A composite chute for a commercial vehicle includes a metal frame, and a pair of plastic sheets. The metal frame assembly defines a longitudinal axis. The pair of plastic sheets extend along the longitudinal axis and positioned on either side of the metal frame assembly. The metal frame assembly is sandwiched between the pair of plastic sheets.

A vehicle includes a chassis and an electric axle coupled to the chassis. The electric axle includes an electric motor, a first tractive element coupled to the electric motor and configured to be driven by the electric motor to propel the vehicle, and a power take off (PTO) shaft coupled to the electric motor. The vehicle further includes at least one of (a) an accessory coupled to the PTO shaft and configured to be driven by the electric motor or (b) an axle assembly including a second tractive element coupled to the PTO shaft and configured to be driven by the electric motor to propel the vehicle.

A vehicle includes a chassis, a drum, a load detection system, and a control system. The drum is coupled to the chassis and is configured to mix drum contents received therein. The load detection system is coupled to the chassis and includes a load sensor. The load sensor is positioned proximate to one of a forward end of the drum and a rear end of the drum. The load sensor is configured to determine a portion of a force applied by the drum to the chassis. The control system is communicably coupled to the load detection system and is configured to determine a longitudinal position of a concrete buildup in the drum based on the portion. The control system is also configured to generate at least one of a notification indicating the longitudinal position or a control signal based on the longitudinal position.

A vehicle includes a chassis, a drum, a load detection system, and a control system. The drum is coupled to the chassis and is configured to mix drum contents received therein. The load detection system is coupled to the chassis and includes a load sensor. The load sensor is positioned proximate to one of a forward end of the drum and a rear end of the drum. The load sensor is configured to determine a portion of a force applied by the drum to the chassis. The control system is communicably coupled to the load detection system and is configured to determine a longitudinal position of a concrete buildup in the drum based on the portion. The control system is also configured to generate at least one of a notification indicating the longitudinal position or a control signal based on the longitudinal position.

An engine module for a mixer vehicle includes an engine, a cooling system, and a hood. The cooling system includes a radiator fluidly coupled to the engine and a fan assembly. The fan assembly includes a fan. The hood includes a housing and a door. The housing has a first end configured to be positioned proximate a mixer drum assembly and a second end configured to be positioned proximate a rear end of a chassis of the mixer vehicle. The housing defines an internal cavity within which the engine and the cooling system is disposed. The first end defines an inlet airflow cavity having a bottom surface and an air inlet. The second end defines an opening. The door is pivotally coupled to the second end and positioned to selectively enclose the opening.

A controller for a concrete mixer vehicle includes a base, an elongated shaft extending from the base, and a control portion positioned at free end of the elongated shaft. The control portion has a grip portion and a button interface providing at least one of a plurality of controls. The plurality of controls facilitate selectively operating (i) a hopper actuator to reposition a charge hopper between a first position and a second position, (ii) a first chute actuator to pivot a chute about a lateral axis to raise and lower a distal end of the chute, (iii) a second chute actuator to pivot the chute about a vertical axis to move the distal end left and right, (iv) a drum driver to control at least one of a speed or a rotational direction of a mixing drum, and (v) a transmission of the concrete mixer vehicle in one of a plurality of modes.

A hydraulic system for a concrete mixer vehicle including an electronically controlled variable displacement hydraulic pump, a distribution manifold fluidly coupled to the hydraulic pump, a hydraulic fan motor coupled to a fan and fluidly coupled to the distribution manifold, an auxiliary system fluidly coupled to the distribution manifold, and a controller structured to: determine a total system demand based at least in part on a fan motor demand and an auxiliary system demand, adjust a displacement of the hydraulic pump to satisfy the total system demand, and operate the hydraulic pump at a pump speed to satisfy the total system demand.

A concrete mixer vehicle comprises a chassis, an engine, a cab, a drum assembly, a front roller pedestal, a transmission mounting bracket assembly, and a rear pedestal. The chassis has a frame. The drum assembly includes a mixing drum, a drum driver, and a hopper assembly. The front roller pedestal is configured to support a front end of the mixing drum. The front roller pedestal includes a support member configured to provide support to the front roller pedestal in a longitudinal direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the frame. The rear pedestal is configured to support a rear end of the mixing drum. The rear pedestal includes a first bar-pin member and a second bar-pin member configured to couple the rear pedestal in a first installation position or a second installation position based on a length of the mixing drum.

A concrete mixer vehicle comprises a chassis, an engine, a cab, a drum assembly, a front roller pedestal, a transmission mounting bracket assembly, and a rear pedestal. The chassis has a frame. The drum assembly includes a mixing drum, a drum driver, and a hopper assembly. The front roller pedestal is configured to support a front end of the mixing drum. The front roller pedestal includes a support member configured to provide support to the front roller pedestal in a longitudinal direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the frame. The rear pedestal is configured to support a rear end of the mixing drum. The rear pedestal includes a first bar-pin member and a second bar-pin member configured to couple the rear pedestal in a first installation position or a second installation position based on a length of the mixing drum.

A method for determining cleanliness of a drum of a fresh concrete mixer truck. The method generally has: rotating the drum about the rotation axis with a constant torque; using a rotational speed sensor, measuring a plurality of speed values corresponding to speeds at which the drum rotates at different moments in time during said rotating; and using a controller, receiving the plurality of speed values; accessing calibration data having different reference speed values-related data associated to corresponding reference degrees of cleanliness of the drum; comparing at least some of the speed values to the calibration data; and determining a degree of cleanliness of the drum based on said comparison.