Starting a business is a daunting experience for even the most confident. Starting one in the concrete industry is a big undertaking, even at a small scale. Read below to discover some truths and tips to make yourself more comfortable and knowledgeable.

The Basics: What do I need?

This should be a straightforward affair with plenty of common-sense application. Of course, your primary area of concern is your actual volumetric mixer, but what about everything you need to support it?

• A source of cement powder. Whether that looks like a tote bag system for a small operation, or portable/stationary silos at a larger scale, you will need to be able to supply yourself with fresh portland at any given time.
• Water source. A standard Titan holds 575 GAL of water, with some machines taking up to 750. A good water source in your yard or a city facility nearby is critical to ensuring you run your business efficiently.
• A washout zone. This should be a designated area in your yard to safely capture and dispose of washout debris from your truck. Keeping a clean truck will help you look professional and save you a lot of time in the long run.
• Aggregates. Along with cement and a water supply, your aggregates are the third important part of the concrete equation. In an ideal situation, your aggregates should be warm, clean, and sufficiently moist without being wet. In northern climates, this may mean covering them in the winter months. In southern climates, you may need to deploy a sprinkler system to keep your aggregates from drying out too much.
• Tools and supplies. Your truck or machine will require calibration from time to time, or may need basic maintenance. It’s a good idea to have a basic set of tools and equipment to calibrate stored at your yard or facility.

The Business: Who do I sell to?

The good news is that a volumetric concrete truck has a plethora of applications to put it to work! Your ideal customer really depends on you. It’s a great idea when getting started to go off of your current experience. Example: If you’re familiar with landscaping or fencing, they can become a terrific source of business for you as you are very knowledgeable about why they need concrete, how much, what type of mixes they prefer, and why they may benefit from only paying for what is poured.

Where volumetric concrete is commonly used:

• Utility backfill and protective coverage
• Rural areas with no batch plant nearby
• Mining and pipeline work
• Landscaping contracting
• Fence and deck builders
• To support ready mix fleets as a short load option
• Civil and infrastructure
• Specialty mix applications
• Microtrenching for network installation and protection
• Airport runway repair (rapid-set)
• Military applications
• Residential concrete
• Sidewalks and curbs
• Remote jobsites
• Pump supply

The Benefit: Why Choose Me?

There’s a short answer to sum this up: Options. You offer versatility and convenience that no one else can!

• Batch plants prefer large accounts with nearby access. You can do a short load anywhere, to anyone.
• A traditional concrete truck is already full of a pre-specified mix design, and that concrete all needs to go somewhere. What if needs change on site? That’s where you come in. On your Titan, it’s as simple as pressing a button, instead of dealing with a hot load you can’t use.
• You can run your business how you see fit, without relying on a concrete supplier. Feel like pouring on a Saturday to chase that dream? You can – no supplier or batch plant required. You are your own boss now. Before or after hours – your day is truly yours!
• Not only do you have more options than the ready mix truck, you can offer the same product as well. You have the capacity for a larger pour if needed – and you don’t need to compromise.
• You’re not late, and you don’t have waste. When you run a volumetric truck or fleet, you’re in charge of your own timeline and can schedule jobs efficiently while prioritizing your customer. Don’t make them pay to have a crew wait for the concrete to show up, or for the extra yard that someone calculated wrong.
• You’re an expert. You don’t just drive a truck and operate a water hose – you really understand concrete and how it’s made. With a volumetric, it’s easy to see how changes in mix design come together and what components affect each other.