boom size ??
putzman1975 08-09-2014
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hey guys i run a 40 meter is this a large boom or small ? what size determines large boom and a small boom


Dipstick 08-09-2014
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In my eyes: 0-32 small , 32-45, medium , 45-101 big boom 

Just my opinion Wink


putzman1975 08-09-2014
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tha acpa hand book only has small and big


Farmboy72 08-09-2014
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I would agree with dipstick


PrefConc 08-09-2014
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Pretty simple from a saftey perspective. Anything on a single steer axle would be a small boom. Tandem steer or more would be a big boom.


SUPERDOFFER 08-10-2014
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 What makes the divergence between a small or a big boom. If you let it tip over you can kill somebody. I have heard that in some places the big booms get paid better, what in my opinion is totally rubbish. Because the handles are the same and the concrete is the same, the only diverence is the setup time because you need more dunnage but that is just commonsense your ground pressure is two or three time that of a smaller boom. So let’s stop talking about small or big boom if you don’t use your mind a pump can and will tip over.

And don’t think he is a smart as, I have also made my mistakes. Learn from other mans mistakes you never get old enough to make them al by your self        


DavidJS 08-10-2014
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Big boom operators do get paid more. The bigger the boom, the bigger the jobs, and the more work you have to do when you get plugged up bad. It matters alot, plus with bigger booms you run into unique problems because of weight and boom height and length. Us big boom operators laugh when the 32 and 36 meter operators say they have long days or a tough job.


Michael C 08-11-2014
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I was always felt that over 45M was the big booms, but I would say now the big booms start with a 5. The Union here in Vegas has defined big booms as over 36M and everything over 36M needed 2 men to operate it.


Doug 08-11-2014
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Small M17-28 Medium M31-M41 Large M42+


Ti-so 08-11-2014
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here the operator pay rates is based on  below 42m small boom and 42m + is big boom ,Dawm i got a 41m!!!


FunnyBoom 08-11-2014
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Bigger boom=more responsibility plain and simple


Generation 3 Pumper 08-12-2014
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The ACPA used to class their certification tests 5 section placing boom or 50M+ class I believe but would agree that a 45M+ should be in that class. The union pay scale I used to be paid under paid operators based on the following classifications:

Concrete Line Pump

Concrete Boom Pump under 42m in length

Concrete Boom Pump 42m-52m in length

Concrete Boom Pump over 52m in length.

Yes, if operators don't put extensive thought into each setup, they will tip over but I think it is justified to pay operators who operate the bigger booms a little bit more. You don't put newbie or green operators on the bigger equipment to learn, you usually put the more experienced operators on the bigger equipment because of their experience.

I'm not saying that small boom operators are inexperienced at all. There are some very experienced operators on smaller booms and look at some of the cool places you can put these modern pumps into; a lot of those operators have some skills!

One thing I find a lot of people do is generalise long booms and small booms into one category. They expect the long booms to move in the same time as a small boom, they expect it to travel down the road in the same time as a small boom, they expect it setup in the same time as a small boom, they expect it to fit into the same spots as a small boom, and they expect the boom to move back and forth at full stretch as quickly as a small boom. If you don't have a dispatcher or manager communicating all of these issues to customers, you are expected to operate a significantly larger and slower piece of equipment in the same time/space constraints as a small boom.

You have more boom moving over obstacles and a lot of the time multiple obstacles to maneuver around, you have more concrete in your boom more pipeline to protect, you have a greater weight to put out on the same ground base as a small pump, you have more pump to keep clean than a smaller boom, you have more components to maintain over a smaller boom, you have more pump to keep clean over a smaller boom, you generally have a larger investment to protect over a smaller boom, you are expected to have more boom over a pour and produce the same output as small and medium sized booms, or higher output all while producing the same smoothness as a smaller boom, you are put into manty situations where you are working above and further away from the pump, climbing stairs, walking further away, and many more challenges I'm sure I haven't mentioned.

I absolutely love all of these challenges of operating the larger equipment and after you accumulate enough experience on a larger boom, yes, it just becomes another pump. For some of these reasons and the experience required to be competant on a larger boom, I defintely think a small increase in pay is justified for being on the larger pumps.


Dipstick 08-12-2014
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This is all such a BS comparing boom size with responsibility. I havn't  run a boom in half a year. I have run a Putz 2109 delivering 136 bar on concrete connected to over 500m line with huge elevations. No visual on endhose so all comunication is through radio. Who has the biggest responsibility now? A guy running a 45m doing a simpel pour straight from the boom or me?

Boom size says nothing.


Beast 08-12-2014
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my opinion up to 32 meter small boom , 32-47 medium , and 50 and larger are the big booms , I remember when a 42 meter was a big boom ,now its a puppy compared to some of these big boys running around now.

Now pay wise , I have ran all , small ,medium and big booms they all have there days when you better know your shit , I believe we should be paid on your abilities to run multiple sizes and types of machines , size really plays no significance in what we are paid


FunnyBoom 08-12-2014
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Easy dipstick... You're opening up a whole new can of worms. What you're doing and high rise work I believe can be considered even more responsibility than say a 70 meter. With high pressure pumps things can go wrong in a split second. that was not even a part of this toPic. I agree that pay should be based on experience, but experience and big booms/high rise and long pushes usually go together. Drive a 7 axle 61 meter down the interstate and thru downtown streets at 112,000 pounds and tell me it isn't more responsibility than a 32 meter. you have to be three steps ahead of any move you make.  When I jump in even a 47 meter compared to my 61 it feels like a pick up truck in comparison. then of course the set up, with the big booms usually comes some very unique challenges when it comes to set up. It is up to that operators experience to safely set up and operate that machine which I believe deserves more money. 


Dipstick 08-12-2014
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Uhh that was me speaking after 1 pint to much Wink Now after I have slept on it I see it would have been better to say it the way Beast said it...


Generation 3 Pumper 08-13-2014
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Well said funny boom! I think we all can agree that experience, versatility, and competancy, all related to each other, deserves a slightly higher pay scale. Paying by boom size, especially in union companies, is just a channel to provide that increased pay through.