hello, i'm new to this site obviously. i delivered powder cement for 7 years and most recently drove mixer trucks in fairfield, ca for the past 3 years. i would like to operate a boom. it's my goal, but i have no experince. i know concrete and am a mature, non drinking/drugs, family man with a good working history and clean driving record. any suggestions. i know it's not the best time of the year for work, but i'd be plenty trained by the time it get's busy. i've been wanting to get into the business and now that my company is downsizing and am a victim of lay-offs i feel theres no better time for myself, lol. anyways, any advice is appreciated. i've worked along side alot of those pumps you guys have posted pictures of like, berkely, a&j, galletti, af&t, interstate,golden state, etc, etc. i worked for cemex unfortunately, but i'll leave it at that, lol.... anyways, thanks for any advice/help....

If that's what you want to do? Go for it! Call all the pump companies in you area. Most of the time you will start on a line machine. This is good way to learn. It also teaches you that pumping concrete is hard work!! It just looks easy when the machine is doing most of the labor.

GOOD LUCK!!

thanx, i've called a few companies and sounds promising. hopefully someone will take a chance with me. i have a class A so that helps. i'll give em' a few days to make up thier minds before i start harrassing them, lol....

seeds right, get youself a line pump, ive got one and if you can handle and like it, then your on a winner.

Ive been line pumping for 12 mths and loving every bit of it, and i know that if this site wasnt here then i wouldnt be either!! the blokes on here are some of the best pumpers about, if they cant help you then your stuck!!!!

herman. uk

I agree with herman. It is important to learn th basics of pushing concrete through system. It helps tremendously whe n you encounter similar problems with a boom. It will also get you in shape for those 75+ hr weeks in the summer months. Good Luck!

i'm in decent shape, i work out sometimes twice a day and box, although working that many hours would certainly dissrupt that, lol. i'm also a work-o-holic. 75 hours.........my mouths watering, lol.

i've worked as a powder truck drivers for about 7 years. that job is pushing powder cement through hoses with air pressure. you've got your psi's pto's and stuff. plus i know concrete being that for the past 3 years i've been driving a mixer truck. i guess my point is that i'm not going in blind. i do have some knowledge. wishfull thinking i guess. i appreciate your inputs. i've been offered a line pump job in local 3 with the promise that if i'm good and i'm motivated they'll put me in a boom fast. if no one hires me str8 to boom i guess i'll take that to start out. i just don't want to get caught in a trap of never moving up cuz theres no openings. thanks guys.......

That's great! It seems it is not too hard to get into the business. Add union wages to that, WOW ! You will enjoy starting on a line machine. There is always a need for new boom operators. You will move up quickly for sure!

OK, not to be too critical, XKawN, but your username isn't too flattering.  I wouldn't include that on your application or resume.

Start out on a line pump.  prove your proficiency at that.  than hopefully in a year, you can move on to a small boom.

Just out of curiousity how many of you guys started on a line pump?? Personally i started on a 32M.

thanks for the advice pumpjockey. it's actually just a name i used for an online game years ago. i've never been to prison, lol. i've always kept the handle for user names, though. it's easier to remmember if i have one for all the sites that i have been and currently still are a member of.

I started on a trailer pump. Moved to a line machine and got my class B. From their I went 28,32,36,42,47,38. Now  I'm a Owner / Operator with a 36. It took about a year to get into a boom from the trailer. Time well spent!      

Call Almanor Custom Concrete, located in Chester Calif.  I believe they are in need of a pump operator.  Nice folks, I have pumped for them a couple times when there Schwing breaks down.  Reed to the rescue....lol.