Concrete Buggy
A concrete buggy, or power buggy, is a self-propelled hopper on wheels or tracks that shuttles wet concrete from the truck or mixer to the pour location. It serves placements where a chute cannot reach and a pump is not justified. This class also includes manual georgia buggies pushed by hand.
How it works
The operator stands or walks at the rear, drives the buggy under the truck chute to charge the hopper, travels to the forms and tips the hopper to discharge — listed models dump through a full 90 degrees, emptying the hopper completely each cycle. Gasoline engines on listed powered units run 7.4-21 hp, driving hydrostatic or mechanical transmissions. Cycle speed, path width and ground conditions determine how many buggies keep pace with a truck's discharge rate.
Types & variants
- Wheeled power buggy
- Fast on firm, level ground — finished slabs, paving and hard-packed grade. The common format for flatwork support.
- Tracked power buggy
- Rubber tracks spread ground pressure for soft, muddy or sloped sites where wheels rut or lose traction.
- Electric or battery buggy
- Zero-exhaust drive for interior pours, occupied buildings and enclosed spaces where engine fumes are prohibited.
- Manual georgia buggy
- Hand-pushed hopper cart for short hauls and light volumes at grade.
Key specifications
| Specification | Typical range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Dump angle | 90 deg on listed models | A full 90-degree dump clears the hopper completely, avoiding scraping and speeding cycle turnaround. |
| Engine power | 7.4-21 hp on listed gasoline units | Drives travel speed and the machine's ability to climb ramps with a full, sloshing load. |
| Operating weight | up to 989 kg on listed powered units | Empty machine weight; a loaded buggy is much heavier, which matters for ramps, scaffolds and slab-on-deck travel paths. |
How the industry sizes it
Buggies are sized by hopper capacity and drive format. Selection starts from the haul path — its width, surface and slope — then matches hopper volume to the truck discharge rate so concrete keeps moving without overloading the path or outpacing the finishing crew. Tracked drive substitutes for wheels when the route crosses soft or sloped ground.
Applications
- Slab pours where trucks cannot reach the forms
- Sidewalk and pathway placement
- Foundation pours on tight or sloped sites
- Backfilling around footings and walls
- Interior placements beyond chute reach
- Multiple short hauls on mid-size commercial pours
Safety & operation
- Haul routes are planned and kept clear; a loaded buggy at speed cannot stop or swerve quickly, and crew members on foot share the path.
- Ramps and cross-slopes are the main tip-over exposure — loads are carried low and slopes taken straight, not diagonally.
- Gasoline-engine buggies produce carbon monoxide; enclosed or interior pours call for electric drive or verified ventilation.
- Operators dismount facing the machine and never ride the hopper or allow passengers.
Standards & certifications
- OSHA · 29 CFR 1926.702(d)
- Concrete buggy provisions — handles must not extend beyond the wheels on either side.
- CSA · Z432
- Machine safeguarding for drives and pinch points on powered buggies in Canadian jurisdictions.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between a power buggy and a georgia buggy?
Tracked or wheeled — how is the choice made?
Why does dump angle matter?
When does a pour need buggies instead of a pump?
Compare popular models
Find by spec →Normalised to the same units. A dash means the figure was not published.
| Model | Engine power | Operating weight |
|---|---|---|
| Multiquip HBC19B | 12 hp | 26.5 lb (12 kg) |
| Allen Engineering AW16-B | 7 hp | 1,508 lb (684 kg) |
| Allen Engineering AW21-H | 20 hp | 1,475 lb (669 kg) |
| Allen Engineering AT14F | 20 hp | 1,420 lb (644 kg) |
| Allen Engineering AT19S | 21 hp | 2,180 lb (989 kg) |
| Bartell Morrison DB17 | 12 hp | 1,261 lb (572 kg) |
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Sources
Every specification is verified against the manufacturer's published data, with the source linked for reference.
All models
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