Why hasn't a pump company come up with controls in the cab where operators can get away from the elements, I know you couldn't be in there all the time but it sure would be nice,with all the technology you could actually pump from the cab have a camera in the back so you could see the concrete trucks , I know theres a lot of variables you see from outside the cab but other equipment operators do it all the time,but we're a different breed so I guess we're banished to life on the outside,and as much money as these rigs costs seems like we could have cameras all around the pump,kind of like police cars where everything is caught on tape in case of accidents or anything everything is recorded,I know we dont want to be on tape 24/7,but I was just thinking

they do. Its called a pencil and paper  and a desk, get an office job if you cant handle the weather.

Art

If my calculations are correct, they used to refer to  bikers as 1 percenters....   maybe those guys are so BAD they are the new 1%er's?

Duane,

No need to be an a--,just a topic,and I do handle the weather every day,and I do know how to use pencil paper,but sounds like all you know how to do is be a smartass,its easy for a person to hide behind a computer and just type anything I'd like to see a face with that name

  I used to operate a crane and it is basically a 1 dimensional task,watch load,boom,feel it in your a--.Running a concrete boom pump is 3 dimensional,watch boom,obstructions,watch mixers backing up to your unit,tearing off the hopper,adding water,keep in tune with what is happening with the discharge hose,feel foreign objects in your boom,get ready for a plug,etc.Too many things going on to be sitting in the cab.

As crazy as this may sound , but they already have something like that up here in Canada. Computers have been installed in road building equipment ( excavators, dozers, graders, etc. ) where the only thing the operator does is start the machine in the morning and the computer does all the rest. All of the grades, cuts, fills, etc. are downloaded into the onboard computer which is hooked in to the hydraulics and as the machine moves so does the profile, and the blade or bucket is adjusted accordingly. All the driver does is put the machine in gear and drive, if he gets off course the computer senses it and makes corrections to get back on course. Personally I have no faith in this system at all because you can literally put anyone behind the controls, show them how to start and move the thing, and tadaa you have yourself an "operator", until a situation arises where you have to know what you're doing and that is when trouble starts.

It does sound cool to be able to get out of the elements but, in retrospect can we really afford to have that happen?