How to Use the Ready-Mix Truck Trips Calculator
Planning a concrete pour means knowing not just the total volume needed, but how many ready-mix truck loads must be scheduled back to back. This calculator takes your total pour volume and the capacity of one mixer truck, then tells you how many trips are needed once a waste factor is applied.
The math applies your waste factor to the pour volume, then divides that by the capacity of one truck and rounds up. The most common mixer truck capacity in the US is around 10 cubic yards, though trucks range from roughly 8 to 11 cubic yards depending on the supplier — confirm the exact figure with your ready-mix company before ordering.
Your waste factor should cover overpour from formwork deflection or uneven subgrade, plus losses during pumping and transport. A simple slab or footing pour usually only needs about 5%, but complex shapes or grade beams can lose more material, so using 10% or higher keeps you from running short mid-pour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Formwork deflection, uneven subgrade, and losses during pumping or transport often push actual pour volume above the design quantity. A 5-10% waste factor helps avoid running short mid-pour.
10 cubic yards is the most common capacity, but trucks can range from about 8 to 11 cubic yards depending on the supplier and region. Confirm the exact capacity with your ready-mix supplier before entering it.