Experts recommend booking concrete chipping appointments every three months. Maintenance between chippings, such as use of a chemical cement mixer drum cleaner, can stave off buildup for a while, but chipping will still be necessary. And due to the dangerous nature of the work, it should only be carried out by a trained (and licensed) professional.

Your average concrete chipping appointment will actually consist of three separate services: concrete drum chipping, cement silo cleaning and central mixer cleaning. Although every session will vary slightly, based on the needs of both your company the concrete chipping team you hire, appointments typically take place during 12-hour overnight appointments. Here’s how it generally works:

• At the end of your crew’s workday, you’ll park your redi mix trucks, make sure your silos and central mixers are accessible and simply head home for the night.
• Around 6 p.m. (or whichever time your companies have agreed upon) your concrete chipping crew will arrive on-site, ready to dig in on your maintenance work. A dinner break will enter the mix a few hours in, but otherwise they work clear through the night, clearing your drums and mixers of dried concrete, and your silos of clumped material which could lead to trouble down the line.
• Your concrete chipping crew will pile removed material off to the side for your company to dispose of as you see fit.
• By about 6 a.m., their work is done. Your vehicles and equipment are clean and ready for the coming day’s work — and your concrete chipping crew is ready for a well-deserved break.

Scheduling such concrete truck maintenance is pretty simple stuff, but there is some key information you’ll want to pass along to your concrete chippers:

Your Geographic Location: This will help your concrete chipping crew determine if your operations sit within their coverage area (and if so, when they can make their way to you). At General Chipping, for instance, we offer nationwide service, but schedule bookings in a way that makes sense strategically along our route.

Time Since Your Last Chipping: Concrete chipping crews don’t ask this to embarrass you. Having a general understanding of the amount of buildup present helps your chipping crew ensure it’s sending the right equipment — and enough workers — for your job.

Number of Vehicles in Your Fleet: Again, this information helps your concrete chippers ensure they’re ready to tackle your work better prepared, and in the most efficient manner possible.

Any Special Considerations: Every concrete and construction company is different (and so are their concrete chipping jobs). If there’s anything that might help your concrete chippers with their work, let them know. This could include everything from information about noise ordinances, to special equipment considerations, location information and the like. Remember, your concrete chipping crew’s goal is to keep your overall system healthy and working well for you. The more they know, the better prepared they’ll be to do just that.