Not sure which one you need? As a general rule: smaller or custom-sized jobs use a meter truck; larger, high-volume jobs use a mixer truck.
The Basics
Two Trucks, Two Very Different Jobs
Here’s what each one actually does, and which projects each is built for.
Precision Delivery
Meter Truck
A meter truck carries cement, aggregates, and water onboard and mixes concrete fresh as the pour happens. An on-board metering system tracks exactly how much you use, so you pay for what you pour, nothing more.
For example, a backyard patio or a short driveway repair is a great fit for a meter truck.
Best For
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Smaller or irregularly-shaped pours (patios, walkways, small foundations)
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Projects needing different mix strengths on the same site, without switching trucks
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Jobs requiring an adjustable slump as the pour progresses
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Reducing waste and disposal costs
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9 cubic yards per truck
Keep in mind
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On-site mixing takes slightly longer than a pre-loaded delivery
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Better suited to smaller jobs than very high-volume pours
Volume Delivery
Mixer Truck
A mixer truck delivers concrete already mixed at the plant, kept workable by a rotating drum on the way to your site. Once there, the drum reverses to discharge concrete exactly where it’s needed, ready to pour.
For example, a new home foundation or a commercial parking lot is a great fit for a mixer truck.
Best For
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Large-volume pours (foundations, driveways, commercial slabs)
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Projects with a known, fixed volume need
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Jobs where speed matters, concrete arrives ready to pour
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Work requiring consistent mix quality across a large area
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8-10 cubic yards per truck
Keep in mind
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Concrete has a working window of about 90 minutes from mixing to pouring
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Load size is fixed; ordering too little or too much can mean a second delivery
By the Numbers
What Each Truck Actually Delivers
0%
Wasted Concrete
Meter trucks mix on-site to the exact amount needed, so you’re never paying for leftover material you didn’t use.
8-10
Cubic Yards Per Load
Mixer trucks arrive pre-loaded and ready to pour, built for large, continuous jobs that need volume fast.
Why Penn Star
One call, the right truck for the job
Most concrete delivery companies operate one type of truck and fit every job to it. Penn Star operates both meter and mixer trucks, so the delivery method matches your project, not the other way around. Part of Pioneer Pole Buildings since 2023, we bring the reliability of an established company to every delivery across the Mid-Atlantic.
Licensed & Insured
Mixer & Meter Truck
On-Time Delivery
Common Questions
Everything you’re Probably Wondering
As a general rule, smaller or custom-sized pours (patios, walkways, small repairs) call for a meter truck, while larger, high-volume pours (foundations, driveways, commercial slabs) call for a mixer truck. Not sure? Tell us about your project, and we’ll recommend the right fit.
Not with a meter truck. It mixes on-site to the exact volume needed as the pour happens, so you only pay for what you actually pour. Mixer trucks arrive with a fixed load, so matching the order to the job size matters more there.
Most mixer trucks carry 8 to 10 cubic yards per load, enough for most foundation, driveway, and slab pours. Larger commercial jobs may need multiple loads, which we’ll help plan for.
Concrete generally has a working window of about 90 minutes from mixing to pouring. That’s part of why site access and scheduling matter, and why we plan every delivery carefully around it.
We deliver Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Saturday deliveries are available by appointment only; just let us know when you request a quote, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your schedule.
Ready When You Are
Let’s get your Pour Scheduled
Tell us about your project, and we’ll recommend the right truck and the right crew for the job.
